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The 26-year-old Sears will come in to replace Will O'Rourke, who was ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury.

New Zealand captain Tim Southee confirmed Wellington seamer Ben Sears will make his Test debut in the second Test against Australia, starting on Friday (March 8) in Christchurch. The 26-year-old Sears will come in to replace Will O'Rourke, who was ruled out after suffering a hamstring injury in New Zealand's 172-run defeat in the opening Test.

"Offers real pace. We saw him clock 150 (kmh) earlier in the summer in a T20 against Bangladesh, so excited to see what he's got at test level," Southee said on the eve of the Test. "He's a tall fella. He's got pace, he's got something about him. Obviously the job Will O'Rourke did in the couple of test matches he played... again another tall guy with a bit of pace and skill about him, so excited to see what Ben has got."

Southee was non-committal whether the introduction of Sears will be the only change for the hosts. New Zealand opted to play an extra seamer in Scott Kuggeleijn on a green-looking track in Wellington and in the process left out left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. It was a decision, when viewed retrospectively, had been a mistake given the assistance it accorded to Nathan Lyon, who became the first spinner since Muttiah Muralitharan in 2006 to return a 10-wicket match haul in New Zealand.

While conditions at the Hagley Oval have tended to favour the faster bowlers, who have taken 349 wickets to the spinners' 34 in the last 12 Tests here, Kuggeleijn wasn't penetrative enough at Wellington and took 2 for 87 in the first innings and then used for only three overs in the second as Glenn Phillips produced an excellent display of spin bowling.

New Zealand's selection conundrum is exacerbated by the series scoreline and Southee's own bowling form. The New Zealand captain, who will become the first fast bowler to feature in a 100 games in each of the three international formats this week, has taken just four wickets from his three Tests this year at an average of 80.25. It's a record he didn't shy away from amidst the celebratory mood of his impending 100th Test.

"You always want to be performing at your best and I think there's no hiding from the fact that the currency we deal in as a bowler is wickets, and the last three Test matches I haven't got the wickets I would have liked," he said.

"I still feel like there's more to it. There's roles within that as well. I have probably not been where I should be as the most experienced bowler of the side. But like everyone, each week you're trying to get better. Each week you're trying to go out and put your best foot forward. Prepare as well as you can to give yourself the best chance and that's the same over the last couple of days. I've done that.

"I've felt okay at times. Sometimes you feel good and you don't get the wickets. Sometimes you feel not so good and you actually pick up a few wickets. So I think it's just about trusting your game. Trusting what you do.

"But there's no hiding from the fact that the last couple of Test matches have been disappointing. I know that. I'd always like more wickets. And hopefully, there's some to come.