Smith wary of different conditions in New Zealand

Omnisports

January 29, 2016 5:39 AM

Australia Test and One-Day International (ODI) captain Steve Smith is wary of the different conditions the side will face in their tour of New Zealand.

___4620238___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___4620238___2016___1___29___13___stevesmith-cropped_1s1ok6u62dqnz1xl3oh8zgdjb5

Australia Test and One-Day International (ODI) captain Steve Smith is wary of the different conditions the side will face in their tour of New Zealand.

New Zealand host Australia for a three-game ODI series as well as two Test matches across the next four weeks.

Smith knows the most pressing issue for his team will be adapting to the pitch conditions they are likely to face in New Zealand, after spending a summer in Australia on hard, flat batting pitches, which are tailor-made for batsmen.

"It’s going to be a little bit different," Smith said. "[New Zealand] are going to prepare wickets that are going to do a little bit.

"We’ve got some bowlers there to hopefully get a bit out of that and the batters are going to have to adapt a little bit better than we have previously on wickets that have done stuff."

The 26-year-old also believes Australia must rectify their away form if they are to stand a chance against the Black Caps.

"We haven't performed extremely well away from home recently," he added.

"That's a big thing on my agenda, to make sure we're playing well away from home.

"It starts in a couple of days' time."

The first ODI will take place in Auckland on February 3, while just four days separates the end of the series and the first Test in Wellington on February 12.

Smith said a decision will be made after a few practice sessions to decide how they approach the first Test at Basin Reserve.

"We’re going to have a few net sessions before we start," he said.

"We’ll have a look and see how [the bowlers] are going, see how their bodies are and see who’s going to be best for the conditions that we’re faced with.

"It’s going to be a tough call on whomever misses out but we’re confident that these guys are going to do a job for us in New Zealand."

Omnisports