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Australia vs New Zealand: Steve Smith magic, Starc spell sinks Kiwis

Steve Smith’s brilliance and the pace of Mitchell Starc have New Zealand on the ropes in Perth | WATCH

Andrew Faulkner and Tom Crystal
Kane Williamson looks on as Steve Smith takes a classic catch at second slip. Picture: AAP
Kane Williamson looks on as Steve Smith takes a classic catch at second slip. Picture: AAP
12 min read
11:57PMDecember 13, 2019

Australia vs New Zealand, first Test day two from Perth Stadium. New Zealand are 5-109 at stumps, still trailing Australia’s first innings by 307 runs. All times are AEDT.

Andrew Faulkner 11.43pm: Starc reality crushes Kiwis

Mitchell Starc struck twice late in the final session to reduce New Zealand to 5-109 at stumps.

Starc had Henry Nicholls (seven from 18 balls) caught down the leg side by Tim Paine, then bowled nightwatchman Neil Wagner first ball.

The left-arm quick finished the day with 4-31 from 11 overs.

The Black Caps will resume tomorrow with Taylor on 66 (86 balls, eight fours) and BJ Watling yet to score.

They need 107 to avoid the follow-on but whether Australia – being a bowler down – would enforce it is another matter.

Australian paceman Mitchell Starc picks up the wicket of Neil Wagner first ball. Picture: AAP
Australian paceman Mitchell Starc picks up the wicket of Neil Wagner first ball. Picture: AAP

The Australians aren’t without their troubles. Hazlewood left the field and then the ground for scans on a hamstring injury.

He’ll likely miss the Boxing Day Test, leaving the way clear for James Pattinson to play.

Without Hazlewood the Australians will have to work hard and bowl well to take 15 more wickets on this true batting pitch in searing heat.

Paine has finger problems. He’s reeled away shaking a glove more than once this innings.

But Australia is in a strong position, if solely because of that man Smith and his amazing catch.

A devastated Josh Hazlewood covers his face with his baggy green as he is consoled by Joe Burns after injuring a hamstring. Picture: AP
A devastated Josh Hazlewood covers his face with his baggy green as he is consoled by Joe Burns after injuring a hamstring. Picture: AP

Match blog below — how day two unfolded:

11.30pm: Stumps

New Zealand limp to 5-109 at stumps, with Ross Taylor on 66 and BJ Watling 0. Mitchell Starc finished the day with figures of 4-31. The visitors are in desperate trouble.

11.23pm: Taylor survives

Mitchell Starc took his two wickets off the final balls of his 10th over, so he’s had to wait a few minutes to try for a hat-trick. Ross Taylor manages to keep the money ball out, averting further disaster for New Zealand.

11.16pm: STARC ON A HAT-TRICK!

Poor old Neil Wagner spent the best part of two scorching hot days carrying the Kiwi attack, and he’s lasted just one ball as night-watchman, dragging a full and wide ball back onto his stumps. New Zealand are now 5-97 and Starc is on a hat-trick.

11.14pm: WICKET!

Henry Nicholls tickles a Mitchell Starc ball down the leg side and Tim Paine gleefully accepts the catch to leave the visitors at 4-97.

Andrew Faulkner 10.44pm: WICKET!

Steve Smith has taken one of the classic catches – in other words, a regulation catch for him – to get Kane Williamson and land a decisive blow for his side.

Diving full length and almost behind him at second slip, Smith clasped the ball in his fingertips in what will probably be remembered as the key moment in the match.

Williamson (34 from 70 balls, seven fours) was in fine touch before hanging his bat out to dry.

Still, the edge would have flown away for four with anyone other than Smith at second slip.

Smith’s genius gave Starc a second wicket, and leaves the Kiwis 3-77 late in the last session.

Andrew Faulkner 10.35pm: Partnership pile-on

Just as they did in the field, the Kiwis have refused to wilt with the bat.

2-1 has become 2-69 thanks to Williamson’s class and an audacious counterattack by Taylor.

Taylor has run at Lyon to leave the spinner with an unflattering 0-25 from four overs.

Plonking Lyon over and through mid-off, Taylor has eased the pressure and even turned some of the heat back on the hosts.

With just over half an hour remaining tonight, the Black Caps are 2-69, with Williamson 29 (58 balls, six fours) and Taylor 38 (47 balls, six fours).

10.15pm: Taylor counterattack

New Zealand No.4 Ross Taylor isn’t afraid to go after the bowling, even with his team up against it. He peels off three boundaries from Nathan Lyon’s third over — two smashes out past cover and a delicate late cut past first slip. He already has six boundaries in his 34. Kane Williamson’s 22 runs have featured five fours.

