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Australia (383 & 164) defeat New Zealand (179 & 196) by 172 runs in the first Test match to go 1-0 up in the 2-match series

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Phantom Menace

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Crowd looks really good for a Thursday

==

New Zealand won the toss and opt to bowl

NZ XI:

Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Scott Kuggeleijn, Matt Henry, Tim Southee (c), William ORourke

Aus XI:

Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Pat Cummins (c), Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
 
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Khawaja's judgement of his offstump has been excellent so far.

NZ bowling attack looks a bit weak sans Boult and Jamieson. If AUS can see out this early spell and conditions stay dry there could be runs here.
 
FearlessRoar said:
Australia's last 31 Tests v New Zealand:

The record is 23 wins, 7 draws, and 1 loss.

- Southee averages 282 v. Khawaja, Smith and Labuschagne

- Conway averages 21 across his last 16 Test innings

- Cummins to Latham in Tests: 2-18 from 18.3 overs
Click to expand...
I thought our record against Australia was bad...
 
Session 3 started nicely for Kiwis. They have taken the 5th wicket now as Marsh is gone. Australia is 157/5 now.
 
This pitch is very green. One of those typical NZ pitches where batting gets easier by the day. 125 to 130 kph balls can be more dangerous.
 
NZ should win a test match here as the NZ team under Williamson is one of the best and NZ haven't won anything vs Australia either at home or away.
 
This green-cummins partnership is crucial for the OZ to put a good 1st inning total on the board. 238/7 atm.
 
What an inning Cameron Green has played today. Scored a century and took his team out of danger. Austalia will be happy that they have scored 279 for the loss of 9 wickets. At one moment, it looked like Australia would be all out under 250.

txKvOEF.png
 
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Matt Henry leads Black Caps as Cameron Green lifts Australia on day one of first test

At the Basin Reserve, Wellington: Australia 279-9 in 85 overs (Cameron Green 103no; Matt Henry 4-43) met the Black Caps.

The first test between the Black Caps and Australia at the Basin Reserve sits evenly-poised at the end of day one.

But it could have been so much better for the home team, if only standout seamer Matt Henry had received a bit more support.

The right-armer took 4-43 off 20 overs and was by far the most consistent and the most threatening of the New Zealand quartet as Australia made it to 279-9 at stumps.

Will O’Rourke and Scott Kuggeleijn – both playing their second tests – took 2-59 off 20 and 2-56 off 17 respectively, but were a mixed bag when it came to accuracy.

There were times when O’Rourke looked a real handful, especially when he got his speed up over 140kph – something Kuggeleijn never did – but there were also times when his radar was well off, with a few nerves perhaps showing.

Captain Tim Southee meanwhile finished the day wicketless, taking 0-68 off 20 as Australia rebounded from being 176-6 just after tea, largely thanks to an unbeaten 103 from all-rounder Cameron Green, who brought up his century in the final over of the day.

Play will resume on Friday with the Black Caps needing to wrap the Australian innings up quickly before shifting into batting mode.

On a gloomy Wellington morning, the toss at 10.30am on Thursday loomed as the first pivotal moment. Southee won it and chose to bowl, extending the Black Caps’ streak of doing so after winning the toss at home to a 23rd match.

That was almost the only thing that went right until just before lunch, when Henry had Steve Smith caught behind by Tom Blundell, diving in front of first slip, for 31 – the only wicket to fall in the opening session,

Smith’s first-wicket partnership with Usman Khawaja lasted 24.1 overs and was worth 61 runs. None of the 22 before it by a batting team sent in had lasted that long, while only one had been worth more runs – Bangladesh’s stand of 75 in Wellington in 2019.

That summed up the Black Caps’ position at the first break, with Australia 62-1. They hadn’t got the rewards they usually had in similar situations over the past decade or so, though they had at least kept things tight.

Marnus Labuschagne made his way to one off 26 balls before edging Kuggeleijn to Daryl Mitchell at second slip, with Henry – bowling Khawaja for 31 with an inswinger – and O’Rourke – getting a nervous Travis Head caught behind for one – making further inroads to leave Australia 89-4.

Mitch Marsh led Australia’s counter-attack, in conjunction with Green. After being 28-3 in the period between lunch and drinks, they were 58-0 in the 11.3 overs between drinks and tea, effectively cancelling out New Zealand’s good work.

Having done that, Marsh then threw his wicket away after tea, top-edging a pull off Henry and giving Blundell a simple catch as he departed for 40 off just 39 balls.

