Australia has ruthlessly exposed New Zealand’s conservative tactics in the Boxing Day Test to move within one win of a summer clean sweep.
While the gap between the two nations – at least of these shores – is now apparent, the two significant margins in Perth and Melbourne reflect poorly on a Black Caps side that promised so much and have delivered so little. Kane Williamson reverted to damage limitation time and time again at the MCG when proactive captaincy was desperately required.
Williamson, by any measure, has had a superb 2019. In particular, his performance and leadership throughout the World Cup has drawn worthy praise, before again leading his side to Test series victory over England at home. Without doubt, he has been one of the world’s most influential cricketers in the last 12 months.
But by the same token, he has had a truly forgettable series in Australia. More obviously, his contributions with the bat have been minimal, returning just 57 runs in four innings. Yesterday’s dismissal to James Pattinson was unlucky, given out lbw on a ball within a hair’s width of sliding down leg side. But Thursday evening’s dismissal – again to the fired-up Victorian – was needless and wholly uncharacteristic.
The lean returns with the bat, however, aren’t the starkest aspect of his performance. Williamson is not the first, and certainly won’t be the last captain to be found out with bat in hand on these shores.
What is more worrying, and more worthy of place under the microscope, is the mostly controllable aspect of his performance. That is, the bowling changes, field placements and overall tactical approach he sets as captain.
On the morning of day two, with Australia starting the day well positioned at 4/257, Williamson would have known that without quick wickets, the Test match would be pulled further and further from their grasp and with it, any hope of series victory. He also knew that an Australian total of 400-plus, batting well into day two, forced them into a position where a draw was their only hope.
Kane Williamson. (AP Photo/Tertius Pickard)
Yet Williamson persisted with a defensive bumper barrage that reaped little results. They took just 1/79 before lunch, via a strategy that showed little signs of producing the successive wickets they so desperately required.
After Travis Head and Tim Paine put on 150, the Test match, and by extension their hopes of winning in Australia for the first time in 34 years, was over. Not once did Williamson shift tactics to exploit Head’s tendency to slash outside off stump. Rather, he directed his bowlers to stay short, waiting for a mistake.
New Zealand greats Richard Hadlee and Brendon McCullum were both highly critical of the approach. Hadlee described the distinct contrasts in the two side’s approaches on ABC radio: “the difference is, they (Australia) are bowling to get the opposition out”. He also said the allowing Australia to leave as much as they did was “wasted energy” on the fast bowling group.
McCullum was more critical, describing Williamson’s tactics as ‘staggering’, in particular the decision to bowl wicketkeeper batsman Tom Blundell after lunch on day two.
“To me, it was a submissive move. I just don’t understand it. They just rolled over.” Williamson executed tactical plans with such precision during this year’s World Cup, but his conservative approach in Australia has left his side thoroughly exposed.
For the tourists, Neil Wagner and Tom Blundell leave Melbourne with their reputations enhanced. But it’s difficult to suggest a third should join them.
Mitchell Santner has come in for pointed criticism in recent days, but the spotlight could also easily be turned on the likes of Colin de Grandhomme who showed little fight with the bat at the MCG.
This is a Black Caps side who have been humbled in a series many, myself included, felt they would be right up to their necks in.
Of course, an ever-improving Australia outfit deserve considerable the credit for four ruthless Test displays in the last six weeks.
The unyielding consistency of Tim Paine’s bowling unit has become a hallmark of this summer, while it is a mark of Australia’s improvement with the bat that their dominance during this period has come without a significant input from Steve Smith.
This is a settled Australian side, perhaps the most settled in years. It is also one whose recent performances at Test level leaves little doubt that, rankings aside, it is now the world’s second-best side behind India.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
If deGrandhomme had a bat in hand he would be catching the edge or tossing everything up into the sky. Not likely to land a killer blow!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Excuses ... New Zealand sure has a lot of them! To paraphrase a famous cameraman ... NZ can't bat and can't bowl!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Simply BAD captaincy!
