Cricket: Black Caps could make changes - McCullum

Brendon McCullum in the nets during a New Zealand training session at Adelaide Oval. Photo / Getty

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum has floated the idea of changes in his team for tomorrow's deciding third test against Australia.

With the likelihood of key swing bowler Trent Boult being fit for the match, his troublesome back injury receding on the evidence of an impressive workout in the Adelaide Oval nets yesterday, there had been an expectation of an unchanged lineup for a match New Zealand must win to square the series.

However McCullum raised eyebrows at his pre-test press conference today by hinting strongly that change is in the pipeline.

''I wouldn't think we'd name an unchanged team," McCullum said.

''I think probably there will be some changes. It's just a case of working out what is the best balance heading into the test."

One option McCullum may have in mind is playing a second spinner, uncapped Northern Districts allrounder Mitchell Santner.

However that would be a big call in a clutch game and in unfamiliar circumstances of the first day-night test and with a pink ball.

McCullum might have been suggesting a place for bustling left armer Neil Wagner in place of Matt Henry in a straight seamer swap.

If McCullum and coach Mike Hesson suspect reverse swing might come into play, Wagner would be a decent call. Plus, he bowled well in Perth with the pink ball in the two-day game against a West Australian XI last weekend.

Wagner's inclusion, or indeed retaining four seamers, would also give a bit of cover in case Boult's back flares up during the match.