Kuggeleijn then got Alex Carey to hit the ball straight to Kane Williamson at cover on 10 off 20 and Australia were 176-6, with their bowlers exposed.

Mitchell Starc fell for nine off 33, caught by Tom Latham at second slip off O’Rourke, while Pat Cummins coudn’t last until the new ball arrived after 80 overs, falling LBW to Ravindra for 16 off 24, two balls after hitting him for six in the 79th.

Southee would have had a wicket had Williamson not dropped a one-handed chance off Nathan Lyon in the 81st over, but Henry accounted for him soon after.

It was probably still the Black Caps’ best first day in a test against Australia since Hamilton in March 2010, where they rolled their opponents for 231, then finished at 19-1. It just could have been so much better.

SOURCE: STUFf.CO.NZ
 
279/9 looks like a good score on a pitch which has slight variable bounce . Will the deck flatten out as game goes on as this has been the trend for most NZ pitches ?
 
NZ too has enjoyed a phenomenal run at home since 2017, last team to defeat them in NZ was Australia in 2016, when they whitewashed NZ.

Surprisingly out of all Asian sides, Bangladesh gave them the biggest scare in recent times by winning the first test.
 
RedwoodOriginal said:
I thought our record against Australia was bad...
Click to expand...
At least you guys hammered Australia a couple of times in UAE last decade. The Misbah team was particularly ruthless.

I don't remember the last time NZ beat Aus at home. In fact I don't remember the last time NZ drew a test against Aus at home.
 
Swashbuckler said:
At least you guys hammered Australia a couple of times in UAE last decade. The Misbah team was particularly ruthless.

I don't remember the last time NZ beat Aus at home. In fact I don't remember the last time NZ drew a test against Aus at home.
Click to expand...


I remember NZ winning a Test in Australia.

Was in 2011.

www.espncricinfo.com

AUS vs NZ, New Zealand tour of Australia 2011/12, 2nd Test at Hobart, December 09 - 12, 2011 - Full Scorecard

Get cricket scorecard of 2nd Test, AUS vs NZ, New Zealand tour of Australia 2011/12 at Bellerive Oval, Hobart dated December 09 - 12, 2011.
www.espncricinfo.com www.espncricinfo.com

Was a Drawn series so they have a better record than Pakistan in Australia..
 
Good score for Aus on a green top, Jamieson would've been tricky to face here.
Seems like Green will also have a Gill-eque turnaround
 
Breakout inning from green? Maybe now he'd show why he's been rated as a monstrous talent.
 
Swashbuckler said:
NZ too has enjoyed a phenomenal run at home since 2017, last team to defeat them in NZ was Australia in 2016, when they whitewashed NZ.

Surprisingly out of all Asian sides, Bangladesh gave them the biggest scare in recent times by winning the first test.
Click to expand...

Not Australia. South Africa in early 2017 beat NZ in NZ
 

Lack Of Matches Between Australia-New Zealand Underlines Test Cricket’s Problems​


A flight from Sydney to Auckland is only three hours. That's considerably shorter than traveling from Sydney to the Western Australian capital of Perth.

So it's rather strange on the surface that friendly neighbors Australia and New Zealand rarely play each other in Tests. It seems only natural that they would regularly meet.

The aforementioned proximity ignites an innate rivalry, something spawned culturally and not contrived like most things in modern cricket. There's the big brother versus little brother complex that everyone from both countries can understand - something similar to the relationship between the U.S. and Canada. It's cordial, and there is genuine affection for one another but laced with banter and sometimes tinged with jealousy.

And that's all to be seen on the field too, with Australia and New Zealand sharing a storied rivalry, but mostly confined to the shorter formats. Australia ended an eight-year Test drought in New Zealand when the short two-match series started on Thursday in Wellington.

It was little surprise to see the fanfare surrounding this series with both Test matches to be played in front of capacity crowds - a welcome sight for a traditional and treasured format that is dwindling in popularity in parts of the world.

The anticipation from local fans, who dotted the pristine grass banks at the pretty Basin Reserve in picturesque images, has been feverish given this is the match-up they care about the most but rarely get to watch. In the last 20 years, Australia has only played nine Tests in New Zealand - including this series - compared to 30 against England away from home and 22 in India.

It underlines that cricket has been increasingly saturated by the powerful three countries of Australia, India, and England who seemingly play each other on a loop. But, finally, there seems to be a little bit more effort in reviving Test cricket beyond those cricket nations who can afford to play the expensive format while many others can't.

