Saturday, February 20, 2016, 8.30am AEDT, Hagley Oval, New Zealand
THEY lost by an innings and 52 runs and their top order was absolutely shredded on a seaming wicket in the first Test, but the Kiwis reckon the best option is to have an even greener deck for the second test.
That’s right, the Kiwis ($2.80 to win the second Test with sportsbet.com.au) were routed by the Aussie ($1.90 with sportsbet.com.au) (Draw is $5.50) seamers on day one for just 183, but they apparently believe the answer is to make the decks even harder to bat on.
Coach Mike Hesson said he was disappointed the pitch at the Basin Reserve did not have more grass cover and he wants Hagley Oval to be even greener.
“I would have liked this (Wellington pitch) to have been much greener than it was,” Hesson said.
“It only seamed for two hours and that meant that both sides weren’t able to be exposed in those conditions.
”It’s a bit different when it seams for two hours, it makes the toss a little bit more important.“
He’s right in that the Aussies won the toss and sent the Kiwis in and reduced them to 7/97, before a late partnership between Mark Craig (41 not out) and Corey Anderson (38) and some lusty tail end hitting by Trent Boult (24 off 22, three sixes) helped them reach 183.
Josh Halewood was the destroyer with 4/42, while Peter Siddle (3/37) and Nathan Lyon (3/32) also cleaned up with three wickets each.
The Kiwis started brightly, snaring both Australian openers with just five runs on the board and it looked like the bowlers might make the mediocre total look decent.
But the in form Usman Khawaja and captain Steve Smith had other ideas.
The pair put on 126 for the third wicket, Smith eventually falling for 71, leaving Khawaja to bounce his way to yet another Test century, dismissed for 146 after joining Adam Voges in a 168 run stand.
Voges then went on to make a remarkable 239 – after being given not out after an incorrect no ball decision cannoned into his stumps when he was just seven.
Thems the brakes, though, and the Aussies powered to 562, with Siddle contributing 49.
New Zealand did fare better in the second dig, making 327 on the back of 63 to opener Tom Latham, 59 to Henry Nicholls, 45 to Martin Guptill, and an energiser bunny whirlwind 48 off 23 balls from Tim Southee.
Lyon was again in the wickets with 4/91 and maligned all rounder Mitch Marsh bagged 3/73.
The Kiwis have a rather large distraction looming in the second test, with captain and favourite son Brendan McCullum set to play his 101st and last Test for his nation. On top of that, they will have a selection dilemma if Ross Taylor is available, after debutante Nicholls’ strong performance in the second dig.
And, if it all works out for the Australians, they could be the number one Test nation at the end of the series.
They only have to either win or draw in Christchurch to secure top spot.
For now, it is the Kiwis who will have to deal with the Aussie’s hopes for world domination.
Predictions
Match result: Australia wins ($1.90 with Sportsbet.com.au)
Highest opening partnership: New Zealand ($1.88 with sportsbet.com.au)
Are the Kiwis better at swing bowling than the Australians? Probably. But the Aussie batting line up is better than New Zealand’s, so this one looks like it could be a far more even match, if the Black Caps get their wish for a greener deck. The thing is, the batsmen were mauled by reverse swing in the second innings, and that means the Aussies will have a psychological edge over their opponent. While the Kiwis were essentially dominated on the back of a disastrous first session in the first Test, we think this one will be much closer, but the Aussies will have the muscle to take it out and become the number one Test nation, with the Trans Tasman Trophy already stitched up.
Top run scorer tips
New Zealand
Brendon McCullum ($6.50 with sportsbet.com.au)
A sentimental pick, more than any thing, McCullum boasts a rather poor record against Australia, but we reckon he may just turn it on in his last Test. Still one of the most devastating bats in the world, McCullum can swing a match with a few lusty blows and he will be hoping his dashing brand of batting can come off one more time. And, if you back him in, you’ll be hoping too.
Australia
Usman Khawaja ($3.75 with sportsbet.com.au)
Oh, Ussie. They are comparing Voges to Bradman after his ridiculous run making exploits, but the reality is, this elegant left hander is closer to the great one than any one else running around a cricket pitch at the moment. Khawaja hasn’t exactly come from the clouds. He had his opportunities and the Aussie selectors would probably admit they gave up on him a little too quickly at times. But that is in the past now. He should be a regular fixture in all forms of the game and we expect him to dominate the game for the next five plus years. Watch him peel off yet another ton against the Kiwis.
To wicket taket tips
New Zealand
Trent Boult ($3.50 with sportsbet.com.au)
Like most of the Kiwi bowlers, Boult had to send down more than 30 overs as the Aussies put them to the sword. But he did managed two wickets, one the key of Khawaja and he, more than any other New Zealand bowler, is the man the Black Caps look to for inspiration. If, as Hesson says, there will be even more grass on the wicket, then that will most certainly play into the hands of the dashing swing man. The Kiwis will give him the rock and watch him hoop it, in the hopes that he can bamboozle the Aussie top order.
Australia
Josh Hazlewood ($3.25 with sportsbet.com.au)
Halewood has become the man for the Aussies and his statistics through his first 16 Tests stack up very favourably with some of the great pace men in the country’s bygone years. And McCullum has basically admitted he is the key man for the Aussies. “When we turn up at Hagley, we’ll need to find a method to keep him out of the game,” McCullum said. “At the moment he’s proving a dangerous bowler, he’s developed really quickly. He was probably the junior member of the line up six or eight months ago. Now he’s a senior member. He’s an excellent bowler who has made adjustments in different conditions to get some good results.“ That’s praise enough from a legend for us to part with our money, especially with the expectant green deck.
