Arnel All Set to Debut Against Australia

Wellington: New Zealand seamer Brent Arnel (31) is all set to make his debut against Australia in the Friday's first Test in Wellington's Basin Reserve cricket ground.

Kiwi skipper Daniel Vettori said the pitch appears to have a bit of grass on top and may suit a four-man pace attack, rather than including second spinner Jeetan Patel.

For Australia, Tasmania fast bowler Peter George has been called into Australia's Test squad as cover for injured Ryan Harris.

Harris had complained of soreness in his left side during the Chappell-Hadlee ODI series, which had forced him to sit out of the final game.

Meanwhile, George's selection follows his outstanding record for Tasmania, where he has an overall first-class record of 56 wickets at an average of 31.05.

Australian National Selection Panel chairman Andrew Hilditch believes that George is an exciting young fast bowler, who has the skills to succeed at the international level and will benefit reatly from being around the Australian set-up. (ANI)

Team news

New Zealand: Thier batting line-up is settled for the time being, with Mathew Sinclair's only chance of resuming his Test career being if there is a late injury. It leaves only one decision - two spinners and three seamers or one spinner and four seamers? It is Jeetan Patel's home ground, so his experience of drifting the ball in the Wellington wind could be useful.

Sqaud (from): DL Vettori (capt), BJ Arnel, MJ Guptill, PJ Ingram, BB McCullum (wk), TG McIntosh, CS Martin, JS Patel, MS Sinclair, TG Southee, LRPL Taylor, DR Tuffey, BJ Watling.

Australia: Left arm Australian fast bowler Mitchell Johnson says that he is looking forward to bowling first change in the first test against New Zealand to be played at Wellington's Basin Reserve cricket ground from Friday.

Sqaud (from): RT Ponting (capt), MJ Clarke, DE Bollinger, PR George, BJ Haddin (wk), RJ Harris, NM Hauritz, PJ Hughes, MEK Hussey, MG Johnson, SM Katich, CJ McKay, MJ North, SPD Smith, SR Watson.

Pitch and conditions
The practice pitches have been lively and the Test pitch is green, so the new ball will be a challenge for the top-order batsmen. "It will have a bit of drying today," Vettori said, "but it's probably going to be a typical Wellington wicket where it's got a little bit in it early on and then flattens out to a really good Test match wicket."

Stats and trivia

• New Zealand and Australia have met in eight Tests at the Basin Reserve for two Australian victories, one New Zealand win and five draws
• New Zealand haven't beaten Australia in a Test match since March 1993, when Danny Morrison helped demolish Allan Border's men at Eden Park
• Mitchell Johnson and Chris Martin have each picked up 14 wickets in Australia-New Zealand Tests, but Johnson has done it in two games at an average of 11, while Martin has taken eight matches at 74.14
• Daniel Vettori has the most Test runs, centuries, fifties and wickets of anyone in the New Zealand side.

Match facts
March 19-23, 2010
Start time 11:00 local (22:00 GMT prev day)