The miraculous upset victory by the once powerful West Indies against Australia last month, in what was supposed to be a mismatch on the field that mirrored the gulf of finances of the two cricket boards, not only created nostalgia for fans but also lament that impoverished countries like West Indies have been left to squander.

Some of these issues are set to be discussed at the next ICC meeting in March, but it remains to be seen if any headway can be made in resurrecting a Test Cricket Fund.

With two biannual payments totaling more than $1 million, the fund aimed to "encourage and support Test match cricket" outside India, England, and Australia but was scrapped amid an overhaul of the financial model in 2016-17.

If some type of fund resurfaces then it could lead to a country like New Zealand being able to host at least a three-Test series against Australia compared to this abbreviated version, which feels a knockoff given the historical roots of the Trans-Tasman rivalry.

But desperate New Zealand fans, starved of seeing mighty Australians up close, won't particularly care about as they savor this series, whatever its length.

Because who knows when Australia will next tour New Zealand for Test cricket.

Forbes
 
remarkable knock by Green and Hazlewood to bring up a 100-run partnership for the last wicket.
 
Cameron Green has announced himself. He’s going to be a great when it’s all said and done.
 
Mitch Marsh has become a formidable player. One of the best if not the best all rounders going around currently.
 
What a contrasting performance from NZ . They were bullying D team South Africa. Now getting exposed
 
New Zealand has been totally dominated by the Aussies on this tour so far. 113 for 7 now with kiwis left to dust. Only glenn Phillips is showing resistance atm.
 
The pitch is easier to bat today than it was yesterday when it was seaming all over

Its just the gulf in quality between these two teams.
 
Phillips and Henry are supporting each other pretty well. Partnership of 46 now between these 2 batters. NZ 159/7 atm.
 
New Zealand is all out for 179. They reached this score courtesy of Glenn Phillips's superb 71 and Matt Henry's 42. Australia has a huge lead of 204. Another defeat is loading for New Zealand in this home series.
 
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The dismissals for Williamson and Ravindra were absolutely dreadful. NZ does seem to struggle producing their best against Australia in Tests. Think they have won 1 of the last 25 against them.
 
Nightmare second day leaves Black Caps battling in first test against Australia

At the Basin Reserve, Wellington: Australia 383 all out in 115.1 overs (Cameron Green 174no; Matt Henry 5-70) & 13-2 in 8 overs (Tim Southee 2-5) met the Black Caps 179 all out in 43.1 overs (Glenn Phillips 71 off 70; Nathan Lyon 4-43).

Glenn Phillips did his best to smash the Black Caps awake as a nightmare unfolded at the Basin Reserve on Friday.

But in the end the all-rounder’s innings of 71 off 70 balls could only provide brief respite, as the home team crumbled to be 179 all out in reply to Australia’s 383.

Tim Southee continued the fightback with the ball, removing Steve Smith, for a three-ball duck, and Marnus Labuschagne, for three, but at stumps on day two, the visitors were still in front by 217 runs at 13-2, with Nathan Lyon dropped by Southee at second slip off the last ball from Matt Henry.

The first source of pain on Friday was Australia’s last pair of Cameron Green (174no) and Josh Hazlewood (22), who batted for more than two hours, adding 104 runs to their overnight total and setting a new record for a 10th-wicket partnership against New Zealand.

The second was the Black Caps’ collapse to 29-5 in 17.1 overs, which featured as its centrepiece a calamitous run out – the product of a needless call by captain Kane Williamson after a push to mid-off.

He collided with a ball-watching Will Young in the middle of the pitch, then had to swerve around bowler Mitchell Starc, which left him well short when Marnus Labuschagne collected the ball and threw down the bowler’s end stumps.

Williamson’s two-ball duck was followed by a three-ball duck from Rachin Ravindra, the heir apparent, brought about when he hit Hazlewood to Lyon at point.

Tom Latham had already departed for five, bowled by Starc, while Daryl Mitchell (11) and Young (nine) were then caught behind by Alex Carey, off the respective bowling of Pat Cummins and Mitch Marsh.

At tea the Black Caps were 42-5 off 21 overs. After it, Phillips and Tom Blundell mounted a counter-attack, putting together a partnership of 84 runs off just 87 balls.

Phillips was the main aggressor, hitting 13 fours in total, while Blundell only found the boundary three times before he was caught at short leg by Travis Head off the bowling of Lyon for 33. The off-spinner than sent Scott Kuggeleijn packing for a second-ball duck.

