Australia may have to toil for victory on a sleepy SCG pitch after a spirited batting display from New Zealand on day two of the third Test.
The Kiwis yesterday produced their best day of the series, first bowling solidly to prevent Australia from posting a gargantuan total and then moving to 0-63 at stumps.
Stand-in skipper Tom Latham (26* from 81 balls) bunkered down while Tom Blundell (34 from 93 balls) impressed again after his dashing 121 at Melbourne.
NZ had looked terribly flat on day one of this Test after losing captain Kane Williamson, opening bowler Trent Boult and middle-order fixture Henry Nicholls to illness and injury.
Yesterday loomed as a potential nightmare for the visitors, with the Aussies starting just three-wickets down on a docile pitch in the blazing heat.
The Kiwis were buoyed in the first over of the day when Matthew Wade (22) gifted his wicket as he missed a sweep and was bowled by Will Somerville (1-99). New Zealand then managed to tie down Travis Head, who was fresh from a man of the match performance in the second Test in Melbourne.
As he was denied any width, Head dawdled to ten from 41 balls before trying to cut a Matt Henry (1-94) delivery that was too close to his body. That brought to the wicket Aussie captain Tim Paine, who continued his return to reasonable batting form.
While it wasn’t his most fluid innings, Paine’s knock of 35 from 92 balls helped steer Australia beyond 400, and ensured a draw is the best New Zealand can hope for.
With 39, 79 and 35, the wicketkeeper has now made handy scores in the first innings of all three Tests this series, reducing speculation over his grip on the captaincy.
Paine yesterday stuck around long enough to watch young star Marnus Labuschagne (215) score his first Test double ton. The 25-year-old has now piled up 1,190 runs at 85 in Tests since acting as Steve Smith’s concussion substitute in the Ashes.
Labuschagne provided further evidence yesterday he is not just in a purple patch but rather is on track to become one of the world’s most valuable Test cricketers. It wasn’t just the sheer volume of runs he hoarded that left an impression, but the ease with which he scored them on a pitch where no other batsman has looked comfortable.
(Ryan Pierse/Getty Images)
Across his eight-hour innings, Labuschagne scored at a swift rate of 3.55 runs per over. By comparison, the remainder of Australia’s top seven went at just 2.52 runs per over, and the Kiwis scored at 2.17 last night.
This is one of the more unique elements of Labuschagne’s batting, the manner in which he looks so solid, so immovable while still scoring quickly. None of the Kiwi bowlers troubled him whatsoever during this epic knock.
Even Kiwi man-of-the-moment Neil Wagner (3-66) couldn’t disturb the Queenslander with his unusual short-ball tactics. Wagner again operated with tremendous heart and generous skill yesterday, continuing his fantastic series. Colin de Grandhomme was also admirably disciplined, as he has been throughout the series.
The burly all-rounder has been disappointing with the blade, not prepared to respect the Australian bowlers. With the ball, though, he has been a workhorse, taking seven wickets at 35 while giving up a miserly 2.48 runs per over.
It was the lack of penetration from Henry, Somerville and leg spinner Todd Astle (2-111) that allowed Australia to make a commanding total of 454. The Kiwis cannot win the Test from here.
But if they can maintain the composure displayed by Latham and Blundell last night they are still a chance of earning a draw.
TRhing-me
Roar Rookie
You're on the money here Ronan. How many of these Black Capitulators had great-grand-fathers fighting at el Alamein? Or Cassino? Let alone Gallipoli or the Western Front? Yes! They're a new breed of determined descendants with their pressed whites, sponsor-driven zip-up footwear along with the plastic American baseball caps and kit bags. nothing like looking the part and being the nicest opposition any Australian team could ever play.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
Not sure Australia will need all day. :happy:
Chris Love
Roar Guru
Or Steven O’Keefe? Gun bowler on his home wicket?
Chris Love
Roar Guru
There is rain on the horizon though. Not much but what if it drizzles all day?
