There are three things that you can count on in cricket – South Africa choking at World Cups, Jonny Bairstow never being out unless two of the three stumps are out of the ground and New Zealand being intimidated whenever they take on big brother.
New Zealand are a world-class team in all three formats who are renowned for punching above their weight, as evidenced by their victory in the inaugural World Test Championship final in 2021.
But whenever they come up against the green and gold, they fold.
They win the odd one-dayer or T20 game over the Aussies but when it comes to Tests or major matches at ICC tournaments, their trans-Tasman cousins are living rent free in their head.
Former New Zealand batter Mark Richardson admitted as such in commentary during the Test loss at the Basin Reserve that there is a psychological barrier that the Black Caps have not been able to conquer.
Since the Kiwis beat the Aussies in back-to-back series home and away in the mid 1980s, they have lost 26 of 40 Tests, winning just three – a couple on home soil in the early 1990s and the 2011 nail-biter at Hobart.
Against all other opposition since then, they have a positive 86-82 record, with 79 draws.
Australia’s bowling was superb and Cameron Green stood tall with his century but after getting the better of day one, the match was there for the taking.
But not only did they bowl poorly as Green and Josh Hazlewood took a middling day-one total of 9-279 to 383 all out, they looked like rabbits in the headlights with the bat to go from holding the upper hand to being no chance of victory.
NZ skipper Tim Southee was magnanimous in defeat – perhaps that’s the problem. It’s time for the Kiwis to get angry when they play Australia even if that’s not their natural way of going about their cricket.
Cameron Green celebrates with Mitchell Marsh after taking the wicket of Scott Kuggeleijn. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
The door has been left ajar for retiring fast bowler Neil Wagner to come back to ruffle a few feathers with his bouncer barrages in the second Test at Christchurch and that would be a step in the right direction, particularly compared with some of the dross that controversial selection Scott Kuggeleijn served up.
If the Kiwis go into the next match with the same timid mindset that resulted in plenty of half-hearted batting and a buffet of boundary balls from their bowlers, there will be no one happier than the 11 guys with the slightly different accents from over the ditch who have never ever had a problem when it comes to self-belief.
Marnus officially in a slump
When it was suggested recently that Marnus Labuschagne was in a slump after a lean run, the nasty old media was to blame for daring to point out that the normally dependable No.3 was no longer reliable in the role.
After making one and two in Wellington on the back of two single-figure scores in the Gabba loss to the West Indies, his average has slipped below 50 for the first time since he scored his first ton in his 10th Test back in 2019.
He’s now gone 36 innings with just one hundred at an average of 31.51 over a 19-match span.
Even having a rare Sheffield Shield outing for Queensland prior to the New Zealand tour didn’t bring the big scores back with Labuschagne making 38 and 45 at the Adelaide Oval.
His second-innings leg-side “strangle” is the kind of unfortunate dismissal which can happen at any time but it couldn’t have happened at a worse time for Labuschagne after he nicked off in the first dig.
Marnus Labuschagne leaves the field after being dismissed at Basin Reserve. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
He fell after being squared up and nicking to the cordon twice in the previous Test against the Windies.
It’s not that bowlers have all of a sudden found a kryptonite ploy which has exposed Labuschagne, this is simply one of those periods that strike all Test batters, even usually world-class operators like the 30-year-old Queenslander.
One of the great strengths of this Australian team, like all dominant sides in any Test era, is that they can carry a player or two who is out of form.
But the strength intertwined into the baggy green cap is that no player gets a golden ticket to wear it in perpetuity.
With very few Shield batters mounting a strong case for a call-up, the only apparent alternative would be to recall Matt Renshaw to open with Steve Smith sliding back to first drop but the selectors won’t be contemplating that any time soon.
And with no more Tests on the horizon until the home summer showdown against India, there will be plenty of time for Labuschagne to return to his best via another English county season with Glamorgan.
Australia can afford to have a batting unit not firing on all cylinders against Pakistan, the West Indies and a star-struck New Zealand side but they need him, and all their batters for that matter, to be at their best or somewhere near it if they are to take down India for the first time in five series.
Lyon still spin king of the jungle
Nothing last forever but Nathan Lyon should be nowhere near the finish line of his Test career even though he will blow out 37 candles later this year.