Henry followed Phillips’ lead and then some, hitting three sixes before losing his senior partner when he top-edged a pull off Hazlewood to Starc. He went on to hit another and make 42 off 34, to go with 5-70 with the ball – his first five-wicket haul in 10 matches.

Lyon had Southee caught by Head for one, then dismissed Henry as well to finish with 4-43.

At stumps, Australia had Usman Khawaja and nightwatcher Lyon at the crease, on five and six respectively.

While the batting collapse was ugly, the real damage to the Black Caps’ hopes of winning against Australia at home for the first time since 1993 was done as they floundered while in search of a breakthrough in session one.

The record broken by Green and Hazlewood previously belonged to two Australians of a different era – bowlers Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath, who registered maiden half-centuries as they humiliated New Zealand in Brisbane in 2004.

On that occasion, the Black Caps responded by being rolled for 76. For a while on Friday, it looked like they might do worse. For a brief period, their record low against Australia of 42, set back in 1946, even looked under threat.

Neither eventuated, and they could yet fight back further, but by the end of day two it was almost as though the parity 24 hours earlier had been a dream.

SOURCE: STUFF.CO.NZ
 
pitch still doing a bit - not as much as on day 1 though . Rain forecast on day 4 & 5 btw . Would be nice if Aussies get rolled on for around 170 .
 
  • Ist Test Aus Vs Nz
  • Match Summary:
    • NZ Score: 179
    • AUS Score: 383
    • AUS Second Innings: 13/2 (8 overs)
    • Current Run Rate (CRR): 1.62
  • Day 2 Summary:
    • Stumps: The day's play has concluded.
    • Australia leads by 217 runs.
  • Batsmen in AUS Second Innings:
    • Usman Khawaja*: 51 runs, 80 balls, 0 fours, 2 sixes, Strike Rate: 27.78
    • Nathan Lyon: 6 runs, 14 balls, 0 fours, 0 sixes, Strike Rate: 42.86
  • Bowlers in NZ Second Innings:
    • Matt Henry*: Overs 4, Maidens 1, Runs 8, Wickets 0, Economy Rate: 2.00
    • Tim Southee: Overs 4, Maidens 0, Runs 5, Wickets 2, Economy Rate: 1.25
 
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James said:
The dismissals for Williamson and Ravindra were absolutely dreadful. NZ does seem to struggle producing their best against Australia in Tests. Think they have won 1 of the last 25 against them.
Click to expand...
Mental block is real
 
Nikhil_cric said:
The pitch is easier to bat today than it was yesterday when it was seaming all over

Its just the gulf in quality between these two teams.
Click to expand...
Without Jamieson and boult its a very very mediocre team.
 
So Williamson just got out on zero, lets see how he does in this series against a strong attack.
 
Why did they roll out green pitch? lol I mean i understand doing that against Subcontinent teams. Even then it can become a lottery depending on who bats first. They could have rolled out a flat wicket and piled up runs.
 
Day 3 - Session 1: Australia lead by 238 runs.

Australia (13.3 ov) 383 & 34/2

New Zealand 179
 
Lyon racking up the runs. The captain dropping him yesterday evening looks increasingly costly. New Zealand have been quite amateurish in this match, which is very unlike them.
 
jeeteshssaxena said:
So Williamson just got out on zero, lets see how he does in this series against a strong attack.
Click to expand...

He hardly faced a ball to be honest, just got comically run out straight away. A lot rests on him for the remainder of the series if New Zealand are going to avoid defeat.
 
Day 3 - Session 1: Australia lead by 300 runs.

Australia (32.6 ov) 383 & 96/4

New Zealand 179
 
Couple of wickets but a 100-run session puts Australia comfortably ahead in Wellington as they are 113/4 and leading by 317 runs.

1709339838729.jpeg
 
Australia collapse, losing consistent wickets to part time spinner Glenn Phillips to 164 all out but the lead is at a very large 368.

It is looking increasingly like the 116 run 11th wicket partnership plus Kane's wild runout make up the majority of the difference in this test. Those 2 things end up even close to 'typical' and NZ probably would have found themselves chasing 200-250.
 
Australian middle order has never been more shaky. Smith converted opener is finding it hard. Labu is running out of luck. Seems like Travis Head is also on the decline. His lottery game is not working. Warner even when he was out of form filled a massive hole in that line up.
 
If New Zealand somehow manages to hold their nerves, they can win this game. Home conditions, lots of time left. Getting interesting. kane Williamson is the key here for the Kiwis. 33/1 atm.
 
I might have jinxed kane. He is gone now. Kiwis will be finding themselves in the spot of bother now. 2 for 43 atm.
 
