Australia v New Zealand: Unexpected victor as Steve Smith and Neil Wagner do battle again at SCG

Neil Wagner has already claimed Steve Smith’s wicket four times this series, and as the pair squared up again at the SCG, a fascinating battle ensued.

Neil Wagner and Steve Smith’s playful fist bump after Smith finally got off the mark. Picture. Phil Hillyard

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The batsman slid to make his ground, the crowd erupted and the other batsman raised his hand to salute the milestone and a warm ovation.

This was not Steve Smith reaching three figures at the SCG on Friday but the same man simply getting off the mark with a scurried single .... off the 39th ball he faced.

It is the longest time any Australia has waited to get off the mark in a couple of decades yet it was all part of Smith’s bare-knuckled defiance not to give his wicket to his nemesis Neil Wagner.

Smith played two games of cricket at the SCG on Friday - one against Wagner and the other against the rest of the Kiwis patched-up, undermanned attack.

It was fascinating fare with one man’s will power standing firm barging headlong into another’s tried and tested game plan.

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Neil Wagner and Steve Smith’s playful fist bump after Smith finally got off the mark. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Smith taking 41 minutes to get off the mark before he nudged to leg for a single - touching his glove with Wagner’s hand as he reached the bowler’s end in a playful glove punch to recognise the moment - was the moment no-one could have predicted.

But it fitted nicely into the theme of bizarre day when New Zealand made five changes including blooding a player who was surfing in New Zealand the day before the game, and another who grew up in Sydney and whose inlaws live up the road.

After getting out to Wagner four times this series Smith was desperate not to make it five so he dropped anchor when called to the wicket just after lunch to be instantly force-fed with more of Wagner’s rib-rattlers.

Steve Smith ducks under a Neil Wagner bouncer on day one of the third Test at the SCG. Picture. Phil Hillyard

Each time this series Smith had fallen to Wagner’s short ball for which, at the SCG, he had varied plans. Some he ducked, some he played with a straight bat. Rarely did he try the pull and when he did early on he almost seem to over-cautiously glide it to leg gully.

On another occasional he pulled too hard, too quickly and the ball dropped at his feet and the crowd even slow hand-clapped him.

But once Wagner’s spell was over Smith played with his customary freedom, punching cuts to the fence, running like a hare between wickets and generally looking a more fluent player.

Later, when Wagner returned, Smith was more relaxed than in their first exchange but there was still tension in the air.

Smith celebrates bringing up his half century. Picture: AP

At one point he glided a smooth pull shot but had to scurry back after attempting a run that wasn’t there.

Mike Hussey pointed out on Fox Cricket than since Jofra Archer felled Smith with a short ball in England his average against this type of delivery has fallen from 94 to 29.

He fights on, and he fights hard and well but, due to Wagner, there is a different vibe to his innings now and no sense that anything is being taken for granted or that life is as easy as it was.

Friday’s two-toned half century displayed how deeply is committed to going the long journey to prove a point and it came as a surprise to see him edging Colin de Grandhomme to slip for 63.

Colin de Grandhomme (second right) got Smith’s wicket this time. Picture: AAP

Wagner will leave Australia as one of those rare players who enhances his reputation on Australian soil.

Australian tours have cut down the standings of many a great player but built up the very few.

Indian’s Jasprit Bumrah and Cheteshwar Pujara did it last season. Michael Vaughan managed it one tour when he took on a mighty Australian attack while Alastair Cook, Darren Gough had some big moments as well.

But it is a rare thing for an overseas fast man bowling in the 130km/h range to threaten in Australia. Most leave our shores with a nervous twinge whenever someone mentions the Kookaburra ball which they find does not swing or seam as much to their liking.

Originally published as Australia v New Zealand: Unexpected victor as Steve Smith and Neil Wagner do battle again at SCG