Test cricket has a long history of spinners who were able to play into their 40s and Lyon underlined his reputation of getting better with age in Wellington with the best figures by any spinner at the venue.
After taking 4-43 in the first innings, his 6-65 in the second was a master class for spinners in backing their strengths no matter what.
It didn’t matter if the Black Caps defended or attacked, they knew an arcing off break was heading their way and if they were off by a fraction, it would lead to their downfall.
Nathan Lyon celebrates one of his six wickets. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Kane Williamson is arguably the best batter in Test cricket at the moment and normally a fine player of spin but he was made to look second rate by Lyon in the second innings.
He struggled to lay willow on leather with several deliveries before he fell for the Lyon trap when he inside-edged to Steve Smith lying in wait at leg slip.
Todd Murphy and any other young spin wannabe will have to be content with the odd match or tour when a second tweaker is required for the foreseeable future because on current form, Lyon should not only achieve his goal of one more Ashes trip in 2027 but he could even keep on keeping on after that tour.
“I’d love for him to keep going until 2027. The only barrier really is his body,” Pat Cummins said in the post-match media conference.
“If he looks after his body and makes sure he’s right for whatever it is, 10 Test matches a year, I’d absolutely love it if he’s playing until 2027.
“I don’t think there’s much that’s going to get in his way. I already told him – the day he retires I’m definitely giving up the captaincy, because (he) makes my life a hell of a lot easier.”
ICC must review the DRS allocation
If you needed any proof that teams are getting too many third-umpire reviews in Tests, look no further than Glenn Phillips’ dismissal in the second innings at the Basin Reserve.
Teams get three DRS referrals per innings and they are supposed to be a back-up system to save batters, and bowlers and umpires, from a howler.
But because they also don’t get docked for umpire’s call decisions that don’t go their way, teams can stockpile their reviews or waste them when there is a miniscule chance of a decision being overturned.
And that was precisely the case with Phillips who played back and across and all around a Lyon off break from around the wicket which was straightening down the line and was immediately given out by Marais Erasmus.
With New Zealand’s hopes dwindling, he called for the third umpire’s verdict and did not even wait for the final replay to confirm what everyone already knew and was halfway toward the pavilion when the three reds came up to show the delivery was hitting the middle of middle stump.
If the ICC is actually serious about wanting to speed up the pace of the game, cut the DRS referrals and wasted time like this pantomime will be a thing of the past.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Obviously we have had the wood on them. I was suggesting above that maybe with these small number of Tests and v small differences in the numbers we may be exaggerating the big brother intimidation effect. But perhaps we aren’t. Although the stat you mention isn’t that remarkable when you consider that 3 of those four clean sweeps were two 2-Test series. While most other series by really strong teams from outside South Asia were 3 Test series. South Asian teams never did particularly well in Australasia until very recently- Pakistan has never won a series in Oz and India hadn’t done it until 2019. And I don’t think there were any genuinely great Pakistani teams. Maybe a couple of great bowling attacks. But yes, Australia has done a lot better than the rest over the last decade or so. Less of an away fixture for us?
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Sorry to keep banging on about this but but I just saw a remarkable stat. In the last 60 years NZ have had four clean sweep series losses at home. All have come in the last 25 years against Australia. Think of all of the strong West Indian, Pakistani, South African, English, and Indian teams that have played there in the last 60 years.
Opeo
Roar Rookie
Aside from winning a test against Australia this year, in 2003 the West Indies were ranked eighth in the world and drew a series 2-2. NZ are generally ranked higher than eighth and never beat us. It does not matter that we only play Bangladesh in Bangladesh. If we only played NZ in NZ they would not have won a test against us for 30 years.
The Bush
Roar Guru
Our success in the 90s and ‘00s was more due to the Australian Institute of Sport than anything else.
