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Australia holds the upper-hand in the second Test of the Trans-Tasman Trophy series underway in Christchurch but there is still work to be done to establish a dominant advantage after an eventful opening day at Hagley Oval in which 14 wickets fell.
After winning the toss, Australian skipper Pat Cummins opted to send New Zealand in and the move reaped rewards with Josh Hazlewood producing an outstanding spell to rout the Kiwi top order, with the hosts bowled out for 162 inside 46 overs.
Hazlewood finished with 5-31 from 13.2 overs and was ably supported by Mitchell Starc, who passed Australian legend Dennis Lillee on the all-time wicket list when finishing with 3-59 to move to 357 Test wickets.
Kiwi paceman Matt Henry did his best to bowl New Zealand back into the Test with a superb performance to snare the wickets of Usman Khawaja, Cameron Green and Travis Head.
“Any wicket in this situation is good. Obviously it is good to see the back of Green after his last Test,” Henry said.
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Debutant Ben Sears also had a day to remember when removing Steve Smith for 11 in his opening over.
Australia reached stumps at 4-124, trailing by 38 runs, with Marnus Labuschagne finding a semblance of form when unbeaten on 45 runs from 80 balls, while nightwatchman Nathan Lyon is not out on one.
“It was a great day of cricket. There has been some quality bowlers from both sides … but there was good encouragement from Marnus Labuschagne, who is 45 not out and fighting hard,” Fox Cricket expert Brendon Julian said.
Henry said the opening session on Saturday is likely to be critical to New Zealand’s hopes of fighting back to keep the Test competitive.
“Tomorrow morning is going to be a big start for us and hopefully we can start well,” Henry said.
Perplexed Smith reviews… sent packing! | 01:55
STARC SURPASSES LILLEE IN LATEST CHAPTER OF 12-YEAR JOURNEY
Just over 12 years after debuting against New Zealand at the Gabba, Mitchell Starc was back doing what he does best on Friday in Christchurch as he surpassed Australian legend Dennis Lillee on the all-time wicket list.
The left-armed paceman’s first Test wicket was a Kiwi opener as Starc removed Brendon McCullum, more recently of ‘Bazball’ fame, for 34. He ended the Test with two wickets.
In his 89th Test match, Starc drew level with D.K. Lillee by removing the incumbent Kiwi opener Will Young when drawing a thick edge which flew to Mitch Marsh at third slip.
Starc, who was later on a hat-trick after removing Glenn Phillips and Scott Kuggeljein in successive deliveries, said this summer that he would reflect on the achievement once he had retired.
“All those things I’ll reflect on when I finish,” Starc told Fox Cricket.
“I’m not one for setting numbers, goals and the rest of it. I’m still just as happy pilling on a baggy green each week, whether it’s my 83rd Test or whatever it might be.”
Starc, whose wife Alyssa captains the Australian women’s team, said the camaraderie associated with being a member of the national team was something he will treasure.
The strike bowler and his fellow pace bowlers Pat Cummins and Josh Hazlewood are regular golf partners and share a strong friendship away from the crease.
“There’s different moments that stand out for me,” he said.
“Whether it’s singing the song after an Ashes win or sitting back on the last Test of the summer and reflecting on how the team’s gone, for me, that’s why I play.
“The rest of it, there’s plenty of things I’m proud of and I’ll probably reflect on more when I don’t have to pull on the bowling boots any more.
“Hearing those things are still pretty cool and things to aim for, but I’ve never been that focused on numbers and the rest of it.”
Starc has moved into fourth position on the Australian Test wicket list behind Shane Warne (708 wickets), Glenn McGrath (563 wickets) and Nathan Lyon (527) wickets.
Hazlewood, who has 271 wickets from 70 Tests, and Cummins, who has taken 265 wickets in 62 Tests, also sit in the top 10 wicket takers for Australia.
‘CAN’T BELIEVE IT’: SMITH’S BRAIN FADE SPELLS TROUBLE
Steve Smith used to know exactly where his off stump was.
The champion batter was impenetrable on his pads during his record-breaking 2019 Ashes campaign, picking England’s seamers off with ease and leaving anything wide of the pegs alone.
