Australia is in a commanding position at stumps on day two of the opening Test of the series against New Zealand in Wellington after a remarkable day of cricket.
A total of 13 wickets fell for the day, but not before Cameron Green continued his dazzling form with the bat on Friday morning to finish a powerhouse performance unbeaten on 174. He was ably supported by Josh Hazlewood, who recorded his best score since 2016 with 22, as the pair’s 116-run partnership set a new record for a last-wicket stand by Australia in New Zealand.
The Aussies had New Zealand on the ropes at 5-29, with champion batter Kane Williamson run out for a duck in a calamitous incident, before Glenn Phillips (71) steadied the Kiwis, which were eventually bowled out for 179.
Rather than enforcing the follow-on, Australia returned to bat but that spelt trouble for Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, whose run of outs continued. Australia is 2-13 at stumps, leading by with Usman Khawaja and Nathan Lyon at the crease.
BONKERS TEST DAY ENDS IN WILD LAST-BALL SCENE AS BIG BLOWS SHAKE AUSSIES
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Final ball leaves Lyon’s wicket BEGGING | 00:28
‘LACK OF SELF-BELIEF’: WHY CAN’T KIWIS TOPPLE BIGGER BROTHER?
Despite the late dismissals of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, the series opener in Wellington looks destined to end as an Australian victory, which would continue New Zealand’s horror record against its trans-Tasman rivals in the Test arena.
The Blacks Caps have not defeated Australia on home soil since 1993, suffering nine defeats and a draw since the 1993 triumph in Auckland. New Zealand has only won one of its previous 31 Tests against Australia, namely the famous Hobart contest of 2011.
New Zealand, the world Test champions of 2021, have recently challenged the likes of India and England and currently sit atop the World Test Championship table, but can’t produce their best cricket against the Australians.
“I think it’s the big brother, little brother scenario,” former New Zealand batter Mark Richardson said in commentary.
“We respect Australian cricket, we know how good it is. In that rivalry, we desperately want to do well.
“There’s an element of (putting Australia on a pedestal) and I think there’s an element of intimidation. Maybe, if people were being really honest with themselves, (there is) just a little bit of lack of belief as well.
“Australia comes here and we always seem to take a backward step. (New Zealand) has folded under that pressure.”
Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin expressed similar sentiments after the Kiwis dismal start to the second day.
“It just looks like New Zealand don’t believe they can beat Australia. Then they play a different form of cricket. It’s just sometimes that lack of self-belief,” he said.
New Zealand batsman Glenn Phillips, who performed well in a late counter-attack when scoring 71, conceded the Kiwis start was far from ideal.
“Absolutely. Obviously the way Cam Green played with Hazlewood there, the did really well and put on a massive partnership there, and that is not ideal for us when we were trying to wrap up the tail there,” he said.
“But at the end of the day, that is what Test cricket is about. They could have batted normally and we could have been out there for four sessions anyway.”
‘OMG INCREDIBLE!’ Kiwis’ classic crumble | 01:37
‘PREDICTABLE’ KIWIS ‘DIDN’T HAVE A PLAN B’ FOR GREEN
As Cameron Green took the opening Test away from New Zealand with a stunning onslaught to start the second day in Wellington, the Kiwis looked befuddled as their hopes of winning the match were blown away.
The Western Australian, who finished unbeaten on 174 in Australia’s tally of 383, farmed the strike well while receiving strong support from Josh Hazlewood in the record 10th wicket stand for the tourists in New Zealand.
But what was bewildering is that instead of trying to change their look in the outfield, New Zealand continued to serve up what became fodder for the powerful Green.
The 24-year-old, who reached his century with a late flurry on Thursday, brought up Australia’s 300 with a six and did the same to reach 150 at Basin Reserve.
Those fine shots were among the five sixes and 23 fours Green struck, with his batting on Friday far more aggressive than his early watchfulness on Day 1.
Former Australian wicketkeeper Brad Haddin was critical of the predictability of the Kiwi bowling and also a lack of verve in the field as Australia put on 104 runs in the session.
“Green knows what is coming, because the same plan has been going on for an hour and a half. What has happened is that it has become predictable,” Haddin said.
“They wait until the last two balls of the over. The first four are aimed at the top of off-stump … and Cameron Green is just sitting there
on the back foot waiting for the bouncer to come like a ball machine.”
Haddin was also critical of the placement of fielders to both Hazlewood and Green, saying the Kiwis allowed themselves to be dictated to.
“There have been fielders out on the boundary. There has been no-one in the eyeline of Josh Hazlewood that have made him field uncomfortable,” he said.
