Summary Australia won the toss and put New Zealand into bat in the second Test in Christchurch on Saturday.
CHRISTCHURCH (AFP) - Australia won the toss and put New Zealand into bat on a ripe green wicket for the second Test at Hagley Oval in Christchurch on Saturday.
"I ve been talking to the bowlers and hopefully we can start well," Australia captain Steve Smith said.
In similar conditions for the first Test in Wellington, Smith won the toss and New Zealand were all out within two sessions.
New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum, playing his final Test said "it would have been nice to have won the toss" but expected a better batting performance from his side than in Wellington.
New Zealand are playing four seamers with Neil Wagner replacing spinner Mark Craig and Matt Henry in for the injured Doug Bracewell.
The one change in the Australian line up has James Pattinson in for the injured Peter Siddle.
A win for Australia will propel them to number one in the world rankings ahead of India after winning the first Test by an innings and 52 runs.
New Zealand need to win if they are to level the series and to give McCullum a fitting farewell as he heads into retirement after 101 Tests.
Teams New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Henry Nicholls, Brendon McCullum (captain), Corey Anderson, BJ Watling, Matt Henry, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult.
Australia: Joe Burns, David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (captain), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, James Pattinson, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon, Jackson Bird.
Umpires: Richard Kettleborough (ENG), Ranmore Martinesz (SRI).
TV umpire: Richard Illingworth (ENG).
Match referee: Chris Broad (ENG).
