Kiwis wonder if history Will repeat at SCG

Should New Zealand need supporting evidence to justify including replacement bowler Will Somerville in their XI for the final Domain Series Test in Sydney starting Friday, they won't need to dig too deeply into their brief playing history at the SCG.

It was on the eve of their most-recent Test appearance at the historic venue in November 1985 that NZ selectors hastily summoned a tall off-spinner who was also a handy lower-order batter, but who had not been deemed worthy of a berth in the initial touring party.

As events transpired, John Bracewell not only slotted seamlessly into Test cricket despite arriving in Australia just days before the coin toss, his contributions with both ball and bat saw him named player of the match in a series that remains the Kiwis sole triumph in almost 50 years of touring here.

Image Id: DEBE39BCB5E2413FB5D64785032B3382 Image Caption: Bracewell a year later in 1986 // Getty

Regardless of whether 35-year-old Somerville, added to the Black Caps squad following the hand fracture sustained by opening bowler Trent Boult, plays at the SCG and replicates Bracewell's 85 runs (unbeaten in both innings) and five wickets, NZ can't salvage anything more than a consolation win.

Trailing 0-2 in the three-match Domain Test Series, having suffered their two biggest losses (in terms of runs) from the 33 Tests they've contested on Australia's turf, the Black Caps are desperate to provide sterner opposition in the final Test of the men's home summer.

Consequently, Somerville is expected to come into selection calculations for the SCG given his familiarity with and record at the venue where he spent five years playing with New South Wales before returning to his native New Zealand in 2018.

During his tenure with the Blues, he played five Sheffield Shield games at the SCG where he claimed 23 wickets at 20.70 with a best innings return of 8-136 in 2017 against a Queensland outfit that included current Australia Test players Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne.

While Somerville's inclusion might raise eyebrows among casual observers, it won't catch by surprise Australia's batters who can tap into the intelligence provided by the off-spinner's former teammates at NSW for insights into his repertoire.

"'Sommers' is a lovely guy, he goes up the back of the ball," said Blues and Australia spinner Nathan Lyon in likening Somerville's bowling style to his own highly effective top-spin method.

"I've trained with him being part of the New South Wales squad together for a few years.

"He gets a fair amount of bounce and he's got a great record at the SCG.

"He loves bowing there, so it would be a different challenge for us and a good one for our batters."

The reason that NZ didn't call up a like-for-like replacement for swing bowler Boult is the current touring party already includes auxiliary quicks Matt Henry and Kyle Jamieson (who was added to the squad after Lockie Ferguson suffered a calf strain during the first Test at Perth).

But should the SCG wicket give the indication it will take turn when teams arrive for their first pre-game training sessions on New Year's Day, Black Caps coach Gary Stead believes Sommerville stands a strong chance of making an unplanned return to his former home ground.

"He's someone that we'll definitely consider," Stead said in Melbourne today.

"Will's played a lot at the SCG before, and he certainly understands the ground and we'll be tapping into him and his knowledge.

"I think it helps because he does have that knowledge.

"He wasn't an original selection in the (touring party of) 15 but the reason we've bought him over here is as a replacement for Trent Boult, as we have enough cover for one game in the pace bowling area.

"And certainly spin is something that traditionally at the SCG has been more of a factor than at other grounds in Australia.

"It definitely suggests that we could play two spinners there, without a doubt."

There have also been calls for Somerville to replace first-choice spinner Mitchell Santner, who has endured a wretched Domain Series to date (a single wicket at a cost of 250 runs) and whom former Australia skipper Ricky Ponting suggested should not be considered for selection in the final Test.

However, Santner has contributed valuable runs to the Black Caps lower-order and while Somerville is known to boast some batting skills, his highest score of 40no in three Test appearances pales alongside Santner who posted a career-high 126 against England in a Test played last month.

Stead defended Santner against some of the criticism relating to his lack of potency and inability to bowl economically, noting the left-armer was one of a number of his players who had failed to produce their best in the face of relentless pressure from Australia.

"It's not only Mitch that's had a tough fortnight here," Stead said today.

"There's other players that perhaps haven't had the performances and results they wanted.

"Australia is no doubt one of the toughest places in the world to come, and to beat them.

"I would say here and India are probably the two (destinations) in the world that are the toughest."

Santner also received backing from his rival spinner Lyon, who conceded the 27-year-old had endured a difficult Domain Series to date but would likely benefit from the more spin-friendly conditions that are expected at the SCG.

"You don't write off good players in international cricket," Lyon said.

"Probably Mitch hasn't had the series that he wanted to, but he's a world-class player – he's a brilliant fielder, his bowling is improving (and) he's a great batter as well.

'You can't just write-off someone after seeing them under the pump for two games.

"The SCG is probably going to suit Mitch in the way he bowls, so we're expecting him to definitely play but also to play a massive role in the next week."

Domain Test Series v New Zealand

Australia squad: David Warner, Joe Burns, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, James Pattinson, Michael Neser, Mitchell Swepson

New Zealand: Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, BJ Watling, Neil Wagner, Kane Williamson (c)

First Test: Australia won by 296 runs in Perth

Second Test: Australia won by 247 runs

Third Test: January 3-7, SCG (Seven, Fox & Kayo)