Now, the New South Welshman is poking at deliveries he should have left alone and leaving deliveries he should have defended.
Smith’s uncharacteristic dismissal on day one of the Christchurch Test has revived debate about his recent shift up the order. Facing New Zealand debutant Ben Sears in the ninth over, he opted to shoulder arms a delivery that thudded into his back pad, trapped LBW for 11.
The Australian vice-captain looked befuddled, sending the decision upstairs before Hawkeye confirmed the Kookaburra would have flicked off stump.
“Smith can’t believe it,” commentator Scotty Stevenson declared.
“It’s been a tough series for him … Smith’s frustrations continue.”
Former New Zealand batter Craig McMillan continued: “It’s just a misjudgment.
“The bat was in no position at all to play a shot.”
Smith’s Test batting average as an opener has dipped to 32.40, with only one fifty in seven knocks — hardly disastrous numbers by any means, but sceptics will understandably question whether the right-hander is better suited at second drop.
However, following Cameron Green’s heroic century during the series opener in Wellington, there isn’t an obvious vacancy for Smith in the middle order, particularly with Australian coach Andrew McDonald backing in Marnus Labuschagne for the Indian tour next summer.
Meanwhile, Smith has once again became the maiden Test victim of a debutant, with Sears joining a growing list that features Tom Curran, Shamar Joseph and Craig Overton.
Steve Smith Test batting average by position
Opener — 32.40
No. 3 — 67.07
No. 4 — 61.50
No. 5 — 57.18
No. 6 and lower — 28.73
‘WHAT WAS I THINKING?’: KIWI RISING STAR’S GLARING FLAW
Rachin Ravindra, what were you thinking?
The Kiwi rising star threw his wicket away on what was ultimately the final delivery before lunch on day one of the Christchurch Test, giving Australia the upper hand at Hagley Oval.
Ravindra unnecessarily flashed at wide delivery from paceman Josh Hazlewood, edging the ball through to Usman Khawaja at first slip. The left-hander threw his head back in frustration before trudging off with New Zealand reaching lunch at 3-71.
“That’s a disappointing one,” former New Zealand batter Mark Richardson said in commentary.
“It’s a loose shot just before lunch, and Ravindra will have to chew on it. It’s a horrible feeling.”
Former White Ferns all-rounder Frankie Mackay continued: “He is absolutely livid with himself there.”
It was the third consecutive innings in the series where Ravindra has lost his wicket wafting at a delivery he could have comfortably left alone, which raises questions about the 24-year-old’s temperament in the Test arena. All four of his dismissals against seamers this summer have come from wide deliveries, further than fifth stump.
“It’s loose,” former Black Caps batter Craig MacMillan said.
“He’ll look back and say, ‘What was I thinking?’ You can see the disappointment.
“That’s youth for you. They see a ball that’s there to drive through cover (but) they don’t think about the last over.”
Had he survived, it is entirely possible New Zealand might have found some momentum after lunch.
But instead New Zealand lost 6-36 in a disastrous collapse after Ravindra’s dismissal when ultimately bowled out for 162 in less than 46 overs.
Ravindra, who shot to stardom after a stellar World Cup campaign in India, is still in the early stages of his Test career, boasting just six Test caps before the Christchurch contest. His talent is undeniable, but patience is crucial to success in the red-ball arena, especially for a No. 4 batter.
“Did we not script this? It’s so wrong,” former New Zealand wicketkeeper Ian Smith said on SEN commentary.
“Whoever’s coaching this guy has got to get inside his head. That’s two feet wide of off stump. It’s gifted Australia the session.”
‘CAPTAINCY 101’: CUMMINS’ INDISPUTABLE INFLUENCE
Pat Cummins managed only one wicket during Australia’s first innings rout of New Zealand on a chaotic day in Christchurch to start the second Test of the Trans-Tasman Trophy.
But the Australian captain’s influence on the match is indisputable given some canny decision making in the opening session of the match.
New Zealand’s openers Will Young and Tom Latham, in particular, were able to settle in the infancy of the opening session as Mitchell Starc struggled to find his rhythm early on.