Old Greybeard
Roar Rookie
Concerned about the longevity of the keeper captain set up. There have been very few long term ones, they tend to fade in keeping or batting, so it is good to see Paine getting a few. I wondered why they didn't give Marnus a few more overs, but I think the Kiwis did all right with a much chopped lineup. Question, why do we still have players who are glued to the pitch? Labuschagne and Smith are noticeably more mobile. Warner looks so much better when he is moving and Burns has lost his wicket twice from not getting to the ball. Better weight transfer = less hard hands, better position = less edges. Good to see the Kiwis getting some credit, because O thought that a few of the Aussies were a bit sub par yesterday and this morning. They have achieved redemption since lunch though.
Tanmoy Kar
Roar Rookie
Marnus Labuschagne looks to be another Superstar in the making, like Smith and Kohli.
Tanmoy Kar
Roar Rookie
Kiwis are 7/235 now after tea, in a scenario of a 4-day Test they could have survived with a draw.
Lara
Guest
This series proves Oz is a powerhouse at home, fantastic bowling attack n solid batting. The Kiwis have made some mistakes with selections , game plan, lack of preparation to Oz conditions, injuries, illness, basically a tour to forget....however, they found a gold nugget in Blundell . Wagner n Latham are becoming more important. Spin is their next question to answer , once they get that right, they will have the whole package.....not hopeless....maybe 2 in the World was to much, but they are not that far away from it.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Hear hear on the last para. There was no difference between days one and two in NZ’s approach and play. Just some weaker Australian batting and the ball starting to turn and move off the wicket a bit. Astle was pretty respectable. Lyon couldn’t seem to get his length right. As for NZ being listless, tame or lacking heart on day one - that was a pretty par score day one at the SCG against any attack, which has been the most easy paced pitch in Australia and possibly the world in the last decade. Did our vaunted pace attack lack heart as India piled up 600 last year, or was it just good batting on a docile pitch?
Paul
Roar Guru
Ronan's having an each way bet on the wicket in this piece; "Yesterday loomed as a potential nightmare for the visitors, with the Aussies starting just three-wickets down on a docile pitch in the blazing heat." "Labuschagne provided further evidence yesterday he is not just in a purple patch but rather is on track to become one of the world’s most valuable Test cricketers. It wasn’t just the sheer volume of runs he hoarded that left an impression, but the ease with which he scored them on a pitch where no other batsman has looked comfortable." So the implication is, Labuschagne was the only guy who could make runs & look comfortable on a docile pitch in blazing heat! I thought yesterday was the first time we've seen a truly balanced days play this Test summer. Australia were bowled out, IMO 50 runs short of a par score on that wicket, against that attack in those conditions. Only two guys got past 50, which is poor when you consider the quality of the opposition bowling. Latham & Blundell then went out and batted really well against everything our attack could throw at them. Sure they have a long way to go to reach par with Australia, but IMO yesterday belonged to the Black Caps and as Ian Smith said, if one of these guys is still in at tea, who knows what might happen in the last couple of days? I also think yesterday's efforts from New Zealand should dispel any suggestions they're listless or not trying. If anything, that batting effort ( with the exception of Smith & Labuschagne) and some indifferent bowling from Starc & Lyon, suggest the shoe's on the other foot.
Cantab
Roar Rookie
Ha, gotcha where we want you this time Ryan. Job done by the openers seeing off the new ball, no issue if they throw their wickets away now. All set set up nicely for our esteemed number 3 (Raval) to score one of his trade mark double tons.
Kopa Shamsu
Guest
A draw? Will need Taylor to do a lazania for that. Already seen variable bounce today. I guess it will turn square in 4th & 5th day. Got to say, the pitches have been great. Let's see if curators can maintain the standard. We can hope for some great displays like the spell of Cummins-Pattinson even if there is no contest between 2 teams.
Steele
Roar Rookie
Perhaps the old lifeless pitch debate was ill directed at Melbourne! Although it will turn me thinks. Maybe Warney was right to suggest playing Swepson? I think so. In hindsight, losing Wades 22 runs for a guy that can rip a decent leg break was the right move.
badmanners
Roar Rookie
With no rain on the horizon the only factor which could save the Kiwi's is a stoppage due to poor air quality. This pitch will deteriorate with variable bounce to go with the slow turn, I think Labu might be difficult to handle if they can find someone to field at short leg as Wade might feel he's used up all his luck after the pull he wore yesterday!