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As New Zealand cruised to 0-81 on an increasingly flat deck in Wellington yesterday, Australia’s lack of variety in its attack looked at risk of being exposed. But the patience of Josh Hazlewood and guile of Nathan Lyon saved them.
In a rare example of a horses-for-courses policy from the Australian selectors, the visitors picked their pace attack for this Test with a focus on accuracy and reliability over pace and dynamism.
The notional 140km/h rule installed during Darren Lehmann’s reign was put aside as Australia constructed an attack suited to a seaming wicket. In the first innings, Hazlewood, Peter Siddle and Jackson Bird bowled at gentle pace, operating in the 125-135km/h zone.
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Their speed mattered little as Hazlewood and Siddle consistently landed the ball in the right areas and earned just enough movement off the pitch to skittle the Kiwis.
But the Basin Reserve pitch is known to flatten out as Tests progress, shedding the moisture which makes it tricky for batting early on.
There always was a risk the attack Australia chose might be effective while the ball was moving around but lacking in penetration once the deck began to favour the batsmen.
As New Zealand’s openers cruised to 81 at four runs per over, it looked as though Australia were sorely lacking the express pace and left-arm variety of injured star Mitchell Starc.
It has been a long, long time since Australia have played a Test match without either a left armer, or a bowler who can consistently exceed 140km/h. In other words, their attack in this Test has been un-Australian in its make-up.
The reason Lehmann and the selectors have pursued the notional 140km/h policy, sometimes against good sense, is because they want bowlers who are able to conjure life out of the dead pitches which have become commonplace around the world.
Australia did not have one of those quicks yesterday and the Kiwi openers looked at ease. What the tourists did boast was a pair of bowlers whose strength is their consistency and subtle skills in Hazlewood and Lyon.
New Zealand’s attack had been unable to stem the flow of Australian runs and build any pressure as the tourists cantered to a first innings total of 562 and monstrous lead of 379.
Australia’s bowlers, led by Hazlewood and Lyon, showed them how it was done. After the Kiwis strong start, the Australians remained patient and bowled to clear plans for each batsman.
The final 42.3 overs of the day saw Australia take 4-98, while conceding a miserly 2.3 runs per over. Lyon kick-started things for Australia in his fourth over when he looped the ball up above Martin Guptill’s eyeline and coaxed a loose shot out of the Kiwi opener.
The Australian spinner later did the exact same thing to Guptill’s opening partner Tom Latham, who yet again looked impressive before failing to capitalise on his good work.
As Australia approach a likely 3-0 lead in what is essentially a five-Test home-and-away series, arguably the biggest difference between the sides has been in the spin department.
In the four Tests, limited Kiwi off spinner Mark Craig has been treated with utter contempt by the Australian batsmen, who have carted him at almost five runs per over, leaving him with the horrific bowling average of 67.
The fact New Zealand have not been able to get a skerrick of control from Craig has made life very difficult for their pace attack.
Compare that to Nathan Lyon, who has been wonderfully economical for Australia, conceding only three runs per over against New Zealand, while also taking some key wickets amid his return of 15 wickets at 26.
This continues a golden run of form for Lyon, who has been a major weapon for Australia over the past nine months. In that time, he has taken 52 wickets at 25 in Tests and confirmed that he is clearly the world’s best spinner on non-Asian pitches.
He and Hazlewood are forming a terrific partnership reminiscent of the fruitful relationship Lyon had with the retired Ryan Harris. Like Harris, Hazlewood has the rare ability to simultaneously attack and defend.
He may have only snared one wicket yesterday but the big seamer consistently asked questions of every Kiwi batsman. Not to mention that his one breakthrough was New Zealand’s champion strokemaker Kane Williamson.
In this match, Australia have had no so-called ‘x-factor’ in their attack. No left armers flinging the ball at supersonic speeds. Merely a bunch of clever and skilful operators who have brought their team to the cusp of a rousing victory.