Long time between Boxing Day tests for Kiwis vs Australia

It's been a long time between Boxing Day Tests for Australia's closest cricketing neighbour.

New Zealand's last appearance on Dec. 26 in Melbourne was in 1987. So long ago, in fact, that only four of the current starters Neil Wagner, Ross Taylor, B.J. Watling and Colin de Grandhomme were born.

Fast bowler Tim Southee says the importance of the occasion is not lost on anyone involved in the squad. A crowd of up to 75,000 is expected for day one of the second Test, beginning Thursday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

"A lot of great cricketers from New Zealand haven't had the chance to do it so it's something special," Southee said.

"I'm sure everyone grew up watching the Boxing Day test. The crowds and the history behind it and New Zealand not having had one for 30-odd years, it's something a little bit different."
"Not only our partnership, but 'Wags' (Neil Wagner) as well, the three of us have played a lot of cricket together," Southee said. "We've had a lot of success together so it's nice to have Trent back."
"Looking at the wicket in the last two or three Boxing Day Test matches, it's been very hard to take 20 wickets," Paine said, "Our batting team has been scoring a lot of runs so if we were to go one more bowler, we would be comfortable they could do the job."