Australia have put themselves in a dominant position in the first Test against New Zealand but will have to bowl the Kiwis out a second time without star quick Josh Hazlewood.
Due to a hamstring injury suffered on day two of this Test, Hazlewood has been ruled out of the remainder of this match and may not play in the second Test in Melbourne.
Australia excelled with the ball in spite of Hazlewood’s injury, skittling New Zealand for 166 in their first innings thanks to a scorching display by Mitchell Starc (5-52).
By stumps last night they had built a massive lead of 417 runs, which looks nigh-on insurmountable given the Perth Stadium pitch is offering generous pace and bounce, and the pink Kookaburra ball has swung and seamed consistently.
It would take a monumental batting effort for the Kiwis to win, but they were given hope by a late flurry of wickets last night as well as by the injury to Hazlewood, which leaves Australia’s attack vulnerable.
The Kiwis will feel that if they can withstand Australia’s new-ball onslaught today and make their three-man attack toil in the oppressive Perth heat, they may be able to slowly grind down the home side.
Yet the tourists also will have been perturbed by the increasingly variable bounce on show yesterday. While some deliveries reared alarmingly off the deck, others kept surprisingly low. As the surface bakes in the blazing sun tomorrow it will likely begin to misbehave even more.
This Perth pitch became more and more difficult for batting over the course of last year’s Test when the strong Indian batting line-up collapsed for just 140 in the fourth innings. The Indians largely were undone by the uncertainty created by the cracked surface.
Starc and Pat Cummins are experts at exploiting such conditions and will present a fierce challenge to the Kiwi batting line-up, particularly in the night session today.
(AAP Image/Scott Barbour)
Batting under lights has proven very tricky on each of the first three days of this match. Australia did well to survive a fine spell of swing bowling in the night session on day one before their bowlers ran amok under lights on day two. Yesterday Australia were cruising with the bat before the lights against proved influential.
Australia were on 1-131 in the last session before losing 5-29 as the sun disappeared. Joe Burns (53) and Marnus Labuschagne (50) were bossing the New Zealand attack, which is also a man down due to the injury to debutant quick Lockie Ferguson.
The Kiwis appeared flat in the field at that stage and the Aussie pair both looked to be on course for big scores. Then the lights came into play and the Aussies produced some ordinary shot selection.
First Labuschagne fell into an obvious leg side trap as he pulled a Neil Wagner bouncer straight to square leg. Then, after Burns was caught at gully fending off a sharp Tim Southee bouncer, Smith (16) also succumbed to the short ball strategy when he pulled Wagner down the throat of deep square leg.
In the very next over Travis Head (5) also walked into an obvious set-up when he glanced a ball off his hip to leg slip. Although Head has made a fine start to his Test career, averaging 41 after 15 Tests, he has a habit of soft dismissals and has twice got out in sloppy fashion in this match.
When captain Tim Paine was then bowled through the gate by Southee for a duck Australia had fallen apart. Yet their lead is so huge, and batting conditions so challenging, that they remain in prime position to take a 1-0 lead in this blockbuster series against the world’s number two ranked Test team.
Cut Loose
Roar Rookie
Except that there was more than "zero evidence" of Grandomme hitting the ball. There was a spike on snicko, mind you..
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
The guideline is that “ the third umpire is unable to decide with a high degree of confidence whether the original on-field decision should be changed” then you don’t change. But if there is zero evidence of a batsman hitting the ball then you should have a high degree of confidence it should be changed. Otherwise there’s no point in using snicko and hotspot at all. Erasmus’s wording was wrong.
Cut Loose
Roar Rookie
"Conclusive evidence to overturn the original decision" (the 3rd umpire says it better) And when there's doubt the original call stays.. Simple as
Cut Loose
Roar Rookie
**"Conclusive evidence to overturn the original decision" (the 3rd umpire says it better) And when there's doubt, the on field call stays...Simple as
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Completely wrong, if there is no evidence a batsman has touched the ball the umpire is supposed to give them not out. End of story.
Cut Loose
Roar Rookie
When the third umpire’s called the benefit(s) of doubt will always go to the on field calls by default. That’s the rule and don’t think exceptions/rare examples disprove it.. Like I said, the DRS has been put in place to help eradicate absolute howlers not dictate on marginal or controversial on field calls..
Simc
Guest
Another stats man. You should learn to play cricket. Head has all the ability. Obviously frustrated at present but I reckon he will come good. He has to demonstrate he is a better option than Wade. Currently he isn't, but Wade showed his lack of ability in the second innings.
Simoc
Guest
The MCG will always have the Boxing day test. Brisbane and Perth people are a bit smarter than your average Sydney/Melbourne folk, and can find better things to do than get fried under 40C skies.
anon
Roar Pro
Boxing Day would be poorly attended in Perth. Adelaide have half the population of Perth yet get bigger crowds further out from Christmas.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
I think no matter where it was held in Australia the boxing day test would be excellently attended as people have time over the holidays to go, getting time off 2 weeks out from Xmas to attend cricket matches is generally frowned upon mate.
6x6 perkele
Roar Rookie
Agree but at least it looks like pressure is being placed on the MCC to produce better standard of pitch for the marquee cricket match in the world than what has happened of late don. If they don't money will talk.
Insult_2_Injury
Roar Rookie
I know CA is all about the money, hence my comment about the MCC selling their souls to keep it! A days Test and a BBL game after for Foxtel will also be well worth them fighting for an East coast Boxing Day.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Not true. That is what a lot of people say is the rationale, but once it is in use, the third umpire is supposed to go on what the evidence points. No clear evidence the ball is hit, then benefit of the doubt to the batsman, not the umpire. As a clear example the other way, last night Erasmus gave Watling out when there was a tiny mark on his glove on hotspot, and nothing on Snicko. We can argue whether it was clear evidence of hitting the ball, but he certainly wasn’t giving Aleem Dar the benefit of the doubt this time.
Chris Love
Roar Guru
I could totally understand them resting him after the World Cup. He looked cooked towards the end and was way off his best. But in saying that, 1 test at most. It’s not just his wickets also. Lyon in the second innings to right handers struggled without his usual foot marks.
anon
Roar Pro
And it wouldn't go to Perth it would go to Adelaide because they actually get out there and support the team.
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
I have thought about Stark and the Ashes a lot. Express pacemen often don’t do as well as you think they should in England - think Johnson , Lee, Tait and even Gillespie (although at the tail end of his career). Despite that he was terribly unlucky.
Noosa Duck
Roar Rookie
Dunno about better , I just reckon he would be more willing. I reckon if you threw him the gloves & said "here, Keep wicket for a bit" he would relish the chance to have a crack at it. Wade Can bowl a little too
Cut Loose
Roar Rookie
DRS is there to only eliminate absolute howlers. Not sure if you're aware of it.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
The only way a Boxing Day test is up for discussion is if the MCG is banned by the ICC. It won't happen.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Yeah...I suppose Hazlewood really exploited them being a bowler short.