Australia is well placed to win the second Test at Bellerive against New Zealand today, but must undertake a tricky run chase this morning to defeat the Kiwis and secure the series 2-0.
The Black Caps were in a strong position heading into day three but missed a golden opportunity to set the Australian side a more challenging total when its middle and lower order failed to fire yesterday.
New Zealand lost its last six wickets for just 55 runs and were all out for 226, leaving the Australians to chase a fourth innings target of 241 runs for victory.
The Australian bowlers shared the second innings wickets, with James Pattinson’s star continuing to rise in just his second Test match, taking 3-54 and finishing with match figures of 8 for 105.
Peter Siddle bowled tightly for large parts of the Black Caps second innings before some lusty hitting from the New Zealand lower order took the shine off his figures, finishing with 3-66. Nathan Lyon cleaned up the tail, claiming 3-25.
The best Australian bowling line-up is starting to become clearer, with Pattinson, Siddle and Patrick Cummins (when fit) the best three quicks in the land, while Lyon has cemented his spot as the side’s spinner. Shane Watson also lends some experience to the bowling line-up when his body is up to it.
With the Australian bowlers having done their part, it then fell to openers Phil Hughes and David Warner to get the locals off to a good start.
Hughes was very lucky to survive the early part of his innings after gloving a ball down the leg side to keeper Reece Young off the bowling of Chris Martin before he had got off the mark. The Black Caps appealed but Hughes was given not out, and New Zealand captain Ross Taylor chose not to refer the decision.
The fact that the replay clearly showed that Hughes had gloved the ball and yet remained at the crease suggests that the referral system still requires some tweaking. The use of technology in sport is designed to achieve a greater accuracy of decisions, but in this instance it has failed.
It is true that Taylor declined to have the decision reviewed, but surely this misses the point. If the technology exists which clearly demonstrates that a batsman should have been given out, there should be a mechanism whereby it is used and the correct decision is made every time. Otherwise, leave decisions entirely in the hands of the umpires and get rid of the technology altogether.
Hughes appeared nervous at the batting crease from the start of his innings, aware he cannot sustain his run of poor form on home soil for much longer, and finished on 20not out when rain stopped play. While Hughes was circumspect in his batting, his opening partner Warner took the opposite approach.
Warner punched the ball through the New Zealand in-field at will, finishing the day’s play on 47 off 50 balls. He looked in excellent form, and will be out to secure a century on a fourth-day wicket which looks to be flattening out.
It was hard to escape the fact that the two New South Welshmen are in a bat-off to retain their spot for the Boxing Day Test, with Shane Watson likely to resume his place at the top of the order when he returns from injury. Warner looked far more comfortable at the crease than Hughes, whose name was once more trending on Twitter after he survived the gloved chance down the leg side.
Questions remain over Australia’s batting line-up, and a strong showing is required today in chasing the remaining 169 runs for victory. Australia’s first innings total of 136 was its lowest innings total against New Zealand on home soil, and was the fifth instance of the Australian team being bowled out for under 150 since July 2010. Of those five, three were sub-100 innings totals.
The Test is Australia’s to lose, and they deserve to be strong favourites heading into day four, but a few early wickets this morning will send tremors through the batting line-up. While the best bowling quartet is becoming clearer, there remain a number of batsmen with question marks over their position in the side. A solid showing from the top order today will go some way to addressing that.
You can follow Michael on Twitter @MichaelFilosi
Justin
Guest
Watson is bascially saying HE DOESNT want to open now and he shouldnt. It was a poor decision for s short term gain that now see;s him back on the injured list. He has been battling with the bat for some time now too at the top.
Justin
Guest
Well he is hardly a main stay of the team and seems to get injured doing up his shoe laces...
WQ
Guest
How is that comment going for you now hog?
Matt F
Roar Guru
FP - The argument that an experienced head will take pressure off younger players is a valid one but when the experienced head is the one who's not scoring runs it must actually increase the pressure on the new players as they have to make up for his lack of runs. Red Kev - The new selection panel has only been in place for 2 tests so I think it's a bit early to make judgements on them so far. Giving Warner and Pattinson chances ahead of experienced flops like Hilfenhaus showed good intent. The Boxing Day squad will say a lot about the direction they want to head.
Fisher Price
Guest
The fact that Khawaja has been the best young top-order Shield batsman for a couple of seasons seems to go past a lot of people. He is a player that can string high scores together and one who is likely to score heavily for NSW if he's not playing Tests, so it'll be Australia's loss if they don't persist with him a while longer.
Red Kev
Guest
But Khawaja averages 55-60 in shield cricket. Just because he hasn't established himself in the test team in a half-dozen tests doesn't mean he should be dropped (not everyone debuts with a century Blewett-style). He is the best of the shield batsmen that isn't established in the test team and to be honest deserves more of a run in the team.