Sensing this, the Australian skipper made the change after just three overs when introducing himself into the attack before reintroducing Starc once the dust had settled.
The move reaped dividends almost immediately, with the strike bowler removing Young before Josh Hazlewood chimed in with a magnificent spell to give Australia the upper-hand.
Former Australian fast bowler Brendon Julian was full of praise for Cummins, saying his assertiveness was a critical factor in changing the momentum in the match.
“I love this about Pat Cummins, with his captaincy. He is not afraid to say, ‘OK, Mitch, you have had three overs and taken 0-13, so let’s change it up’,” the Fox Cricket analyst said.
“I love it about a captain, especially a bowling captain, because quite often you will see captains think, ‘OK. Maybe we give him a couple more’. But he is happy to make the changes early.
“As a bowling captain as well, he night think, ‘Maybe I should let the other guys have more of a bowl’, but he does not do that, which is good.”
The decision to rotate bowlers at short intervals was a factor in Australia’s stunning ODI World Cup success over India in the final in November.
Given the consistent excellence of Hazlewood, Lyon and himself, there is also room for it in Test cricket given Starc, who is more of a wildcard, can be called on in shorter bursts.
As New Zealand broadcaster Scotty Stevenson said: “It is captaincy 101 when you have your two opening bowlers and they bowl five or six overs, and then your change bowlers come on. But it does not need to be like that.”
KIWI INITIATIVE THAT COULD SAVE PERTH TEST
The hand-wringing that occurred at the start of the 2023-24 summer about the attendance for Australia’s Test against Pakistan at Optus Stadium in Perth prompted much discussion.
Largely ignored is the fact that the attendances for a Test lasting four days were in keeping with what would have been acceptable had the match been played at the WACA.
But cricket authorities in the west are mindful of the need to try to build crowds at the Burswood stadium as the jockeying for Test dates among states continues.
An Indigenous-themed Test sits among the ideas being considered, but officials needed only tune in to the opening day of the match at Hagley Oval in New Zealand for a novel idea.
Catering to the fans might actually work!
While the Kiwis were well-beaten in Wellington and are under immense pressure in Christchurch, there have been no issues drawing crowds.
And part of the reason for this is the ability of fans to be able to wander on to the oval during lunch breaks for a stretch, an impromptu game of cricket or an opportunity to have a look at the pitch.
New Zealand broadcaster Scotty Stevenson touched on the “pageantry” and “excitement” felt around Hagley Oval and throughout the series when discussing the atmosphere during the lunch break on Friday.
“This is what it is all about. Getting out there. There is enough security around to make sure no-one does anything too silly,” he said.
“I think it has been an amazing feature of the summer from New Zealand cricket. The initiative is a good one.
“These kids want to be out here. They want to imagine what it is going to be like in ten years’ time when they are in their colours for their club, or their region, or their country.”
Former New Zealand all-rounder Craig McMillan said it reminded him of when he was growing up and believes being able to walk on to the field is clearly an attraction for fans.
“This is what we did growing up as children. I can remember at Lancaster Park, you would watch the cricket but you were always waiting for that lunch break to get on the park,” he said.
“You can see the games of cricket going on around here with the juniors. They were on here pretending they were Tom Latham or Kane Williamson. You can see people going up to the pitch _ there would be 100 pitch reports going on at the moment.”
Fox Cricket analyst Brendon Julian said he would love to see the practice return in Australia cricket but said he doubted it was something authorities would consider, to his lament.
“You can’t do that in Australia,” he said.
“(Fans are out here) saying ‘Should have bowled that length. Should have bowled it here’. (But) we don’t do that in Australia and I think we have to get back to it.”
Before anyone in the west fires up, it is an idea authorities should be considering across the country, even if there are some challenging logistics to consider.
Stadium management and curators are keen to protect the grounds, but it is difficult to believe the New Zealand turf is any more durable or tougher than the Australian surfaces.
Julian noted that the practice was allowed after AFL games and said it is something that should be considered.
“I would love to see it in Australia as well, because people love to go out there. I would encourage it,” Julian said.
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