Day three recap: Marnus Labuschagne passes 1000 runs for year before bouncer barrage shows Kiwis still mean business

Australian batsman Marnus Labuschagne's breakout year reached new heights on day three of the first Test against New Zealand, but a late fightback from New Zealand showed the three-Test series will be far from one-sided. 

TOPSHOT - Australia's Josh Hazlewood walks off the field after pulling up injured on day two of the first Test cricket match between Australia and New Zealand at the Perth Stadium in Perth on December 13, 2019. (Photo by PETER PARKS / AFP) / -- IMAGE RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE --

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Marnus Labuschagne is poised to become the youngest batsman in three decades to finish the calendar year as cricket’s top run-scorer, but New Zealand are refusing to give up on a first Test in Perth where fire and brimstone has returned to the Wild West.

Australia will set New Zealand an imposing target that would require a world record to chase down, but intrigue remains with Josh Hazlewood out of the attack and the pink ball offering up some unpredictable variables in a match like this.

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Ideally Australia would have loved to bat for at least half of day four to set themselves for an after-dark ambush of the Kiwis, but Tim Southee (four wickets) and Neil Wagner went Roo hunting on Saturday night to leave just four wickets for them to claim before Kane Williamson and co get back into bat when conditions are at their least volatile – albeit with Everest to climb.

Marnus Labuschagne passed 100 runs for the year during his half-century on Saturday.

Australia suffered a mini collapse to lose 5-29 in just over 10 overs, with Steve Smith, Travis Head and Tim Paine among the cheaper casualties.

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That said there appeared to be a few balls playing tricks off the cracks last night as Australia finished at 6-167, and a lead of 417 should already be enough for the hosts to go up 1-0 in the series, with no team in the history of the game successfully chasing more than 418.

Joe Burns survived an early scare to post 50 during Australia's second innings.

At just 25 years of age, Labuschagne’s latest half century made him the first cricketer in 2019 to push past the 1000 runs barrier and only a herculean effort from teammate Steve Smith in the Boxing Day Test could stop him creating history by finishing the year on top of the world.

It’s the latest extraordinary achievement in the meteoric rise of the Australian No.3, with the great Sunil Gavaskar, Doug Walters and Mark Taylor the only cricketers to finish calendar year No.1 in 50 years.

Queensland teammate Joe Burns also chipped in with a 50 before the carnage came.

It was good news for New Zealand last night, but they will have to survive their own night session on day four with little damage if they’re to be any chance – and so far in the match that has proven problematic.

Their best hope is that timing will dictate Australia don’t have a new ball at their disposal when the lights come on.

In a match where a fast bowler from each side has been ruled out with injury, an umpire spectacularly tried to get in on the party, with Aleem Dar requiring the magic spray on his knee after he was accidentally barreled over by New Zealand spinner Mitchell Santner.

Dar soldiered on and outlasted Australian superstar Smith who once again fell into a short-ball trap set for him by New Zealand workhorse Neil Wagner.

It’s Smith’s fifth consecutive score below 50 – the equal worst rut of a glittering career where he has never been tied down for long.

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Warner also departed cheaply, but not before he became just the 12th Australian to pass Sir Donald Bradman (6996) on the all-time scorers’ list and post 7000 Test runs.

The powerful opener is the fourth quickest opener in history based on innings to get to the cherished 7000-run mark after Sunil Gavaskar, Matthew Hayden and Virender Sehwag.

It’s occupied by an exclusive greatest ever players sit in the 7000 club, including Steve Smith, who reached the mark last Test.

 Meanwhile, Mitchell Starc has revealed how a desire to take pressure off his teammates has propelled him to a stunning post-Ashes revival.

The pink ball prince completed the 13th five-wicket haul of his career.

Neil Wagner smiles widely after tempting Steve Smith into a pull shot which proved his demise.

Starc was banished from four of the five Tests during the Ashes series earlier this year in what was arguably the low point of his otherwise stellar career.

But rather than kick stones, the 29-year-old has bounced back an even better bowler than the man who already possessed one of the most devastating strike-rates in the history of the game.

“In the past I’ve perhaps leaked runs at certain stages and the other guys have probably had to work a bit harder. It’s nice to still be able to bowl fast but keep the runs at a controlled rate as well,” Starc said.

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Originally published as Day three recap: Marnus Labuschagne passes 1000 runs for year before bouncer barrage shows Kiwis still mean business