New Zealand vs. Australia, 2nd Test: Date, Time, Live Stream, TV Info, Preview

The first Test ended pretty badly for New Zealand, losing by an innings and 52 runs, but they'll have a chance to make amends come Saturday.

Date: Saturday, Feb. 20 to Wednesday, Feb. 24

Time: 10.30 a.m. local (9.30 p.m GMT Thursday)

Venue: Hagley Oval, Christchurch

Live Stream and TV Info: Sky Sports (UK), Sky Sport (New Zealand),TenSports (Pakistan), Fox Sports (Australia), Neo Cricket/Star Sports (India), Ten Sports (UAE), NowTV (subscription required).

Weather: Conditions will change from hot on Saturday—28 degrees Celsius—to overcast but dry, according to Accuweather.com. There might be a shower in spots, but not enough to wash out an entire day.

Overview

How exactly things went from bad to worse for New Zealand in the first Test only they will know. After losing the toss and electing to field first, they managed a meagre 183-run first-innings total. Not a single batsman managed to pass the 41-run mark, and Australia's reply compounded their woes.

Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Adam Voges all knuckled down to lead Australia to a mammoth 562-run reply, and the Black Caps were all out for 327 in their second innings.

Reverse swing was one of the biggest thorns in the side of the Black Caps, and conditions in Christchurch aren't exactly going to get easier. Australia will, however, be without Peter Siddle. Siddle was ruled out of the second Test with back pain, having bowled just eight overs in the second innings in Wellington. James Pattison seems the most likely to replace him, having missed out on the first Test due to injury.

The Black Caps have injury challenges of their own, with Doug Bracewell ruled out. With Matt Henry and Neil Wagner already in the side, no replacement will be called, though.

This Test is about much more than just a positive result for the Black Caps, though. It will be Brendon McCullum’s final international appearance for the team, and after clinching victory in the ODI series, he’ll be hoping for more of the same.

However, his side’s record is very much stacked against a fairytale ending. The Black Caps have only beaten Australia in five Tests in New Zealand, last managing to do so in 1993.

Conditions will be challenging and unfamiliar to both sides. New Zealand have played just one Test here, beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets in 2014.

Key players

New Zealand

Brendon McCullum's record against Australia is underwhelming. In 15 Tests against them, he averages just 24.59. In the six Tests he has played against Australia in New Zealand, his average is just 25.00. He struggled in the first Tests scoring naught and 10, but with this being his final appearance in New Zealand, McCullum might just manage to find something special.

Australia

Usman Khawaja is in consistent form, no matter which format he plays in. While the batting and the bowling sparked in the previous Test, knowing there is a player who seems guaranteed to deliver is a big help.

Squads

New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (c), Corey Anderson, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult, Martin Guptill, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling/Luke Ronchi (wk), Kane Williamson.

Australia: Steve Smith (c), Dave Warner, Jackson Bird, Joe Burns, Josh Hazlewood, Usman Khawaja, Nathan Lyon, Mitch Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Peter Nevill (wk), James Pattinson, Chadd Sayers, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges.

All information obtained firsthand, unless otherwise stated.