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately we only won more Tests because we played more series away, and some longer series like the Ashes. But South Africa had a much better away record across the decade. Won 8 series, lost 4, drew 3; won 14 matches away and lost 14. Australia won 6 series but lost 9 and drew 3. Won 19 Tests, but lost 28.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
True. Big brother little brother syndrome. Had some respect for the Kiwis the way they punch above their weight. But this series they have been woeful and a lot of the Kiwi supporters haven't accepted being beaten by a better team all that well
Micko
Roar Rookie
They enjoy any victory over Australia Geoff...and bizarrely, any loss Australia incurs, even if NZ aren't involved in the sporting event!
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Hope you enjoyed that meaningless ODI series win
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
But just goes to show that if you don't take advantage of sending the opposition in by taking at least 6 wickets it can come back to bite you very hard. To be fair the Aussie batsmen did very well to build such a big first innings when the ball was moving around for the whole first day.
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Probably the only mistake Paine made in terms of use of his bowlers - but those 6 balls seemed to forever - cannon fodder
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
The SBW masks was insufferable. No-one should ever cast aspersions on the womenfolk in their life. That was below the belt...end of story. That goes for any cricket team / officials, Aussie or not
A. kiwi
Guest
And we smashed the aussies in that odi series. The aussies were appalling sulks in that series and proved what bad sports they are (especially Smith, Warner and M Marsh after a certain c&b in the final one dayer). I also remember in the test series Hazlewood swearing at the umpires or (‘gobbing off’) as Simon doull said. All this before before the full team cheating uncovered on SA tour. These are just a few reasons why the other countries don’t like the Aus team and their supporters get stuck into them (Think barmy army, SBW masks in SA etc). Enjoy the wins for now. The winning streak will come to an abrupt halt in India in a few weeks. Can’t wait!
Brainstrust
Roar Rookie
Well they hardly got any batting time in Perth and it was with a different ball anyway. Thats the point of preliminary matches the opposition is not good enough to roll you for 150. I dont know where you have been for the last hundred and 50 years but usually you get more than one lead in match let alone have none, or you do as Australia did go to similiar conditions go to UAE to prepare for India. even then touring teams tend to improve at the end of the series when they finally have had a good go in the conditions.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
They wouldn't have played Ferguson and Boult together anyway.
Brendon the 1st
Roar Rookie
There appeared to be plenty of movement at Melbourne and they just couldn't capitalise. If they'd kept pitching the ball up instead of bowling all over the shop they would have more success.
Gomez
Guest
Our selectors are reactive rather than proactive. Always 2 moves behind where they should be. They wait til players are absolutely cooked before they drop them.
Carlin
Roar Rookie
Yeah was surprised Ferguson didnt get a go against England especially when that series had no World Test Championship points on offer. Leaving Sommerville out was a big mistake. Hopefully he plays at the SCG. He is the only New Zealander that has played regular cricket in Australia. I was dubious with Blundell as an opener due to his lack of experience there (I do rate him as a player though). Hopefully he can get more opportunities. Thats 2 test 100s and one World Cup warm up 100 (plus some 50s) when hes has played. Top order batting cover is quite light in NZ. 2 guys with test experience Guptil and Rutherford average under 30. There is not many others knocking on the door especially as openers. Devon Conway who can bat anywhere in the top order is scoring bulk runs but isnt eligible till September.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Yep. I was in NZ for the last tour and Australia smashed the Kiwis in both Wellington and Christchurch. The Kiwis were pretty cocky before that tour as well!
MaxP
Roar Rookie
Couldn’t agree more. Williamson over thought the conditions and ignored 150 years of history. Australian pitches always even out pretty quickly on the first day and, aside from the SCG when it used to dust up by fourth innings and the WACA that would crack, the pitches would keep pretty true. Runs on the board in the first innings is the most critical thing. Scoreboard pressure is more important in Australia than changing pitch conditions
Micko
Roar Rookie
The South Africans are going to be in the Boxing Day/ New Year's Tests in 2022/2023.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Half of the kiwis' problem is selecting the wrong players for Australia, and not selecting these players in the England series to effectively have warm up games : *Ferguson should've been in instead of Henry in NZ *Santner should've been dropped for Somerville in NZ (or at least the leggie) *Raval should've been dropped in NZ for this Blundell bloke.