Fisher Price
Guest
And it doesn't help that pundits keep insisting on saying that Punter should play against India because of his "experience" and because "no-one's beating the door down" when Punter isn't even tapping on the door - which is a slap in the face to batsmen that play first-class cricket and actually make substantial runs.
Rhys
Guest
Just by way of 'left field' comment on selection policy. I'm sure everyone has noticed that Vodaphone is sponsoring the Test series this summer. The ads being run during Nine's coverage feature six players (that I've noticed) - Michael Clarke, Doug Bollinger, Mitchell Johnson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting & Michael Hussey. Clarke as captain (and in pretty good form) will naturally feature as a player in all the Tests this summer (barring injury). Of the other five - Johnson is out for the summer through injury (form would have likely accounted for him otherwise); Bollinger hasn't, and likely won't play in any of the Tests. Which leaves three more 'faces of the Australian Test team' bombarding millions of viewers - Ponting, Haddin, Hussey. Haddin's done enough to hang on for a while longer. Hussey has been a rock until recent times. Ponting has been on the decline for almost 2 years (the occasional 50 aside). Imagine the following scenario come Test 2 or 3 of the Indian series - only 1 or 2 of the 'Vodaphone 6' actually playing in the games. Hardly ideal promotional material.
Fisher Price
Guest
What I meant was that he's never really been picked on merit and enters each innings knowing that he'll make way for the injury returnee if he doesn't score heavily. Marsh, on the other hand, has those two good innings in SL in the bank making him seem more like a world-beater when he's out injured than when fit. Personally, I don't see Marsh having a particularly consistent Test career if his first-class record is anything to go by.
Lolly
Guest
He's had three matches in a row at 3. He's had four if you count the last Ashes test. He's hardly pulling up any trees so far. The record for Aus batsmen this year is so dire. Watson, Haddin, Punter, Hughes and Khawaja are averaging under 30.
Red Kev
Guest
I agree, I just think it's the wrong call. Ponting won't go unless he's shoved (hard) and the new NSP lacks the collective gumption to do it.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Sorry I meant they failed today, like almost everyone actually. I don't think he's failed overall, especially when compared to other players in the team, though he does need to go on with those starts more often. I'd personally rather see Khawaja instead of Ponting as he has more upside but I just can't see the selectors dropping a player with Pontings (admittedly ever fading) record instead of a player who's averaging under 30 and hasn't (yet) turned his potential into substantial performances apart from a very good 65 against SA.
Fisher Price
Guest
Khawaja's also been in and out of the side, being used effectively as an injury replacement. He looked good in Brisbane until the elephant in the room ran him out.
jameswm
Guest
It's why Kat scored so prolifically through there and was so well-balanced in comparison. He gets his back foot across.
Red Kev
Guest
I remain unconvinced that Khawaja has "failed". In 2011 here are the scores: Khawaja 6 matches, 11 innings: 37, 21, 21, 26, 13*, 12, 65, 38, 0*, 7, 23 average of 29.22 (which happens to be his entire test career). Ponting 6 matches, 11 innings: 44, 4, 48, 28, 8, 0, 0, 62, 78, 8, 16 average of 26.64. If you expand it to include Ponting's performances in the Ashes (8 more innings with one not out) his average goes down to 22.56. I can see the appeal to Australian Cricket of Ponting and Tendulkar in the home series, but I think it's the wrong call.
Fisher Price
Guest
Indeed, I'm with you on Cowan. Ponting ahead of Khawaja is a farce... but that's what the selectors specialise in.
Brett McKay
Expert
James, certainly Ponting and Warner do the same thing, moving their front foot toward cover while hitting through mid-wicket (might be an exeggeration to make a point). I suspect when they're both 'going' though, both will step down the line and straight-drive that same delivery...
Matt F
Roar Guru
That would be the most likely top 6, though as you said the order might change if Watson continues to open. Depending on fitness those 6 look like certainties now given Hughes and Khawaja have both failed. Ponting wil probably cement his spot for the entire India series if he's around at the end of this test
jameswm
Guest
Has anyone else noticed how much Warner's head falls across to off when he's playing one on his legs that's swung in to him/ Hughes, Warner and Ponting all have the same problem - not getting back foot across, so their balance is awry. Ponting and Warner are more still though, Hughes moves and jumps and his head's moving. That's the difference with those on-side shots. Hughes misses so many runs there.
Matt F
Roar Guru
Yeah I thought it was out on first glance as it looked like there was a gap between his gloves and hip but those types of decisions are always tricky. I suspect that the umpire just wasn't 100% sure if he gloved it so gave him benefit of the doubt, whcih was fair enough in my opinion. You're right about it probably being the keepers fault. He would have had the best angle.