New Test, same result, same problems for Australia as they finish their tour of New Zealand with a fifth win from five matches.
Christchurch, though, was the visitors’ sternest Test yet – and after another series of top-order failures left them in dire straits at 4/34 chasing 279 for victory, it took heroics from Alex Carey, Mitchell Marsh and Pat Cummins to steer the Aussies home just when a first loss to New Zealand on their turf in more than three decades looked inevitable.
With another brilliant performance from the bowlers, plus returns to form for Carey and Marnus Labuschagne, there was plenty of good for Australia to come out of the second Test.
But there are a few glaring problems too significant to ignore further, with one big one right at the top of the order.
Here are The Roar’s player ratings for the second Test – and the full Trans-Tasman Trophy.
Usman Khawaja
Second Test: 3.5
Series: 4
Just 88 runs at 22 across the two Tests made this comfortably Khawaja’s poorest series since his return to the team two years ago – and the veteran left-hander’s issues are about more than lack of runs.
Australia’s middle order is clearly struggling without a tone-setting counterpuncher at the top of the order, the role David Warner played for over a decade, and with Khawaja’s strike rate down at 34.37 – second-lowest for the series ahead of Will Young among batters on either side – even when he did see off the new ball, the team was still left under the pump when he departed.
Next summer’s home series against India promises to be a defining one for Uzzy – will it prove his swansong?
Steve Smith
Second Test: 2
Series: 3
After four Tests and seven completed innings as opener, Smith is averaging 28.5 with one score of above 31 – a poor run for one of Australia’s greatest ever batters.
Was dismissed LBW twice in Christchurch in a manner that suggested two things: that his once-impeccable eye is beginning to fail with age, and that he lacks the watertight, classical technique most openers require to succeed in the toughest role of all.
With Cameron Green bedding down the No.4 spot this series, moving to the top might prove to be what prematurely ends Smith’s glittering career – because he can’t keep producing numbers like this without something needing to give.
Marnus Labuschagne
Second Test: 7.5
Series: 4
One swallow doesn’t make a summer, but Labuschagne’s lone-handed 90 in the first innings in Christchurch was at least a timely reminder that his class remains despite a torrid run of form.
Just nine runs in his other three innings for the series makes for ugly reading, but an outstanding leaping catch in the covers on Day 3 confirmed he’s still one of Australia’s premier fielders, which, combined with his relative youth compared to most of the batting order, should buy him the series against India next summer at least to regain his best touch.
Cameron Green
Second Test: 4
Series: 6.5
The top run-scorer for the series, albeit nearly entirely due to his first Test 174, Green couldn’t have the same impact in Christchurch – and he’s beginning to show a real technical flaw after once again chopping on in the second innings and being bowled through the gate in the first.
Was expensive with the ball, but removed the dangerous Tom Blundell in both innings to remain Australia’s golden arm, and it seems Pat Cummins prefers him to fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh in that department.
Travis Head
Second Test: 3
Series: 2.5
Correlation is not causation, but to the eye it seems Head’s struggles with the bat have coincided with Mitchell Marsh’s return to the team and emergence as Australia’s middle-order counterpuncher.
Once again twice throwing away starts at Hagley Oval, supporters are looking on the South Australian’s rash dismissals far less favourably given the woes of the rest of the batting order, and with Labuschagne and Carey both making crucial scores, his head, pardon the pun, is now the one in the firing line.
Head provides plenty to the Australian team at his best, but with a middle-order star stuck as opener and Marsh and Carey both succeeding in his counterattacking role, is there still a role for him if the runs don’t start flowing soon?
Mitchell Marsh
Second Test: 7.5
Series: 6.5
Two crucial counterpunches and two ducks are the tale of the tape for the Western Australian this series, enough for an average of 30 – just a smidge lower than his career mark.
While Carey has received all the plaudits for the second Test run chase, it was truly Marsh who got the ball rolling, making the most of a life early on Day 4 to brutalise short-pitched bowling, flay any width offered and take Australia to within sight of home in clearly his best innings since a similar rescue act on return in last year’s Ashes series.
Given just 13 overs for the series, Green’s return and the success of Australia’s frontline bowlers has made Marsh’s second string a touch obsolete.
Alex Carey
Second Test: 9
Series: 6.5
After 27 runs in three innings to start the series, the wolf was well and truly at Carey’s door – so what does he do? Oh, just smack a sensational, nerveless unbeaten 98 to steer Australia home in Christchurch after coming in at 5/80.
It was a badly needed score, but also underlined the South Australian’s immense value to the team as a cool head under pressure; while his wicketkeeping, save for a rare drop to spare Tom Latham late on Day 2, was rarely less than sublime in New Zealand as the ball hooped around.