“You can show intent in the field. You can make players feel uncomfortable. There has been too much of the same-same. You have to try to make them to make a different decision.”
Former New Zealand batter Craig McMillan was critical of the Kiwi approach as well, saying “It’s poor tactics (and) they didn’t have a plan B.”
“They stuck with the same game plan the whole session, and it didn’t work,” he said.
Williamson falls to ridiculous run out | 00:48
CRACKS WIDEN AS AUSSIE TOP-LINERS MISS OUT YET AGAIN
Former England captain Michael Vaughan kept a close eye on the Australians throughout the summer against Pakistan and the West Indies and believed there were some concerning signs in the batting order, despite the hosts winning four of the five Tests.
In the lead-in to the New Zealand series, he said it was critical for top order batters including Marnus Labuschagne, Travis Head and Steve Smith to regain their rhythm after a difficult season at home and also because of the break until India arrive in December.
So far, not so good for the trio in question, with only Travis Head having an opportunity to get among the runs heading into the third day of the opening Test in Wellington.
Smith, who performed well at the Gabba, batted with grit and patience in difficult conditions on Thursday, with his 31 runs from 73 balls a reasonable contribution in partnership with Usman Khawaja as they shielded their teammates from the most testing part of the day.
But he was clearly disappointed to chop Tim Southee on to his stumps for a duck late on Friday, with the delivery seeing the New Zealand captain become the leading wicket taker Test cricket at the picturesque ground.
SMITH DUCK! The experiment fails again! | 00:41
Labuschagne’s lamentable run continues and he looked clearly bemused as he walked off Basin Reserve on Friday after getting a fine edge to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell to a delivery from Southee that was going down leg side when on two.
While he executed a perfect throw to run-out Kane Williamson earlier in the day, with the bat the Australian No. 3 contributed just three runs for his side from the 40 balls that he faced in an outing that can only have diminished his confidence further.
As a result, his average has dipped below 50 for the first time since 2019. And nor is he the only Australian batsman under some pressure.
“There is a bit of pressure on Travis Head. He has to come out here and make some runs,” Fox Cricket analyst Brendon Julian said.
‘TARGET THE STUMPS’: KIWI BOWLERS GET IT ALL WRONG
Much like their trans-Tasman rivals, New Zealand seemingly has no clue how to bowl out the tail.
During the recent summer of cricket at home, Australia’s bowlers drew criticism for persisting with bouncers when looking to wrap up the tail.
Pakistan’s Aamer Jamal and Mir Hamza formed an 86-run partnership for the tenth wicket during the New Year’s Test at the SCG, while West Indian bowlers Shamar Joseph and Kemar Roach put together 55 a couple of weeks later at Adelaide Oval.
But at Basin Reserve on Friday, Green and Hazlewood bettered the feat, combining for a 116-run partnership for the tenth wicket.
Hazlewood, who boasts a Test batting average of 11.55, survived 62 deliveries at the crease in the first innings when making 22, which is his highest Test score since 2016.
As revealed by the local broadcaster, Hazlewood only faced three deliveries that would have hit the stumps during his two-hour knock and at one stage was able to survive more than 20 overs without his pegs coming under threat.
Former White Ferns wicketkeeper Katey Martin lamented how New Zealand’s bowlers opted against trying to strike the stumps or secure LBWs as modes of dismissals to knock over Hazlewood.
“Being a wicketkeeper, I would have said just try and target the stumps. The tactics were a little off there,” she said.
New Zealand skipper Tim Southee bowled with spirit late on Day 2 when removing Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, with Glenn Phillips saying it was an example to follow when play resumes on Saturday.
“Absolutely. The pitch is still doing a little bit and with that new ball, it definitely brings us into the game quite a lot,” he said.
STARC SET TO LEVEL LEGENDARY LILLEE
At some stage this weekend, Mitchell Starc will level and probably pass iconic Australian fast bowler Dennis Lillee on the all-time wicket list.
The left-armed quick displayed his impressive ability to strike an early blow for his country when removing New Zealand opener Tom Latham for five on Friday.
The 34-year-old’s first wicket on New Zealand soil was the 354th of his career, placing him within one of the one-time world record held by Lillee.
Starc, who is playing in his 88th Test and is averaging 27.54 per wicket. Lillee set his mark in 70 Tests at an average of 23.92.
“It would be very high up on the priority list, though probably not while you are still playing,” Haddin said in commentary.
“To go past the great D.K Lillee, who at one stage was the leading fast bowler in the world and had the most wickets (and) is an icon of Australian cricket, so to go past the great D.K Lillee is a big tick for Mitchell Starc.”
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