Australia
Stumps
New Zealand
| 4/257 Australia are 257 for 4 |
| 1/60 (20.0) | *Boult | O: 90.0 | Smith* | 77 (192) |
| 0/63 (21.0) | Southee | RR:2.45 | Head | 25 (56) |
| c. Watling b. de Grandhomme |  | 73.3 4/216 |  | Wade 38(78) |
| b. de Grandhomme | | 49.5 3/144 | | Labuschagne 63(149) |
| c. Southee b. Wagner | | 21.2 2/61 | | Warner 41(64) |
| b. Boult | | 0.4 1/1 | | Burns 0(1) |
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| First Innings: Australia | 4/257 | RR: 2.45 | O: 90.0 |
|---|
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
D.A. Warner c. Southee b. Wagner | 41 | 64 | 3 | 0 | 64.06 |
J.A. Burns b. Boult | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
M. Labuschagne b. de Grandhomme | 63 | 149 | 6 | 1 | 42.28 |
S.P.D. Smith not out | 77 | 192 | 8 | 1 | 40.10 |
M.S. Wade c. Watling b. de Grandhomme | 38 | 78 | 3 | 0 | 48.72 |
T.M. Head not out | 25 | 56 | 3 | 0 | 44.64 |
T.D. Paine*+ | |||||
J.L. Pattinson | |||||
P.J. Cummins | |||||
M.A. Starc | |||||
N.M. Lyon | |||||
Extras (b 1, lb 11, w 1, nb 0) | 13 | ||||
| Total | 257 | ||||
| Bowlers | O | M | R | W | Ec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| T.A. Boult | 20.0 | 2 | 60 | 1 | 3.00 |
| T.G. Southee | 21.0 | 5 | 63 | 0 | 3.00 |
| C. de Grandhomme | 21.0 | 5 | 48 | 2 | 2.29 |
| N. Wagner | 21.0 | 7 | 40 | 1 | 1.90 |
| M.J. Santner | 7.0 | 1 | 34 | 0 | 4.86 |
The second Test of the three-match series between Australia and New Zealand is set to begin on Boxing Day at the historic Melbourne Cricket Ground. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of the game from 10:30am (AEDT).
Australia sealed the series-opener in Perth in a convincing fashion thanks to a clinical all-round performance. They’ll be keen to keep up the winning habit and conclude the year on a high.
Their batting order, at the moment, looks impeccable with the likes of David Warner and Marnus Labuschagne piling runs upon runs and others gradually discovering their groove. Labuschagne’s run of form, in particular, has been nothing short of miraculous and he is slowly but surely elevating himself to Test cricket stardom. The right-hand batsman notched up 143 runs in the first innings of the opening fixture against the Kiwis to continue his run-scoring spree.
The Black Caps were trounced by their hosts and just couldn’t catch up with the intensity and fire the Australian bowling battery spat at them. Despite losing their premier paceman, Josh Hazlewood, in the early stages of New Zealand’s first innings, the duo of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins kept toiling hard and chipping away with crucial breakthroughs.
A fragile-looking New Zealand batting line-up could only muster 166 and 171 in their two innings and consequently lost by a massive 296 runs. The test staring them head-on at the G, though, is even sterner and the tourists will be itching to not emulate their performance from the first match.
Australia have been dealt a major blow as Hazlewood, who only bowled eight deliveries in the first Test, has been ruled out of today’s matchg. Veteran paceman Peter Siddle was been called up to the squad but he is highly unlikely to feature in the playing XI. James Pattinson is a confirmed starter, and there are rumours Michael Neser may come into the side for Travis Head in the scenario that the hosts play five bowlers.
As for the Kiwis, their top-order proved to be their Achilles heel. Jeet Raval’s two consecutive failures at Perth has prompted the team to call up wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Blundell to open alongside Tom Latham. In better news, Trent Boult returns after missing out on the pink-ball Test. He’ll replace the injured Lockie Ferguson, who picked up a calf injury on debut and has been ruled out for six weeks.
Early pictures of the deck at MCG revealed a healthy tinge of green. The pitch itself has been under the critical radar for several months now and the onus will be on the curators to create a deck which provides a healthy encounter between bat and ball.
Be sure to join us here on The Roar today for live coverage of this Boxing Day Test between Australia and New Zealand.