Remarkably, he ended up as the third-highest run-scorer for the series!
Alex Carey and Pat Cummins celebrate. (Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images)
Mitchell Starc
Second Test: 5.5
Series: 4.5
The only underwhelming member of Australia’s bowling attack in New Zealand, Starc struggled to find the swing and bounce that makes him such a formidable opponent at his best.
Three first-innings wickets in Christchurch, including a trademark yorker to trap Scott Kuggeleijn LBW, were the left-armer’s best figures, but just five wickets at over 43 suggests he might have benefitted from a Test off given Australia’s wealth of bowling stocks.
Managing just 49 runs for the series, it might be time for Starc to head back to No.9, and swap with…
Pat Cummins (c)
Second Test: 8
Series: 7.5
Captain Fantastic does it again.
After a relatively quiet series with ball in hand, taking just six wickets in four innings and two across his first three, Cummins still found a way to play a crucial hand for Australia, repeating his Edgbaston heroics with an ice-cool unbeaten 32 to partner Carey in steering them home.
As captain, his managing of his bowlers was rarely short of sublime, with New Zealand only truly getting away on Day 3 in Christchurch as tailender Scott Kuggeleijn blazed what seemed crucial runs; but with four wickets in that innings, the skipper was still the premier bowler.
Has Australia had a clutcher captain since Steve Waugh?
Nathan Lyon
Second Test: 7
Series: 9
Barely required in the first innings at Hagley Oval, Lyon was crucial at the close of New Zealand’s second: taking three scalps in three overs, those of Glenn Phillips, Kuggeleijn and Matt Henry, he ensured the Black Caps could only add 23 for their final four wickets, sawing off a potentially wagging tail.
With 13 wickets for the series, only Kiwi Matt Henry finished with more, while his average of 12.53 was comfortably the best on show. Add to that some handy runs (15 more than Smith managed for the series, as it happens), and the GOAT would have been a worthy Player of the Series.
Josh Hazlewood
Third Test: 8
Series: 9
Cummins is an all-time great and Starc’s best is dazzling to behold, but Hazlewood’s five-wicket haul in the first innings in Christchurch, including four of New Zealand’s top five, made it clear he is an Australian champion in his own right.
With McGrath-esque accuracy and a perfectly upright seam, Hazlewood’s Day 1 haul ensured the Aussies got the perfect start to the match, while his sole scalp in the second was the vital one of Daryl Mitchell.
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Have I mentioned that WA will be hosting the Shield final - *ahem* :stoked:
Pierro
Roar Rookie
I cant disagree with that Dave he’s a freak in the field. Some of those slip catches he’s taken defy belief. He lives sleeps and breathes cricket. I was sort of indicating footwork and eye on ball around the lbws and a few Knicks. Its just he was super freak before this period now he seems a bit more back to the very good pack of test players, still tendulker subsided , Williamson has gone through patches, kohl subsided in test efforts. all the greats eventually subside off their peaks . Smith is one of those greats and we lost a year of him in his prime which was tragic for the public to miss really
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
Footwork maybe but the eye is pretty good judging by some of the great catches he is taking. I thought he had fixed up some of his footwork problems from last year but he’s gone backwards with these weird lbws.
DaveJ
Roar Rookie
It’s an interesting question whether to give more credit to Marsh or Carey. On the one hand, Marsh could have been out exactly the same way Head got out to the pedestrian Southee one ball before. But is that kind of luck much different from all the other kinds every batter gets? And on the other, it took fine stroke play to get put Australia on the front foot, though he still hit too many balls in the vicinity of backward point in the air. This rash of shots hit in the air to fielders at backward point and cover is really worrying. Marnus did it on 90, Carey twice in the first Test, then Marsh and Head. Something that good red ball players hardly ever did a few years ago. I wouldn’t worry too much about scoring rates. Good Test openers shouldn’t feel under pressure just because they and their partner aren’t scoring quickly. Having Warner go quickly was nice but ultimately all that counts is the final score. Warner’s average away from Australia against the top 5 teams was only 32.5. And if openers stay in longer the shine and the seam are reduced. The Christchurch wicket had assistance for the first 20-odd overs, but from day 2 it was pretty easy batting after that. Bancroft is a slow scorer but I wouldn’t let that put off selecting him if he is more likely than others to set a solid platform.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Id agree with this Sgt. Hes definitely coming off his sharp hand eye ball coordination and footwork prowess a bit post him turning 33 for me. The high ball stuff a few years ago didnt help him where archer got him body line and then Wagner got him a bit – he was incredible before that but he came back from it. We are talking about one of the worlds best batsmen so his averages after those periods became excellent instead of unbelievable . Its the tour of India, England and home Summer then NZ where we have seen a decline but especially this home summer series and NZ. I agree doesnt matter where he bats. All that said Labs and Head have struggled way more. And Smith will open for the first few tests and be selected for the entire series as could easily drop down to 3 , 4 or 5. He will be 35 going towards 36 so he’s another watch against India but Id be more concerned about the awful averages of Head and labuschagne since the English ashes series began last June. In the last 12 tests they have had dire averages. Warner seemed to establish it was ok to stay for two years with an average in the 20s let alone a one series average in England of 9 and stilll get picked and choose your retirement date as well.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Im not jumping on the openers failure quite yet. Kiwis failed at home opening by and large and had great/best conditions to bat in the second innings at Christchurch . No doubt smith and khawaja need to bat well in first 3 tests against India but they get Perth, Adelaide and Gabba to do it. Smith tends to bat well at MCG and SCG though overall in Aus unlike others. Hes not as happy facing the pink ball and has said it himself which will happen at Adelaide. As for Head, Hes averaging the worst of the lot in 2024 ( 24) . Hes the big watch along with Labs really as they have had pour home series average on top of poor 2024 average.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Id say the bowlers carey and bison to be fair and cam green was incredible test 1 . Those bowlers know how to bat though thats for sure .