Bloodman
Roar Rookie
This would eventually led to the glory days of 1995-2007. Kids were blooded like the Waughs, Mark Taylor, Ian Healy, Brett Lee, Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath, etc. Not pick a team of veterans and wait for them all to end up like when Lillee, Marsh, Greg Chappell, went within 12 months of each other and we had a team of young, untested kids. Succession is key, pick one player from Smith, Khawaja, Labu, Head, Marsh who isn’t performing (Marsh is the only one going ok) and replace them with someone under 26 to bat at 6. Let this new player (Aaron Hardie, Ollie Davies, etc) get 7 Tests to prove themselves. If they have done well in their 7 Tests, pick another veterans who is underperforming with either bat or bowl and replace them with a youngster who is doing ok.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
John Arlott: he’s reviewing well today on this resplendent Friday. Ball going down the leg side. A question around clipping the bail. His application and endeavour in this facet of the game would please a Form Master. —— Vic Richardson: He’s bloody well out for mine. —— John Arlott: But his form has been exceptional. His appealing is registering over 70% success and this shows a great awareness in an underreported area of the game. —— Vic Richardson: I don’t care all about that. He’s out and he should ruddy well walk.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Forthwith, you shall be known as 186S
Blink
Roar Rookie
Thanks. You prove my point to me. You haven't got a clue. Cricket is here and now.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Hey Blink , Not sure im a stat disciple really but over 16 months they start to look realistic in international . Australia lost to West Indies in Brisbane, we lost last two tests to England and only got a draw so yes I notice which team wins with stats. Australia was not outstanding at home against Pakistan and Windies and has lost twice to India at last two home tours let alone away last year in the stat tenure I provided Blink so maybe these stats are worth noting with labs and head but off stats I would say Australia needs to rotate bowling too at SCG and Gabba especially given Indias recent wins against Australias current bowling quartet.
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Purveyor of nonsense and garbage
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
Completely agree. Carey has also played innings the team needs ie quick runs vs avg
Pierro
Roar Rookie
yes he can but he’s special Christo . we dont know what happened to him when he was younger . best we dont judge him. hey he does proud in depth breakdowns on wa players most of whom arent good enough to play for Australia but occasionally we all know there’s a green or a morris coming up based on facts, . funny enough, donny was anti Mitchell marsh early on and I suggested years ago he had form in england rather than aussie decks. donny learns the hard way
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Don christo has your number here and spelt out the math to you. green the only batsman to really flourish by a distance . margin 170 odd runs ind result first innings green 170 odd runs. Geez do we have to spell it out for you. its ok don we still accept you on here. you do go through every wa player with a tooth comb someone has to to do it
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Dons hilarious christo id already done the same math but I guess you had to spell it out to him he's a bit slow but we are here for special needs on roar. he does go through in depth WA talent and we all know and accept a player like green we dont look at state origin or bias unlike don who is a bit troubled . I think he thinks wa is all there is on planet earth let alone Australia. think he listend to McGowan to much during covid etc
Pierro
Roar Rookie
comedy now your outright lying I've never called for carey to be dropped. did you drink to much of that bay leaf over rate wa cabernet don when you wrote this at 1158pm
Pierro
Roar Rookie
don your the master of deflection and no facts when your wrong. you just dont like carey is from another state and Inglis is WA and number 2. I told you years ago carey would be number 1 take over from pain and inglis wasnt as good but you dont like facts. Carey has been a gun keeper. all you have is incompatible shield and one day cricket data on Inglis. wrong again donny and shown up as usual
Pierro
Roar Rookie
spot on sgt. I also think carey has had some tough tours and come in late to score runs quickly early on in his batting tenure. not to mention more recently key batsman like labs or head (not to mention Warner) have been as bad if not worse as batsman at times and the tours away have been tough in India and England . Carey also had a few key innings with bat before this summer. Carey is fine . more to worry about that him right now.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Oh dear don you never give up from state bias. Khwaja one of worlds best batsman last few years the averages dont lie . of course with next 9 months off due to t20 dominance khawja turns 38 and he may start to decline slowly on reflex hand eye ball cordination 5 to 10 percent which is big at top level but don its not rocket science from 38. the guys been outstanding just acknowledge he's been better than what WA can offer and accept it. facts not fiction don
Pierro
Roar Rookie
very true Sgt I forgot bradman wasnt western Australian or governed by McGowan the leading nutcase for 93 percent vaccination haha to let someone enter the golden state which proved ridiculous years on as expected. We need to look after Don he's a special needs case on here
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
We have played the Vics twice this year: The Marsh Cup where we beat you in 31 overs. The Shield game where we beat you by an innings and 53 runs. In this game, Rocchicchioli took 6/53 off 42 overs. Murphy took 1/ 141 off only 32 overs.