Doug Bracewell took four for 87 on day three against Australia A. File photo / Brett Phibbs
Bad light disrupted play again in the four-day match between New Zealand and Australia A in Brisbane but a sliver of light was shed on plans for the first test next Thursday.
New Zealand took their time dismissing Australia A for 395 in 109.3 overs but led by 28 runs on the first innings. The visitors finished the third day 75 for two for a lead of 103. Martin Guptill was unbeaten on 37 and Ross Taylor 14.
Talk within the camp suggested they will field three pace bowlers plus Daniel Vettori in the first test, ruling out the risky alternative of adding another quick bowler and reducing the batting depth. As a result, Trent Boult may not have done enough to be selected.
Boult took two wickets for 80 from 25 overs but failed to dismiss anyone in the Australian A top five. Doug Bracewell (four for 87 from 19.3 overs) and Tim Southee (two for 85 from 23 overs) did that job while Chris Martin (two for 64 from 21 overs) bowled tidily with the best economy rate of the four.
However, New Zealand assistant coach Trent Woodhill says Boult kept the pressure on for selection.
"He has come into a side that gelled in Zimbabwe and bowled hard with the new ball. Trent is aggressive, he swings the ball and hasn't been shown up coming from Plunket Shield cricket [with a record of 11 wickets at 13.09]. But it'll be a struggle to get picked competing against Doug [Bracewell] who took a five-wicket bag on debut, Tommy's [Martin] experience and Tim's [Southee] form in the last 12 months."
On a good wicket Woodhill believes the New Zealanders kept their spirits up battling for a first innings lead.
"The New Zealanders bowled fuller than the Australians. With bowling coach Damien Wright they need to establish a similar length for the Gabba. Our guys have been disciplined, patient and aggressive. As soon as it stopped swinging we didn't run out of ideas. We maintained pressure on the other end despite Ed Cowan (145) batting well."
Woodhill says they compared favourably to their counterparts.
"I've been interested to see Australia's reaction in this match, considering Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Ben Cutting will join Peter Siddle in the test squad. They were flat as soon as they didn't take a wicket in the first half an hour of our first innings when the weather was overcast and the wicket was green. Everything suggested four quicks would steam in. Maybe that's an indictment of where Australian cricket is at from the test team down. They're lacking in confidence and form. It presents a great opportunity for us.
"The last few years we've heard a lot about Australia being capable of fielding two full-strength test teams. With their injuries it's time to see if that's correct."
Woodhill is surprised at the absence of right-arm fast bowler Trent Copeland who he spent time working with in his years at New South Wales. The 25-year-old played the three tests against Sri Lanka in August and September but has been surplus since.
"I can't believe he didn't play a test on the tour of South Africa; he's capable of bowling long spells. All I can assume is they want to use Cutting with local knowledge as a Queenslander or Starc as a left-arm option. They'll definitely play Pattinson and Siddle."
Woodhill says three pace bowlers should do the job this week.
"There are not too many times where you'd play four pace bowlers at the Gabba. There's a chance they wouldn't be used enough if the ball does a bit. Trent [Boult] would have to push one of the other three out to get a go. In Australia generally I think you should pick your six best batsmen first."