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Khawaja has said he wants to play to 40 . Smith has indicated he doesnt want to tour much more . Id think family planning may beckon for him too. Just a hunch. He is OCD with cricket so doing both wouldn't suit him. Hes indicated in press confs he won't stay around too long. Id say England ashes 2025/26 he will retire as he won't want to tour India 2026. Khawja is 38 this summer. He will need to bat well to go on to Sri Lanka and West Indies tours in 2025 and then face England at home. My bet is they will both be gone after that but its speculation. We might miss them though be careful what you wish for. Averages need to come up next summer for sure. Averaging 30 over last 4 tests is not good enough but they had reasonable averages over the summer compared to labs and head who are the real ones to analyze next in December.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
geez he Steven waugh got Aus out of a lot of trouble many times when the chips were down qwetzen he was amazing when it mattered .
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
For me the main issue with Smith is form rather than batting position. It looked like he'd come out of it when he got runs against the windies and he looked to have fixed his technique but in NZ he was walking way across and getting found out. If he fixes it then I don't think it matters when he comes in and if he doesn't then the same applies
Michael
Roar Rookie
Well yeah was a short stint for Bumrah, but still ????
Linphoma
Roar Rookie
When have you seen Rohit bowling?
Michael
Roar Rookie
Was obviously a series dominated by the bowlers with just a handful of respectable scores. As bad as the batters were, New Zealand were worse. Smith opening has been a failure. Not just the scores, but the style of dismissals and the inevitable reviews. If Australia is going to stick with the “6 best batters” theory, then I think Head is the closest replacement we had for Warner. A dasher for a dasher. That said, given the way the middle orders generally struggled this series it wouldn’t have made much difference if Smith was down at 4, or maybe even 5 now. As it’s been for a little while now, the bowling attack has proved itself to be the real strength of the side. Perhaps the most balanced and best performing quartet of all time for Australia. Even their batting seems more reliable than the top order nowadays ???? Out of the 4, there’s almost always at least 3 of them firing. When one has an off day the others are there to pick up the slack. With Green and Marsh sitting in reserve for when they are required it really is the strong bast bowling attack going around in world cricket. There’s going to be a big changing of the guard in the next few years with Khawaja, Smith, Starc and (hopefully a bit later) Lyon all retiring. Of note India, Australia and New Zealand all captained by fast bowlers (assuming you can classify Southee as that)
Sgt Pepperoni
Roar Rookie
That's what happens when the bowlers do all the work
Geoff from Bruce Stadium
Roar Rookie
Amazing that 4 of the top 6 Aussie batsmen have series scores of 4/10 or less and Australia wins the series 2 zip.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Honestly wouldn’t be surprised with a Khawaja retirement before next summer. Other things in life appear to dominate his mind now rather then hitting a red ball with a piece of willow around a green field. Smiths batting form appears to be in rapid decline and there is the best part of year until the next test. Who knows, we could easily be looking for two new openers next summer.
qwetzen
Roar Rookie
Has Australia had a clutcher captain since Steve Waugh? Could you please list the "clutcher" match-winning 4th innings he played as I can't recall any.
The Late News
Roar Rookie
Yes Tim certain things are quite obvious aren't they. Test players should be specialists; it should be extremely rare for a player to be good at T20 and tests. Oh well, I keep breathing in hope!