Team of the Month: a May-born World Cricket XI
This series’ twelfth and final team has a distinct West Indian flavour at the top of the order, and a domineering captain.
David Warner remembers the last time New Zealand levelled a Test series in Australia.
Warner famously carried his bat at Bellerive in 2011, when his side failed to chase down 240 in the second Test and finished 1-1 against the Blackcaps.
It felt like a series defeat then.
And it would feel like a series defeat now if NZ manage to draw the three-Test series by winning the pink-ball clash at Adelaide Oval that starts on Friday.
“We would consider that as a loss because we’ve played so well,” Warner said.
“New Zealand, to fight back in the last game – to bat the game into a draw was a credit to them.
“Now we’ve got to be on our guard.”
Warner scored 123 as Australia suffered a collapse of 7-74 in Hobart four years ago, Doug Bracewell running rampant.
“To sit in the change rooms and listen to the Kiwis celebrate was quite tough,” Warner said.
“We were expected to win that game down in Hobart, only chasing 240.
“Bracewell bowled fantasticly and won New Zealand the game. We take those memories into this game.
“It would mean a lot to us if we can get up here in Adelaide.”
Warner may be using Australia’s past failure as motivation this week, however NZ paceman Tim Southee is taking a different approach.
The Blackcaps were smashed in this year’s World Cup final, Australia cruising to victory at the MCG after Mitchell Starc made a mess of Brendon McCullum’s stumps in the first over.
“It’s nothing like the World Cup final,” Southee quipped, when asked if there was a similar sense of occasion.
Warner rejected the idea his side had an edge over NZ because of the World Cup triumph.
“I can’t talk on their behalf but from our point of view it’s about getting out of the gates and we flew out the gates there,” Warner said.
“That was the key for us and I think that’s what we’ve got to do here, you’ve got to start well and get early wickets.”
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This series’ twelfth and final team has a distinct West Indian flavour at the top of the order, and a domineering captain.
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