Photo: Getty ImagesThe Black Caps have had to change their preparation for the Boxing Day test against Australia. Today's scheduled hit-out against a Victoria XI at Scotch College in Melbourne has been called off due to temperatures expecting to reach between 43-45 degrees, leaving the Black Caps to tweak their plans ahead of the showdown at the MCG. The match was meant to be day one of a two-day affair, with the unofficial clash planned so the Black Caps bowlers would bowl on Friday, before the batsmen had their turn in the middle on the second day, scheduled for Sunday. Black Caps coach Gary Stead explained how the change in plans shouldn't be a setback, with players still recovering from the first test in Perth. "There's going to be a real inner determination to play better than what we did in Perth.

Source: Otago Daily Times December 19, 2019 19:07 UTC