This has been a disastrous tour of Australia for New Zealand and yesterday they reached a nadir as a cobbled-together group of Kiwi cricketers trudged through the first day of the SCG Test.
Missing skipper Kane Williamson, star bowler Trent Boult and middle-order fixture Henry Nicholls due to illness and injury, the Kiwis scrambled to compile an XI, even flying in debutant batsman Glenn Phillips the night before the Test.
Given a full-strength NZ team had been thrashed by Australia at the MCG, leaving them 0-2 down in the series, it seemed unlikely this second-string line-up could compete. By the end of yesterday they were on the verge of being batted out of the Test by Australia, who cruised to 3-283.
With the Kiwi attack badly lacking class or penetration, it will take an enormous effort for the visitors to avoid defeat.
Australia are a juggernaut when they bat first at home – they have lost only one of their past 26 Tests in those circumstances.
So listless were NZ on day one that it is hard to see anything but another easy Australian win unfolding. Brendon McCullum is a vocal supporter of the Kiwi side, which he last month described as the best Test team in New Zealand’s history. Yet the former skipper made a number of scathing comments on TV commentary throughout yesterday’s play, referencing the visitor’s obvious lack of energy in the field.
He wasn’t wrong. NZ looked as flat as a military haircut from the first hour, despite a green SCG pitch offering plenty of seam movement and bounce early on, and the ball swinging appreciably.
Even when Joe Burns was caught behind for 18, or when Neil Wagner dismissed David Warner for 45 just after lunch, the Kiwis appeared devoid of spirit. Aside from a handful of players, most notably Wagner and stand-in skipper Tom Latham, they seemed to be just going through the motions.
(Photo by Jeremy Ng / AFP / Getty Images)
McCullum said he was shocked by this tame display given the golden opportunities afforded to rookies and fringe players like Glenn Phillips, Todd Astle, Will Somerville, Jeet Raval and Matt Henry.
All of those cricketers are fighting for places in New Zealand’s next Test series. Collectively and individually they have a huge amount to play for, yet the side largely sleepwalked through the day.
The three bowlers NZ brought into the side were innocuous. Henry, Astle and Somerville combined to return 0-168. None of them looked Test standard yesterday – although to be fair to Somerville, he was excellent in his three previous Tests, all in Asia, taking 14 wickets at 25.
Yet the 35-year-old off-spinner was barely more threatening than left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner was in the first two Tests. Bowling from close to the stumps, Somerville did not trouble the home batsmen with his flight and earned minimal turn.
The sad state of NZ’s spin stocks – their biggest weakness as a Test team – was further highlighted by the performance of Todd Astle. While he wasn’t hammered by the Aussies, he never appeared likely to take a wicket and now averages 66 with the ball from his five Tests.
Astle looked like exactly the player he is in NZ domestic cricket – an all-rounder, not a front-line spinner.
Henry, meanwhile, again showed he is a long way from becoming a good Test bowler. Across his 12 Tests he has averaged a whopping 51 with the ball. Henry does not possess a single standout skill.
He is not especially accurate, does not earn significant swing, seam or bounce, and bowls at a gentle pace in the 130-135kmh range. Tim Southee would have been a better selection, but was curiously dropped despite doing a reasonable job in the first two Tests.
(Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)
New Zealand are not dead and buried. But they will need to make major inroads with the second new ball this morning to stay in this Test.
Realistically, they need to roll Australia for less than 380. That will be a challenging task given the imperious form of Labuschagne (130*), the solid touch of Matt Wade (22*), Travis Head and Tim Paine, and Australia’s strong tail, with Mitchell Starc coming in at ten.
Labuschagne yesterday constructed the latest in a sequence of nigh-on flawless Test innings. This is beginning to seem less and less like a purple patch, and more and more like the birth of a new Test superstar.
Since he returned to the Aussie side as the concussion sub for Steve Smith in the Ashes, the Queenslander has churned out 1105 runs at 85.
Labuschagne has been so remarkably consistent that he has passed 50 in no less than ten of his 14 innings in that time. He will begin today with a weak NZ attack at his mercy and a first Test double ton there for the taking.
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
If Australia's Test team landed in NZ tomorrow they would smack the Kiwis in any Tests as they have always done. Exactly what injuries are you referring to? Do you mean injuries/illness in the lead up to game 3 after being smacked comprehensively in Games 1 and 2? PS: I'll let Warner know about his poor summer. The middle order (I assume that you mean Head and Wade) were not really tested at any stage and often batting to set up/open up games (as opposed to saving them like the Kiwis). The simple fact is that the Kiwis have been shown once again to be overrated and not up to the task!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Our blokes are young(er), have a future and don't get to play the minnow teams like West Indies, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and New Zealand very often! Taylor is a has been. I like to pick the side on recent performances. Paine isn't even the best keeper in Australia!
