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SYDNEY - It's the one area where New Zealand feels they have the edge on Australia as they await their first look at spinner Jason Krejza in Adelaide.
The Tasmanian tweaker was a surprise omission from a pace-bowler dominated first test in Brisbane and captain Ricky Ponting tipped
him as a likely inclusion at a more spin-friendly Adelaide Oval on Friday.
It will be his first test on home soil after bizarre match figures of 12 for 358 in a memorable debut against India in Nagpur.
After plenty of hand-wringing over the quality of Australian spin in the post-Shane Warne era, Krejza roared into action in Nagpur to surprise a few doubters after he was hammered in an early tour match.
New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori said before Australia's 149-run win in the first test in Brisbane that spin bowling was the hosts' only question mark.
Krejza's first-class statistics of 55 wickets at 45.67 would suggest that, although New Zealand coach and former test offspinner John Bracewell had no doubt he'd be battle hardened.
"I watched Krejza in India and he got 12 wickets in his first test and that is probably an indication of Australia's tough Sheffield Shield competition," Bracewell said.
"When you get that opportunity guys grab it, (Michael) Hussey was the same thing when he got an opportunity.
"We'll play it ball by ball. Our guys will want to get a sighter of him because we have only seen him on video."
For New Zealand, Vettori will get plenty of bowling, and Wellington offspinner Jeetan Patel appears likely to partner him if the pitch looks likely to take turn.
Four years ago when New Zealand lost to Australia by 213 runs in Adelaide, Vettori and spinner Paul Wiseman took all 10 home wickets to fall between them.
Bracewell was non-committal until he saw the Adelaide Oval pitch as the tourists fly there from Brisbane today.
"We have brought Jeetan over to give us that option, not just as cover for Dan," he said.
While Australia will play just one spinner with potential backup from Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds, reverse swing appeared to be creating just as much interest.
Having watched New Zealand's struggles against the swinging ball in Brisbane, man-of-the-match Mitchell Johnson (who took nine for 69), Brett Lee, Stuart Clark or potential recall Peter Siddle will be looking to exploit the conditions.
Siddle's ability to reverse swing the ball in suitable dry conditions which scuff the ball, brought him into contention.
New Zealand experimented with reverse swing against New South Wales in Sydney but Chris Martin, Iain O'Brien and Tim Southee weren't experts yet. Batsman Jesse Ryder may also be called on for some overs if New Zealand go for a mix of two pacemen and two spinners.
"(Reverse swing) is something everybody in world cricket has been working on and getting better and so have we," Bracewell said.
"Our guys know how to look after the ball, I'm not sure if we are as adapted as Johnson is because of the 'slider' he bowls which allows it to go that way a lot earlier."
Whatever the case, whoever bats first will be under pressure to post a big total.
In the past five tests at the Adelaide Oval, the first innings totals have been 526 (by India last season), 551 for six (England in 2006-07), 405 (West Indies in 2005-06), 575 for eight (Australia against New Zealand in 2004-05) and 556 (Australia against India in 2003-04).
- NZPA
