NZ draw inspiration from 2011 thriller

New Zealand batsman Ross Taylor says the Black Caps will draw inspiration from their gritty 2011 win in Hobart as they attempt to end a 20-year series drought in Australia over three Tests in November.

While their last Test venture on Australian shores ended in a 1-1 series draw, the Black Caps managed a thrilling seven-run win at Blundstone Arena that came after a first Test thrashing in Brisbane and without the spinning prowess of Daniel Vettori.

Led by then-captain Taylor, the Black Caps were bowled out for 150 but still managed a first-innings lead, after debutant Trent Boult (3-29), Doug Bracewell (3-20) and Chris Martin (3-46) dismissed Australia for 136.

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Chasing 241 for victory, Australia opener David Warner batted through the final innings for an unbeaten 123 but it was ultimately to no avail as New Zealand dismissed the hosts for 233.

“The team was pretty inexperienced,” Taylor told The New Zealand Herald. “I had just started my tenure as captain and we didn’t know what to expect.

“We had a lot of youngsters coming through that we knew were going to come good. It was just a question of when.

“It was Trent Boult’s first Test and that gave the team a lot of confidence going forward, knowing Dan Vettori was not going to be playing as much cricket, we could win without him.”

Seven players from that win will be part of New Zealand’s touring party for the Commonwealth Bank Test series – captain Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Taylor, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee and Boult.

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The Kiwis have won just one series across the Tasman, in the summer of 1985-86, and while much has been made of changes to Australia’s line-up following the retirements of a host of experienced players, Taylor said a series win would still be a tough task.

“Any time you play in Australia, it’s going to be tough. Conditions are just that little bit bouncier,” Taylor said.

“Australia are going through a transition stage but they’ll still be very competitive.”

Taylor was ruled out of New Zealand’s limited-overs series in Zimbabwe in August after suffering a painful blow during practice that required testicular surgery, but the batsman said he was optimistic he would be fit and in form for the tour of Australia.

The New Zealand Test squad will have an open-wicket practice for two days in Hamilton next week, during which they will use the pink Kookaburra ball that will be in use for the third Test in Adelaide, while they will also have three warm-up games in Canberra and Sydney ahead of the first Test in Brisbane on November 5.