Paul
Roar Guru
sort of agree :happy: . As I said in my comment, if we landed in New Zealand tomorrow with the current 12 plus another another bowler & batsmen, then had to play within a week with no lead up game, THEN try and deal with injuries as the Black Caps did, I reckon we'd struggle, espcially given our lack of back up for Lyon and no inform opening or middle order batting options. The current XII is clearly a great unit but our lack of depth is huge worry.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
T Latham 3604 runs @ 42.4 LRPL Taylor 7174 runs @ 46.3 BJ Watling 3944 runs @ 39.18 J Burns 1379 runs @ 38.3 T Head 1091 runs @ 41.96 M Wade 1440 runs @ 31.3 T Paine 1330 runs @ 31.66 Who exactly is accepting mediocrity? I would accept the argument that Paine is a better keeper and has led the team and therefore takes Watling's spot. Denying Taylor a spot is simply ignoring his record
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
You might. I wouldn’t. Accepting mediocrity is a very New Zealand thing but not for the Aussies. No spot for Watling, Taylor or Wagner. Only 1 Leftie at the top for mine so no room for Latham. Williamson gets a run because he has shown over a long period that he is quality (although he did not show it on this tour). Australia has a couple of spare quicks (Hazlewood, Richardson …) as well that might get a run before half tracker Wagner (who should be playing for the Saffers again anyway).
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Disagree Pedro, I would def have Kane and Taylor ahead of Wade and Head. I'd have Latham ahead of Burns and consider Watling v Paine. Watling def has the better batting record. Agree that none of their bowlers are getting a spot although could consider Boult in swinging (english) conditions My composite team based on players available in this series Latham Warner Marnus Smith WIlliamson (c) Taylor Watling Pattinson Cummins Starc Lyon
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
So you actually agree. The rankings system is poor and NZ were never actually the 2nd best team in the world? :happy: I do not know what you are basing your prediction that Australia would have struggled in NZ? Australia has both quality and depth (far in excess of that available to NZ). I attended both the Wellington and Christchurch tests on the last tour and we won by an Innings + and 7 wickets. Historically the Kiwis have never been competitive (Hadlee and 1985 excluded) and have only ever won 8 Tests against Australia!
Paul
Roar Guru
I disagree Pedro. Yes they've been soundly beaten, but I dare say we'd have struggled in New Zealand of we'd landed there and played a Test with no in-country preparation, lots of injuries and guys out of form. Their rise to number 2 was no aberration, but simply an incorrect application of what ever formula the ICC uses to determine the rankings. In other words, they seem to have given way too much weight to the Kiwis wins over lower ranked teams
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Why would now be any different to the usual Aussies smashing the Kiwis? I went to NZ for the last Aussie tour (2016) and we smashed the hapless Kiwis in the 2 Tests (as usual). Voges dined out on those Kiwi firebrands Boult and Southee in Wellington and Smith and Burns feasted on Boult, Southee, Henry and Half Tracker Wagner in Christchurch! That makes for a score of 5-0 in the past 5 tests spread across Home and Away. It is now Australia 34 Wins, the Draw is running second with 18, and NZ are last with 8 Wins. NZ has beaten Australia once since March 1993. Australia prefers to play the stronger nations!
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
"Up until a month ago, Williamson was leading the second best team in world cricket ...". Now that is funny. We all know that NZ were never actually the 2nd Best Team in World Cricket! An aberration of the world cricket ranking system. Realistically they are (and were) probably somewhere around Number 5.
Micko
Roar Rookie
Never your fault, always a victim of the umpiring you kiwis! :laughing:
Pedro The Fisherman
Roar Rookie
Those 4 (Williamson, Taylor, Watling, and Wagner) may make an all-time NZ eleven, but only 1 would be in contention for a spot in Australia’s side today!
Simoc
Guest
While NZ have been woeful, they have copped the worst of it. The Perth heat and bounce from the best pace bowling outfit in home conditions. In Melbourne they were bad but not as bad as the umpiring. We really need two tests in each country for a series. Then we'de see if this fearsome trio turn into meek trundlers in NZ as the NZ bowlers appear to be here.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Are you genuinely asking me to explain how the bushfire crisis may have negatively affected ticket sales? For real?
Micko
Roar Rookie
Ok, fair enough. Just commenting on what I've seen in the limited time I've had to watch the coverage Mitcher.
Mitcher
Guest
Uh, yes there’s many less than in Melbourne. But if you had been at the ground you’d know there’s a contingent of kiwis in the o Reilly. Not the one person you’ve seen on the coverage and determined in your own world is the only supporter in the ground.
Mitcher
Guest
How clear is the agenda. So obviousky you’re not a fan of wade and head. But the ‘much vaunted’. You just made that up to set up your rant.
Mitcher
Guest
Make your argument, fightbthr good fight. No dramas. But two of your reasons that kiwis couldn’t get to the game is fires, smoke. Seriously... Just to be clear this is no comment on the actual kiwi fans who have been great. The Amt who are at the game is the amount so be it. But ‘fires, smoke’. What is that?
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
I dunno Micko, could be lots of factors. The kiwis seemed to find a friendly bay at the mcg to congregate. No idea how many there are at the scg. Lots of factors could potentially influence attendance - fires, smoke, the series is dead, half the nz team aren't playing The nz tests have drawn reasonable crowds. There has been contest just not what we had hoped. We shouldn't expect packed stadia for every game. Look at attendance in other countries I would def support fostering the cricketing rivalry in terms of all formats, esp short form. We're so close to each other it just makes sense to me. Get nz a big bash team. Get them into triangular odi series played across both countries. The test championship should help foster more freq tests at least. Can only help both countries
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Attempting to stop a ball with his left hand hit back off his own bowling