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.
Brenton Wakem
Roar Rookie
It may come as a surprise to some (as it did me) to learn that the man currently holding the NZ 8th all time batting average goes to... None other than mark craig! This provides amusement on many levels... He might be better to keep his bowling shoes in his kit bag and move a place or two up the batting order!
Republican
Guest
........yes indeed TC however being pitted against NZ, we are always up against the Kiwi population and virtue card, so win or lose they always manage to come out on top it would seem. If Cricket is the # one sport in a nation that has just clocked 24mill officially this week, realistically NZ should not be able to get within a country mile competitively speaking, with us - surely? The same could be said of Rugby League, Soccer, Basketball et al while I would expect that when NZ beat us to the post of Republicanism, the revelation that they are indeed a sovereign nation in there own right, will be the catalyst for ending our historical and misguided largesse in respect of their sporting prowess.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Siddle looks like he needs his own glass box labelled "Break In Case of Seaming Wicket".
Paul D
Roar Guru
I think the selectors realise that Marsh is a bit of a project player where his batting technique is concerned - while he's bowling as well as he is, I think they'll play the long game and hope that spending time at international level helps him develop his technique, and improves his game to the point where he is a viable number 6. And if he does that - wow. What a player he will be. It's this sort of carping that Steve Smith used to cop incessantly. Why is he in the team etc. Have some faith that the selectors, for all the brickbats hurled their way, actually know how to judge talent and are picking the players they think are most likely to succeed at this level.
Tatah
Guest
Republican it does when you win by an innnings. No question the kiwi lads got done by some tough decisions but it all evens out in the end. I'm with you on the Republican thing however. Kylie Minouge for first President.
Bakkies
Guest
'He has got heaps of time, believe me? Runs? What runs? The team just scored 569 and won by an innings.' He is batting at 6 he has to step up at some point and contribute. Nevill has to as well.
Broken-hearted Toy
Guest
I'm not particularly impatient. It's more the selectors I'm talking about. If you look at how many Aus caps have been given out in the past five/six years, it's obvious that they look for the quick fix. By the Aus selectors standards, they are being very patient with him. But he will need runs at some point, sooner rather than later. I like Marsh, I always have as I'm from WA. I'm not that surprised that his bowling is good enough for international cricket as he's been a solid performer for WA for years, considering how young he still is.
Tom Cahill
Guest
But probability and discerning viewing does reflect the contest Republican - the feedback from the cricketing public (both from neutrals and in Australia and NZ) and the universe that has dolled out these wins to Australia is saying that Australia right now is ahead of NZ.
TheDMC
Guest
We wazz robbed. Fair play to Australia, out skilled us completely. Mentally tougher too. Very disappointed in my Black Caps, might have to revert back to the Slack Caps moniker. Basically losing the test, and thus pretty much the series, in the first hour is just gutting.
Tom Cahill
Guest
All-rounders generally apply themselves more in one role when the other is lacking to make up for their failures. Marsh is doing just that right now with his bowling, and it's great to see that he is really attacking and going hard. He was the fastest bowler in our attack and was going above 140km/h pretty regularly too. It will be interesting to see if his bowling stays as fearsome when he's making runs and the pressure to succeed is off his bowling.
Tom Cahill
Guest
Not sensitive in this case Danger Mouse, it's simply hard to tell sarcasm or hyperbole in text.
DCNZ
Guest
australia smashed us fair and square, kudos to the Aussies, they seemed more focused and disciplined and the Kiwis folded. if the black caps don't win in Chch, it could be 3-0 to the Aussies this summer. B Mac's final test! time for the youngish black caps brigade to step up.
matth
Guest
Well he is out for the next test as well, so the Kiwis have to decide whether Craig stays for his batting
The Bush
Roar Guru
How are the selectors being "very patient" with him? He has only officially replaced Watson as the all rounder this summer. People are so impatient. You must have gone insane for the decade that we waited for Watson to fulfill his potential in the Test arena.
Republican
Guest
.....the end result does not always reflect the contest TB.
Republican
Guest
....& you defend them with admirable emotion TB
The Bush
Roar Guru
Emotive? I rarely, if ever, make anything like an emotive comment on here. I'm usually defending some poor player from being ripped apart by posters who are incapable of being objective (think Maxwell or M Marsh). What exactly was gritty about New Zealand's performance in Australia? They lost the series 2-0. There is no way, absolutely no way, that a team can now have won three out of their last four tests against an opponent, with the other being a draw, based solely on luck. As I said, you've consistently come on here over the last few months to endlessly predict that Australia was going to lose to New Zealand and yet that hasn't happened. The jury may still be out on this Australian side, but one thing is clear right now, in Test cricket Australia is still a better side than New Zealand.
SP
Guest
In addition to winning 3 out of the last 4 tests, the Balck Caps have only bowled Australia out twice on 2 out of 8 innings (i think).
ajay
Guest
Marsh bowled brilliantly but he needs runs geez 24 avz(overall) and no.6? and what about Neville?Australia smashed windies,kiwis,and again kiwis but Neville contribution huh? It's all about khawaja,voges(how good they are) and marsh(excellent 4th paceman and hapless batsman)but after this series life will be very tough.subcontinent dust bowls,real test (horrible uae series?) And maybe we will see if khawaja is perfect no.3 or not,but at least he's world class on seaming decks that's for sure.
TheCunningLinguistic
Guest
I'm surprised you haven't mentioned Marsh's efforts, Ronan. He has been excellent with the ball (some improvement with the bat may be required ;-) ) and would comfortably walk into most National sides as the 3rd/4th seamer. I think his batting will click, he showed in the One Dayers that he certainly can do it. For the rest, a very good all round effort from the bowlers. Unsold on Bird, but a solid outing.