Australian cricket team in New Zealand in 1985-86

The Australian cricket team toured New Zealand in the 1985-86 season to play a three-match Test series and four-match one day series against New Zealand.

New Zealand won the series 1-0 with two matches drawn. It was the first time they had beaten Australia at home in a test series, and meant they retained the Trans Tasman Trophy.

The one day series was drawn 2-2.

Australia had just lost to New Zealand 2-1 at home during the 1985-86 season and were lucky to draw 0-0 against India. The team was greatly weakened by defections to the South African rebel tours. However they had just finished the home summer on a high note, having defeated India and New Zealand in the 1985-86 triangular one-day series. Allan Border was confident the team would win the one day series and bring back the Trans Tasman Trophy.

The original squad selected was selected by Laurie Sawle, Greg Chappell, Jim Higgs and Dick Guy. It consisted of:

On-tour selectors: Border, Bright, Marsh

Wayne B. Phillips had been Australia's first choice wicketkeeper for two years. However his form behind the stumps had fallen away and the Australian selectors picked him as a specialist batsman again, with specialist keeper Tim Zoehrer picked in the side as Australia's first-choice gloveman. During the tour, Zoehrer returned to Australia with an eye infection and Phillips became the keeper.

Geoff Lawson was unavailable to play due to a back injury. Leg-spinner Bob Holland was overlooked for selection despite taking more first class wickets that summer than any other bowler. The writers of Wisden later argued this was a major mistake.Bill O'Reilly was delighted with the selections of Steve Waugh ("one of the best selections in the whole era of Greg Chappell's career at the selection committee's wheel") and Bruce Reid ("strong claims to be recognised as the finest left-arm speedster we put on the international arena since Alan Davidson"), but was disappointed in the selection of Ray Bright over Holland, and Greg Ritchie over Mark O'Neill:

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