After test series sweep
Southee leads the way to win Warner leaves Australians weakened but not weak
david.leggat@ nzherald.co. nz insisted on a full turnout. In that series, Warner cracked two fine centuries in Canberra and Melbourne and he’s in imperious form right now.
His last 10 ODI innings have produced five centuries, averaging 78.3 in that period. He’s bagged 11 centuries in all forms since last year, always batting as if at full gallop.
But New Zealand don’t spin Australia’s wheels. This series is a chore for Australia, but one they agreed to as part of greater transtasman interaction once New Zealand had agreed to play the inaugural day-night, pink ball test in Adelaide in late 2015.
The timing’s the bugbear for Australia.
It’s nothing to do specifically with New Zealand. Both legs of the Chappell-Hadlee series were cases of fitting in three-match rubbers in a crowded programme.
Since the start of last year, Australia have played 56 international matches. Warner has played 49 of them. That’s 97 days cricket.
Captain Steve Smith has played 98 days, 50 games. He’ll be arriving this week. As skipper he wants to be there every game.
As for Warner, it’s a shame for New Zealand audiences. Then again, they’ve seen plenty of Warner.
New Zealand’s players won’t mind his absence. He averages 51.3 against New Zealand in 10 ODIs, eight runs Monday: First ODI, Eden Park Feb 2: Second ODI, McLean Park, Napier Feb 5: Third ODI, Seddon Park, Hamilton higher than his overall one-day average. Australia will still be a tough proposition. Warner is star power and the lights will be slightly dimmed with him putting his feet up in Sydney. A rejigged batting order, relentless bowling partnerships and elevation to an elite club were contributing factors in New Zealand’s nine-wicket second test triumph over Bangladesh with a day to spare, despite a spate of five dropped catches in the slip cordon.
Tim Southee led the way as manof-the-match with figures of eight for 142 from 41.2 overs. He also joined Sir Richard Hadlee, Daniel Vettori, Chris Martin and Chris Cairns as the fifth New Zealand bowler to reach 200 test wickets.
The 28-year-old right-armer removed arguably Bangladesh’s strongest batsmen, captain Tamim Iqbal and all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan.
“It’s one of those achievements that I’ll be pleased to look back on,” Southee said, as he took time out of the victory celebrations to chat in his unwashed black test cap behind the
“David has had a very big summer and will benefit from a break in cricket, both mentally and physically,’’ interim chairman of selectors Trevor Hohns said.
No doubt about that, but what about the turnstiles at Eden, Seddon and McLean parks? Will they spin less for his absence? Unlikely. Australia are the big show as far as New Zealand are concerned.
In any case, Smith is returning, and fast bowling aces Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood are coming, so too a clutch of top-class performers.
Peter Handscomb, Australia’s big middle order batting find, will be here, with power hitters Travis Head, Glenn Maxwell and Matthew Wade, and nifty legspinner Adam Zampa.
Australia, who have won 10 of their last 11 ODIs, will be weakened by Warner’s absence. But that’s not to say they’ll be weak.