Rachin survived a close call. Had there been any spin there, things could have been different.

1709352173580.png
 
Travis Head came into the attack and struck. 3rd one down for the kiwis now. 59 runs on the board. Still need 310 more to win.
 
Very interesting that both Mt Maunganui and Hamilton vs SA and now Wellington vs Australia have had pitches that gave the spinners significant assistance. Surfaces that have offered a little bit of swing and seam, but plenty of spin and bounce. Extremely unusual given the history of New Zealand conditions.

Arguably close to perfect conditions for test cricket, but definitely not to NZ's strengths.
 
Spinners getting assistance here. Except for Ravindra, NZ look uncomfortable vs spin.

Australia have this one in the bag.
 
I have seen enough of cricket to know its impossible for New Zealand to win.

This WTC is heading for another "Australia beats India to win WTC" ending
 
Latham and Will Young have been poor from long time now. Time for NZ to drop them. Boult doesn't play Test cricket, which is a big loss for New Zealand. He really was the core of the NZ attack.
 
Ab Fan said:
Latham and Will Young have been poor from long time now. Time for NZ to drop them. Boult doesn't play Test cricket, which is a big loss for New Zealand. He really was the core of the NZ attack.
Click to expand...
Jamieson is the biggest loss.
He is their best bowler
 
New Zealand will not be happy losing Kane's wicket but day 4 is gonna get interesting.

FBLILl3.png
 
Rachin Ravindra leads Black Caps’ pursuit of 369 to win first test against Australia

At the Basin Reserve, Wellington: Australia 383 & 164 all out in 51.1 overs (Nathan Lyon 41; Glenn Phillips 5-45) met the Black Caps 179 & 111-3 in 41 overs (Rachin Ravindra 56no). Click here for the full scorecard.

Rachin Ravindra led the way with a half-century and was joined by Daryl Mitchell in keeping Australia at bay for almost 90 minutes on the third evening of the first test on Saturday.

But they will have to bat for a lot longer than that if the Black Caps are to pull off a miracle win at the Basin Reserve.

As New Zealand walked off the field with their fourth-innings total at 111-3, a further 258 runs were still required in Wellington.

Ravindra was unbeaten on 56 off 94, having bounced back well from his first-innings duck and come through a tough examination to bring up his fifty.

Mitchell was not out on 12, having been in survival-first mode during his 63-ball stretch in the middle.

They will resume at 11am on Sunday, knowing their fourth-wicket partnership will be crucial to the Black Caps’ still-faint hopes of pulling off the 10th-highest run chase in the history of test cricket.

Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips are the next men up – the latter after taking a maiden five-wicket bag with his off-spin, which kept his side’s target within the 350 to 400 range he said they would have “a good go” at after day two.

Australia began the day at 13-2, leading by 217 runs. It could have been 13-3, had Tim Southee held on to a one-hander at third slip off the final ball of day two, bowled by Matt Henry.

Nathan Lyon was the batter given a reprieve and he went on to make 41 niggly runs – Australia’s highest score – before he was caught at mid-wicket by Will Young off Henry, a dismissal that meant he remained the highest test run scorer without a half-century.

Phillips was brought on at the Adelaide Rd end just before drinks in the morning session and proceeded to bowl 16 overs unchanged to take the first five-wicket bag of his first-class career, nevermind his test one.

Tom Blundell’s stumping of Usman Khawaja for 28 was a highlight, as were Young’s two catches at short leg – the first off Mitch Marsh giving Phillips a shot at a hat-trick, which he couldn’t take; the second off Cameron Green a stunner to give him five.

Scott Kuggeleijn and Henry Nicholls – on as a substitute for seamer Will O’Rourke, who departed with a tight left hamstring – both dropped catches that could have left Phillips even more ecstatic than he already was, describing his feat on TVNZ as a “dream come true”.

Henry wrapped up the tail to finish with 3-36 and 8-106 in the match, just reward for his efforts, which were easily the best of the Black Caps’ four seamers.

The Black Caps were left with a target of 369 and 44 overs to bat on the third afternoon, but lost Tom Latham when he was caught behind for eight trying to cut a short one from Lyon just before tea.

Kane Williamson survived four nervy balls – and a review for a caught behind – before the break, but inside edged to Steve Smith at leg slip for nine shortly after it.

Travis Head then became the third off-spinner to strike on Saturday, getting Will Young’s edge to send him on his way for 15, after Smith got down low to his left to complete the dismissal and leave the Black Caps 59-3.

