Cricket: Gabba pitch to suit seamers

Chris Martin in action against Australia A. Photo / Getty Images

Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell is vowing to deliver a thunderous pitch in the first cricket test between the Black Caps and Australia on Thursday.

Mitchell claims it will be the complete opposite of the one which produced a sedate Ashes draw last year in which 1258 runs were scored and just 22 batsmen dismissed.

He told the Herald Sun it'll have plenty for the fast bowlers.

"I can tell you that the Test pitch will be a pitch I have not used in Test cricket for at least 15 years," Mitchell said yesterday.

"I honestly cannot remember the last time I used it for a Test and it has not been used in the Sheffield Shield this season.

"It will be a very different pitch and the fast bowlers should love it because it will move around a lot more. This pitch is not as deep as a lot of others and it will play a lot more like a Shield pitch. There will be a bit in it."

It will be welcoming news for the young Australian pace lineup that could include three debutants in Ben Cutting, James Pattinson and Mitchell Starc. Australia's regular pace bowlers Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson and Ryan Harris along with teen sensation Patrick Cummins were all ruled out of the first test last week.

The injuries crisis means New Zealand go into the series with a more experienced bowling lineup, a rarity against Australia, with 610 career wickets between them compared to Australia's 126.

The Black Caps are tossing up whether to go with four seamers (Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and Trent Boult) along with Daniel Vettori or an extra batsman.

Black Caps batsman Jesse Ryder says the warm-up match against Australia A proved they've had good time at the crease.

He says they got what they needed out of the warm-up match which has given them confidence ahead of the opening test.

- NEWSTALK ZB/HERALD ONLINE