Lessons from Ashes for NZ
Black Caps must be hoping to gain from England’s pain across the ditch.
England’s Ashes have already been scattered as the last rites are read at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Another tough slog under hot sun on flat pitches, against an Australian captain batting out of this world, a hungry crop of fast bowlers and a world class spinner, proved too much for England. And would have for most teams, perhaps with the exception of South Africa and their imposing pace attack.
England’s rookie captain, Joe Root, learned similar lessons to a few before him – including Brendon McCullum two years ago. To have any chance in Australia the visiting skipper must swagger, dominate with the bat, and be able to summon one or two towering fast bowlers who can extract steep bounce or reverse swing on dream batting surfaces. Someone like Josh Hazlewood or Mitchell Starc.
Root’s standing among the batting big four of Steve Smith, Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson slipped. He still averaged a handy 40 with one final Sydney innings to play, but his highest score was just 83. A late lapse before stumps on day one at the SCG summed up his series as he slumped, head down, and trudged off. It’s a brutal business captaining a test side in Australia and Root was not alone in falling short.
The vastly experienced Alastair Cook could have led from the front with the bat but didn’t hit his stride until they were 3-0 down. His epic MCG double-century was memorable on the biggest stage but too late for their series hopes.
With the red Kookaburra barely swinging, Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad needed to find something in the pitch and there was nothing. And the broad, near unbeatable blade of Steve Smith. It was similar for New Zealand’s bowlers two years ago; only when Trent Boult and Tim Southee gripped the pink ball under lights in Adelaide did they roar into the contest.
Nathan Lyon, the leading test wicket-taker in 2017, was a constant menace while Moeen Ali was a hopeful pick as frontline England spinner and lost his skipper’s faith.
Then there was Ben Stokes. His punch outside a Bristol nightclub was the most significant off-field act and cost England dearly. A fit and firing Stokes would have made a huge difference; a brash counterattacker with the bat and a bowler able to extract bounce. How New Zealand would like someone like him, too, with all due respect to Colin de Grandhomme whose batting is evolving but is less of a factor with the ball on unresponsive surfaces when it’s not swinging.
So how would this current New Zealand side go against the 2017-18 versions of Australia and England? We’ll get the answer to question two in March, when the Black Caps get a royal chance of an elusive series win over the old foes. If you call two tests a series.
New Zealand and England look evenly matched, as they were five years ago when they drew all three tests in a gripping finish in the decider at Eden Park.
The pink ball is a great leveller and will bring both sets of pacemen into play at Eden Park on March 22. The pitch has good pace and bounce and its last two tests, against England (2013) and India (2014), were grandstand finishes. Anderson remains one of the best swing exponents, as does Boult, and the times of day both of them get to bowl may well decide it.
So will the battle of the skippers, Williamson and Root, and which one can lead with the bat for their side when the ball starts hooping under lights. Cook and Ross Taylor (New Zealand) are two vastly experienced batting deputies.
Spin may not be a factor in Auckland, but could be in Christchurch in April. Hagley Oval has turned at various times and may be a chance for New Zealand to unleash Todd Astle on a pitch he knows well. Mitchell Santner remains a question mark at test level and his place should be under scrutiny, but he looks assured for Auckland at least. Again, an attacking spinner like Astle or Ish Sodhi would add so much in Christchurch, especially as England struggle to find an effective tweaker of their own.
New Zealand’s next test against Australia may be a long way in the distance, but as long as Smith continues to dominate and Hazlewood, Starc and Pat Cummins are fit and firing then the gap will be tough to close.
An immovable batting object on a pitch offering little joy for the bowlers can demoralise bowlers in an awful hurry. Just ask England, who will be counting the months until they get Smith on a green seamer at home when the urn is next up for grabs.
The Black Caps get a royal chance of an elusive series win over the old foes. If you call two tests a series.