New Zealand not fancied for Brendon McCullum winning farewell

New Zealand not fancied for McCullum winning farewell

New Zealand have home advantage and it's Brendon McCullum's 100th Test but the odds favour an Australian side with a weakened bowling attack

VLive Sports DeskSyndicated Wire Coverage (ESPNcricinfo / Sports Feeds)

Feb 11, 2016, 5:04 PM

Brendon McCullum leads off his side victorious after his final ODIGetty Images

Match at a Glance & Key Facts

TournamentAustralia tour of New ZealandSeason 2015/16

Venue

Basin Reserve, Wellington

Wellington

Format & Details

TEST • MULTI

Australia won by an innings and 52 runs

Player in Focus

Brendon McCullum

wicketkeeper batter

KEY TAKEAWAYSQuick highlights & editorial summary

VLive Sports Desk

Editorial Angle:Analysis of New Zealand not fancied for McCullum winning farewell: New Zealand have home advantage and it's Brendon McCullum's 100th Test but the odds favour an Australian side with a weakened bowling attack — assessing tactical impact and tournament progression.
Score Snapshot:NZ 183 & 327 vs AUS 562 — Australia won by an innings and 52 runs
Tactical Context:The Basin Reserve pitch was verdant green two days out from the match, and even if its colour may not denote as much seam movement as it appears, the ball will be kept in good condition by the surface and should swing.
Tournament Context:Part of Australia tour of New Zealand 2015/16. Follow real-time tournament standings, fixture progression, and live scorecards on VLive.

New Zealand are at home, with the benefit of local knowledge. Australia are out of their comfort zone, and with a weakened bowling attack.

There is also the considerable sub plot of Brendon McCullum's final series and his 100th Test. It is even better than that - in Wellington, he is set to become the first player to play 100 Tests in a row.

When the first Test begins in Wellington on Friday, all of New Zealand will be baying for the most fitting possible farewell for an inspirational cricketer - a first series victory over Australia since 1986.

Bet365.com are not convinced though. They make 8/5 for a victory with Australia 5/4.

The Basin Reserve pitch was verdant green two days out from the match, and even if its colour may not denote as much seam movement as it appears, the ball will be kept in good condition by the surface and should swing.

That might suit New Zealand, who lost their last home series against Australia 2-0 in 2010.

Syndication & Sourcing Notice: Match coverage, narrative reporting, and statistics are syndicated from ESPNcricinfo and cricket wire data feeds. Curated, formatted, and enriched with real-time match state, scorecard snapshots, and key takeaways by VLive Sports Desk. Read our Editorial Guidelines & Syndication Standards.

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