Cricket: Tim Southee on track for second test

Tim Southee bowls during day one of the First Test between Australia and New Zealand at The Gabba. Photo / Getty Images

Barring a late hiccup, expect Tim Southee to lead New Zealand's bowling attack in the crucial second test against Australia.

Southee will have a bowl in the nets tomorrow and, provided his back holds up comfortably, it is expected he will be included in the side for the Waca test, starting on Friday.

Southee suffered an irritated disc in his back during Australia's first innings of their 208-run flogging of New Zealand in Brisbane and didn't bowl in their second innings.

However coach Mike Hesson, reading between the lines, is confident Southee will be ready to go.

"It's a bit early to give a percentage of how likely, but he's certainly made big progress in the past 24 hours from being incredibly uncomfortable standing to being able to run yesterday and turn without too much discomfort," Hesson said.

"If Tim gets through [today's net session] there won't be major changes. He's a pretty important part of our side. Tim and Trent [Boult] set the tone up front and hopefully he's going to be right, and I'm relatively confident."

Southee was comfortably the pick of New Zealand's attack at Brisbane, the rest either looking underdone or, in offspinner Mark Craig's case, simply picked off by Australia's batsmen.

However, Craig received endorsement from Hesson, echoing the thoughts of captain Brendon McCullum in the immediate aftermath of the first test.

Craig took three expensive wickets in Brisbane, late in Australia's second innings as they were preparing to declare.

"He didn't bowl as well as he can," Hesson said. "We also saw in England [earlier this year] after a not-so-great first test at Lord's the contribution he made to help us win at Leeds. He knows he's going to have to be better at Perth and I'm sure he will be."

With Hesson, it can sometimes be a case of joining dots. He's cagey in his observations and, to be fair, was speaking today three days before the start of the test and before even arriving in Perth.

However, it is possible New Zealand may promote Craig to No 7 in the batting order, with wicketkeeper BJ Watling moving up to No 6, where he should be anyway, with four seamers to follow.

That would give cover in case Southee has a problem, but also share the workload in temperatures tipped to reach 38deg C for the first couple of days of the test.

The problem with that is it does mean counterbalancing more bowling strength with a lengthy batting tail. Swings and roundabouts, but Hesson suggested six batsmen should be entrusted with getting the runs in what's anticipated to be fast, bouncy conditions, which tend to help swing bowlers.

"It would [be a risk] but it depends how you're going to win a test match," Hesson said.

"[You need] your top six to still score the majority of your runs. We've always relied on the fact we can eke out runs in the bottom half but you can't base your whole batting plan around that."