McCullum 'confident' Southee will be available for Perth

New Zealand's captain Brendon McCullum is confident that fast bowler Tim Southee will be fit for the second Test at the WACA after suffering back pain during the loss at the Gabba. Southee was the most threatening of New Zealand's bowlers on the first day in Brisbane but an irritated disc in his lower back forced him from the field on day two, and he did not bowl again in the match.

The depth of New Zealand's attack was found wanting in Southee's absence and with fellow new-ball bowler Trent Boult struggling to find his rhythm. Doug Bracewell finished with match figures of 0 for 170, Jimmy Neesham with 1 for 111, and offspinner Mark Craig leaked runs in both innings and finished with 3 for 234.

The short turnaround between matches - the second Test begins in Perth on Friday - means that Southee has little time to prove his fitness. However, McCullum said the initial signs had been good and he was hopeful that Southee would be available to lead the attack again.

"Pretty confident - he's started to come right pretty quickly, which is a good sign," McCullum said. "There's a bit of an understanding with some back injuries that sometimes they can recover pretty quickly. We'll give him every chance.

"He's one of our leaders within the group and he's an outstanding bowler. He showed in that first innings that he'll pose a lot of questions for them as well. Hopefully he'll play and we'll have a full squad to pick from in that second Test."

Adding to New Zealand's concerns, Neesham has been ruled out of the rest of the series with a back injury, which has led to fast man Mitchell McClenaghan joining the squad ahead of the Perth Test. Neil Wagner had already been called in as cover for Southee, and regardless of whether Southee is fit, the balance of the attack will be altered by Neesham's absence.

Matt Henry was close to selection at the Gabba and will be firmly in the frame at the WACA, but consideration might also be given to including the spinning allrounder Mitchell Santner to balance the attack without Neesham. Southee's fitness might leave the selectors reluctant to choose him in a three-man pace attack, as they did at Headingley against England this year.

"If he is 100% fit then that's something we've got to entertain the thought of, as we did at Leeds," McCullum said. "If he is a little bit uncertain then we may have to bolster the stocks. We've got plenty of options within the squad and we'll find 11 that we're comfortable heading into a Test match with and I'm sure we'll be better than what we were in this Test match.

"I'm expecting Tim will be available. He's hard as nails and if he is anywhere near fit then Tim will play. If Matt gets the opportunity we've got total confidence in him. We'll get to Perth and look at the conditions and make sure everyone has pulled up as we expect them to and we'll then make a decision."