Brutal reality check for NZ side
Too big, too strong, too fast. It was regularly said of Australia in transTasman rugby league battles past; now it applies to this hopelessly one-sided cricketing version.
The shockwaves from sweltering Perth were felt as far away as New Zealand yesterday, and will continue for a few days yet.
And it’s not too dramatic to think the worst in cricketing terms, that the events of the first three days will seriously dent this Black Caps side to the point there may be no way back into the three-test series. Especially with the likelihood of a docile drop-in pitch in Melbourne for the Boxing Day test.
This, remember, is a country where New Zealand have won just three of 31 tests, and a solitary series 34 years ago.
At lunch on a third successive 40degC day at Optus Stadium, Australia were already batting again after New Zealand folded for 166 to trail by 250 on the first innings.
Mitchell Starc was again a fast bowling colossus, snaring 5-52, his 13th five-wicket bag. In his last five test innings on home soil he’s snared 19 wickets.
There were some fearsome dismissals as pre-series questions around the New Zealand batsmen’s ability to handle 140kmh-plus on a bouncy surface were realised.
Tom Latham went in at the worst time on Friday with the shadows lengthening. His first ball from Starc reared, he closed the face and offered a simple return catch. Latham plundered against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and England and is ranked No 11 in the world, but in Australia he averages 26.71 with a highest score of 50.
BJ Watling batted more than 16 hours without losing his wicket in setting up test wins in Colombo and Mount Maunganui.
Yesterday he escaped dismissal after a mix-up with Ross Taylor, then was superbly assessed by world No 1 bowler Pat Cummins. On an impeccable line at 142kmh Cummins’ bounce was too much for Watling who chopped on for eight. In six test innings in Australia, Watling averages 15.16 compared with a career mark of 40.3.
In his first test innings in Australia Colin de Grandhomme got a brute off the grille from Starc, who’d shaken his head prophetically the ball before. The decision was questionable but Starc will fancy his chances against the allrounder from now on.
Taylor and Kane Williamson both average over 50 in Australia, better than both their career figures. Taylor counterattacked effectively, rode his luck and was eventually deceived by Nathan Lyon’s spin. Williamson somehow escaped being caught behind when noone appealed, then was snaffled brilliantly by a diving Steve Smith.
It’s relentless, and few batting lineups around the world could cope.
Certainly Australia got lucky by winning the toss when New Zealand would have loved to bat first in the heat of the day rather than under lights when it became trickier. Five sessions bowling in the heat was brutal enough for the Black Caps who opted against a warmup match.
Lockie Ferguson and Josh Hazlewood both broke down, such were the stress levels, the former chosen on just 33 overs this past five weeks and a solitary first-class game.
So what now? Trent Boult will return in Melbourne and his absence was huge on day one when the ball swung and New Zealand could have got amongst Australia’s middle order.
For a team with six of their top-seven averaging over 40, and a top-eight all with test centuries, it’s the batting where alarm bells sound the loudest against the world’s best pace attack. And we haven’t even got to Jeet Raval’s worrying trot yet.
If they think Hazlewood’s absence will bring a respite, Australia can summon the fiery James Pattinson who, in three tests against New Zealand has 20 wickets at 17.70.
New Zealand have rarely gone well first up in Australia when the heat, pace and bounce all hit with ferocity.
In their last four test series openers across the Tasman, all in Brisbane, they lost by an innings (2004), 149 runs (2008), nine wickets (2011) and 208 runs (2015).
This was an extreme introduction and it was probably too much to expect the Black Caps to stay with Australia in Perth, especially after losing the toss.
Now, assuming they go 1-0 down, they have to chase the game in Melbourne to give themselves a chance of that elusive series win. The pitch will suit them a lot better but whether it’s conducive to attacking cricket is another matter.
And then there’s the psychological damage from Perth, and the urgent need to fix their techniques against quality fast bowling. New Zealand need Taylor and Williamson to haul this side up with their bats, hope that Boult hits the ground running and that Neil Wagner can somehow sustain his intensity and endurance.
Or this series could be lost before they see in the new year in Sydney.