New Zealand will face Australia in the first Test match of the two game series at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington. Australia had won the ODI series 3-2 after the two sides had tied in the T20Is.

While discounting a side like New Zealand would be usually fraught with danger, one look at the Test match record of the home side against Aussies will ensure that even the 6/1 offered by Ladbrokes for a Kiwi win could be neglected. New Zealand has not won a single Test match against Australia since 1992-93, and that means that the visitors go into the match as outright favourites; 4/7 (Boyleports) to make it 1-0.

Australia will be bolstered by the presence of Michael Clarke (11/2 at Sky Bet to be the best bat for Australia) who has finally re-arrived in Australia after his issues with the break-up. However, with all the media glare on Clarke, it has allowed Marcus North (10/1 at Boylesports to be the best batsman) to go about his business of getting back into the playing and regaining his batting touch, even as captain Ricky Ponting (7/2 at Blue Square to top-score for Australia) also grapples with his own batting.

With Simon Katich (4/1 at Coral to be Australia’s top-scorer in the game) back into the side and only for the Test matches, he will look to make most of these limited international opportunities that he has.

That New Zealand lacks in their bench strength is amply clear from their decision to choose Mathew Sinclair (13/2 at Bet Fred to be the best Kiwi batsman in the game) in the squad, and while, Peter Ingram (6/1 at Ladbrokes to top-score for New Zealand) may still be preferred at the top of the order, it could send out wrong signals to the opposition. Ross Taylor (7/2 at Blue Square to be the best bat) understand that he will be the key man for the New Zealand side, and that the Aussies will target him with the short balls, but I get the sense that the pair of Brendon McCullum (7/1 at Ladbrokes) and the captain Daniel Vettori (8/1 at Bet Fred, both to be the best batsmen) will be the two to watch out for in the Kiwi batting.

Tips:
Favourites: Australia (4/7 at Boyleports)
Top Aussie batsman: Simon Katich (4/1 at Coral)
Top New Zealand batsman: Brendon McCullum (7/1 at Ladbrokes)