New Zealand name an unchanged side for the decider

New Zealand have kept faith with the eleven that lost the middle match of the series, a decision that says more about their read of the conditions than of the performance.

One bad hour, not one bad side

The collapse that decided the last match came in a single passage of play on a surface that misbehaved for both teams. Selecting on that evidence alone would have meant changing a side that has otherwise been consistent.

Reacting to the last result is the easiest way to end up picking a different side every week.

The decider is expected to be played on a fresher pitch, which should suit the batting group they have backed.