Game Information
First ball: 10:30am (AEDT)
Venue: MCG
TV: Fox Cricket and Channel Seven
Online: Kayo Sports, Foxtel Go
Overall record: Played 58, Australia 32, New Zealand 8, drawn 18
Overall record in Australia: Played 32, Australia 18, New Zealand 3, drawn 11
Overall record at the MCG: Played 3, Australia 1, New Zealand 0, drawn 2
Teams
Australia
Joe Burns, David Warner, Marnus Labuschagne, Steve Smith, Matthew Wade, Travis Head/Michael Neser, Tim Paine (c, wk), Pat Cummins, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon
New Zealand
Tom Latham, Tom Blundell, Kane Williamson (c), Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling (wk), Colin de Grandhomme, Mitchell Santner, Neil Wagner, Tim Southee, Trent Boult
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
What happened to Momin??
DP Schaefer
Roar Rookie
The translation of what they are actually saying is extremely poor. "Smith added 5 runs this morning" translated to 52 runs. "The cheers" translated to 'the chairs'.. and on and on. Almost every sentence has caption/sub title errors.
VivGilchrist
Roar Rookie
one short
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Possibly the best whole day cricket blog I've ever followed. Well done Momin.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Absolutely ryan, loves the pressure and building an innings after surviving tricky conditions but definitely prefers the red ball to the pink ball . Perhaps they will improve the shape of the pink ball next year but it does keep loosing firmness and shape . Labuschagne seems to like both red and pink ball and any conditions right now. The two of them are the anchors for Australia since june unless its flat and bouncy where warner prefers it more .
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Hang on. The MCG pitch will go downhill quick? What on earth are you basing that statement on?
The Late News
Roar Rookie
he should practice with door handles!
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
On the surface of it and u der the surface of it. What was he thinking? They could have batted us out of the match and we could have gone into a live rubber in Sydney!
AREH
Roar Guru
That and he certainly seems to thrive more the tougher the situation and greater the pressure; ie - a difficult rescue challenge at 2/10, opposed to 2/300 with his side already on top.
mbp
Guest
kiwis to crumble in both their innings. bowler friendly pitch that will go downhill fast.... the aussie quicks and nathan lyon are all a cut above the NZ bowlers...! doom and gloom and embarrassment for the kiwis...!
Diamond Jackie
Roar Rookie
I Simply cannot believe Nz bowled after winning the toss. Did they not get enough fielding practice in Perth ?
Charlie Turner
Guest
Santner only turns the balls he chucks.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Id agree was good enough by warner without him ever looking comfortable. I think your totally right oz in front marginally and wasn’t the greatest call bowling first but labs and smith dug in well english wicket style , throw back to the ashes in the way they batted. Once again after perth and adelaide pink DN , the mcg is a totally different ball game, completely different conditions actually
ols
Roar Pro
41 on the last day. It'll be all over before it gets too hot for our boys. Australia ahead after Day One.
Pierro
Roar Rookie
actually smith seems to be going better on pitches which are trickier and not as flat RH. Didn’t like the pink ball as much. Loves the mcg where others struggle, loved it in england both those conditions are not flat and as bouncy . That said he didn’t like the pink ball medium pace but I think its because the ball doesn’t keep shape. He prefers the red ball for sure smith, I put a bet on him to score a century yesterday pre game on the punt. he’s goes well at mcg at times when others don’t
Pierro
Roar Rookie
Yes wasn't bad but he was never comfortable with the movement actually , did well enough but he's a flat track batsman , couldn't go in uk, hopeless there and theres no denying that . Labs doesn't need anyone he's patient , disciplined and leaves the ball outside off. Its labs who anchored that innings followed by smith, on a tricky wicket (yet again i might add, when the wicket gets trickier enter labs and smith)
Jeff
Roar Rookie
Ah yep. QLD style. Got it
jameswm
Roar Guru
If he can turn it then I could. Aust didn’t win the toss. As Nudge said at the start of the day, you don’t win the toss and bowl in Australia. Watch the rest of the test.
Charlie Turner
Guest
Spot on James. This pitch is doing a lot more than in previous years and will deteriorate as the weather heats up. Santander was even getting a few to turn.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Hard to be dogmatic