SOURCE: STUFF.CO.NZ
 
This decline in the NZ test team should have been expected seeing as it had a golden generation that is aging out.

Ross Taylor and BJ Watling have retired and were critical members of the team. Taylor one of NZ's best ever bats, and Watling easily NZ's best keeper/batsman. Neil Wagner has just retired plus had declined. Tim Southee is old and seems to be declining. Boult has all but retired. All of these bowlers have multiple hundreds of test wickets at below 30 average and won matches for NZ.

Hopefully the next generation can keep them at least middle of the pack.
 
Boult - replacement is Jamieson injured
Southee - older southee
Wagner - will o Rourke too raw
Henry instead of Jamieson as Jamieson replaced boult as I mentioned above


So no Jamieson basically. Should have performed better but I think replacing boult and wags is going to be hard. Wag may not be quick but he was accurate and bowled nice short pitch bowling consistently. Asked questions. Kept pressure.

Will o Rourke seems decent but not ready yet.
 
Today Match Summary:

Australia (AUS):

  • First Innings: 383
  • Second Innings: 164
New Zealand (NZ):

  • First Innings: 179
  • Second Innings: 111/3 (41 overs)
    • Current Run Rate (CRR): 2.71
Day 3: Stumps - New Zealand needs 258 runs to win.

Batsmen:

  • Daryl Mitchell*: 12 runs in 63 balls, 3 fours, 0 sixes, Strike Rate: 19.05
  • Rachin Ravindra: 56 runs in 94 balls, 8 fours, 1 six, Strike Rate: 59.57
Bowlers:

  • Josh Hazlewood*: 7 overs, 17 runs, Economy: 2.43
  • Nathan Lyon: 16 overs, 27 runs, Economy: 1.69
 
jeeteshssaxena said:
Jamieson is the biggest loss.
He is their best bowler
Click to expand...

Jamieson is not a loss, he is injured, right? I mean with respect to this series, yes. But in terms of overall picture, I feel Boult not playing test cricket has created problems for NZ because they don't have many quality seamers waiting in the wings to support Jamieson for longer prospect.

The likes of Southee and Wagner( retired officially) are done and Henry is 33 years old already. So, they are lacking in that department too. Middle order is good but pace department and top order is going downhill for them.
 
Phantom Menace said:
This decline in the NZ test team should have been expected seeing as it had a golden generation that is aging out.

Ross Taylor and BJ Watling have retired and were critical members of the team. Taylor one of NZ's best ever bats, and Watling easily NZ's best keeper/batsman. Neil Wagner has just retired plus had declined. Tim Southee is old and seems to be declining. Boult has all but retired. All of these bowlers have multiple hundreds of test wickets at below 30 average and won matches for NZ.

Hopefully the next generation can keep them at least middle of the pack.
Click to expand...
Daryl Mitchell replaced Ross Taylor and he is a superior batsman. New Zealand haven’t missed Ross Taylor one bit.
 
Phantom Menace said:
This decline in the NZ test team should have been expected seeing as it had a golden generation that is aging out.

Ross Taylor and BJ Watling have retired and were critical members of the team. Taylor one of NZ's best ever bats, and Watling easily NZ's best keeper/batsman. Neil Wagner has just retired plus had declined. Tim Southee is old and seems to be declining. Boult has all but retired. All of these bowlers have multiple hundreds of test wickets at below 30 average and won matches for NZ.

Hopefully the next generation can keep them at least middle of the pack.
Click to expand...

For a short time period, Taylor was replaced comfortably by Mitchell who is averaging 52 with bat and Watling is replaced by Blundell. Both did well with bat in last couple of years.

Problem for NZ is top order especially since the decline of Conway and the bowling department where Jamieson is the only quality they have got. If Boult was there, it would have strengthened that side.
 
Mamoon said:
Daryl Mitchell replaced Ross Taylor and he is a superior batsman. New Zealand haven’t missed Ross Taylor one bit.
Click to expand...

Yeah spot on. Even Blundell has made up for Watling too.
 
Mitchell and Blundell are class. Along with Ravindra and Phillips they’re going to need to be on top of their games if New Zealand are going to threaten this target.

It was a plucky performance with the ball today, but really that first innings gap was massive and it’s often where a Test is won and lost. Second innings comebacks make for special Test matches, but in reality they are quite unusual.
 
Mitchell and Rachin's departure will mean that Kiwis are out of this game. This partnership is going to be a make or break for New Zealand if they have to win this Test match.
 
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