New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test: Playing 11, NZ vs AUS Head To Head, Wellington Stats & Records

Trans-Tasman rivals move on from white-ball to red ball action as New Zealand host Australia in a crucial World Test Championship clash, starting with the first Test of the two-match series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington from Thursday (February 29).

It will be a battle between two World Test Champions and pace-bowling captains as Tim Southee leads the 2021 champion New Zealand, while the current holders Australia will be led by Pat Cummins.

The last time these two sides clashed in a Test match was four years ago, when Australia stretched their unbeaten streak to eight with New Zealand last beating their neighbours over 13 years ago in the longest format.

Australia has already announced their playing 11 for the series opener with the same line up that lost to West Indies last month set to take the field, meaning the pace trio of Micthell Starc, Cummins and Hazlewood will play their eighth Test on the trot.

New Zealand haven't revealed their playing 11, but the hosts will be without Devon Conway for the opener, and Will Young is likely to take his place despite the addition of Henry Nicholls to the squad. Kane Williamson also will return to the eleven alongside Daryl Mitchell.

Here is a look at the NZ vs AUS playing 11, head to head record, Wellington Basin Reserve Test stats, records and top performers at the venue ahead of the Trans-Tasman Series 2024 first Test:

New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test Playing 11

NZ XI: Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wicketkeeper), Glenn Phillips, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Tim Southee (captain), Will O'Rourke

AUS XI: Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitch Marsh, Alex Carey (wicketkeeper), Pat Cummins (captain), Mitch Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

NZ vs AUS Test Head To Head Record

In 60 NZ vs AUS head to head in Tests, New Zealand has won just 8 times, while Australia has won 34 times against their Trans-Tasman neighbours with 18 Tests ending in a draw. In New Zealand, Australia has won 14 times and drawn 7 of the 26 Tests with the home side winning just 5 times.

NZ vs AUS Test Stats & Records

Most runs for NZ vs AUS: John Wright - 1277 runs
Most runs for AUS vs NZ: Allan Border - 1500 runs
Most wickets for NZ vs AUS: Richard Hadlee - 130 wickets
Most wickets for AUS vs NZ: Shane Warne - 103 wickets
Most Hundreds for NZ vs AUS: Martin Crowe - 3 Hundreds
Most Hundreds for AUS vs NZ: David Warner & Allan Border - 5 Hundreds Each
Total Double Hundreds: 9
Highest Total for NZ vs AUS: 624 All Out in Perth (2015)
Highest Total for AUS vs NZ: 607/6 Declared in Brisbane (1993)
Lowest Total for NZ vs AUS: 42 All Out in Wellington (1946)
Lowest Total for AUS vs NZ: 103 All Out in Auckland (1986)
Highest Score for NZ vs AUS: Ross Taylor - 290
Highest Score for AUS vs NZ: David Warner - 253
Best Bowling Innings for NZ vs AUS: Richard Hadlee - 9 for 52
Best Bowling Innings for AUS vs NZ: Shane Warne - 6 for 31
Best Bowling Match for NZ vs AUS: Richard Hadlee - 15 for 123
Best Bowling Match for AUS vs NZ: Nathan Lyon - 10 for 118
Most 5-wicket hauls for NZ vs AUS: Richard Hadlee - 6
Most 5-wicket hauls for AUS vs NZ: Dennis Lille - 4
Most 10-wicket matches for NZ vs AUS: Richard Hadlee - 3
Most 10-wicket matches for AUS vs NZ: Bob Holland, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Lyon, Dennis Lille - 1 each

Wellington Basin Reserve Stadium Test Stats and Records

Matches: 67
Won Batting 1st: 14
Won Batting 2nd: 29
New Zealand's record in Wellington: Matches - 67 | Won - 23 | Lost - 20 | Drawn - 24
Australia's record in Wellington: Matches - 10 | Won - 4 | Lost - 1 | Drawn - 5
Highest Total: 680/8 Declared by NZ v India in 2014
Lowest Total: 42 All Out by NZ vs Australia in 1946
Average 1st Innings Score: 313
Average 2nd Innings Score: 313
Average 3rd Innings Score: 252
Average 4th Innings Score: 141
Most runs: Kane Williamson (New Zealand) - 1488 runs
Most wickets: Chris Martin (New Zealand) - 60 wickets
Pace wickets: 1402
Spin wickets: 418
Total Fifties: 271
Most Fifties: Ross Taylor (New Zealand) - 8 fifties
Total Hundreds: 105
Most Centuries: Martin Crowe & Kane Williamson (New Zealand) - 5 Hundreds Each