David Warner tries to run out Ross Taylor. Picture: AAP
David Warner tries to run out Ross Taylor. Picture: AAP

Andrew Faulkner 10.05pm: DRS woes continue

Kane Williamson has edged behind but the Australians barely even appealed, let alone called for a review.

Australia’s woeful record with the DRS technology continued when they gave Williamson a life on 13.

Only Smith, at second slip, went up with any conviction when the batsman was beaten by Cummins.

But Smith was unable to convince Paine to review. Real Time Snicko subsequently showed a spike.

Meanwhile, the most unlikely of first-change bowlers – Matthew Wade – has had a trundle, but has since been replaced by Lyon.

The Kiwis are 2-36, with Williamson 18 and Taylor 17.

9.50pm: Hamstrung

Australia’s team management has confirmed that Josh Hazlewood has a left hamstring strain and will go for a scan tonight to assess the scale of the damage. Meanwhile, Matthew Wade has been brought on to bowl the eighth over of the innings.

Andrew Faulkner 9.30pm: Injury hits Hazlewood

Josh Hazlewood is injured and has left the field, leaving both sides a bowler down. Hazlewood pulled up mid run-up with what appeared to be a left hamstring injury.

His over was completed by Pat Cummins. If it is a hamstring, then James Pattinson will likely play in his home Boxing Day Test.

After five overs the Kiwis are 2-7, with Kane Williamson five and Ross Taylor one.

Andrew Faulkner 9.15pm: Kiwis reeling

The Black Caps have started disastrously to be 2-1 – and that’s an Australian 2-1 – in the second over.

Starc struck with the fourth ball of the innings to get classy Kiwi opener Tom Latham for a duck.

Latham shaped to turn a short-of-a-length ball to square leg, but instead his leading edge popped up to give the bowler an easy catch.

Then Raval (one) was clean-bowled by Hazelwood with the 10th ball of the innings.

The Australians are swinging the ball and the Kiwis are faced with the hardest of batting conditions – each of the wickets are in shadow but the middle of the pitch is well-lit by the setting sun.

Mitchell Starc after removing Tom Latham. Picture: Getty Images
Mitchell Starc after removing Tom Latham. Picture: Getty Images

9.06pm: WICKET!

A shocking start, as Jeet Raval plays all around a Josh Hazlewood delivery which swings back into the left-hander and crashes into the pegs. Raval’s out for one and New Zealand are reeling at 2-1.

9pm: Disaster strikes NZ run chase

Mitchell Starc has picked up a wicket in the first over of New Zealand’s innings, inducing a leading edge from Tom Latham and taking a simple return catch. The Kiwis are 1-1.

Andrew Faulkner 8.45pm: Australia all out!

The Australian innings has ended on 416. Paine (39 from 105 balls, two fours) was the last man out, gloving a leg-side Tim Southee short ball to BJ Watling.

It was Watling’s first catch for the innings, and didn’t he deserve it after setting the tone for the Kiwis in the field.

Southee finished with 4-93 from 30.2 overs and Wagner 4-92 from 37.

Both quicks and medium-pacer de Grandhomme were outstanding in the conditions.

Any score north of 400 is a good score in Test cricket but the Kiwis did well to restrict Australia after first losing the toss and then losing Ferguson to injury.

8.35pm: WICKET!

Neil Wagner takes his fourth wicket, Nathan Lyon caught down at fine leg by Colin de Grandhomme for eight.

8.30pm: WICKET!

Mitchell Starc’s luck runs out as he’s well caught by Kane Williamson running back to long off. A handy 30 off 41 balls from Starc. Tim Southee picks up his third wicket.

8.20pm: Dropped!

Jeet Raval grasses a sitter as Mitchell Starc tries to smash Tim Southee down the ground. A few Kiwi heads drop — it’s the first sign that the fielding side might be wobbling after almost five sessions in the Perth furnace.

Andrew Faulkner 8.15pm: Starc warms up

Some lusty hitting by Mitchell Starc has jolted the Australians out of their batting torpor and lured a few bored fans out of the bars.

Starc has hoisted the Kiwi spinners four times into the deep mid-wicket region to collect three boundaries and a big six.

He’s sped to 27 from 25 balls, while Paine (38 from 102) is starting to play a more expansive game.

With 30 minutes left in the second session, the Australians are 7-394. The declaration can’t be far away.

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Andrew Faulkner 7.50pm: Jeet’s just desserts

Cummins’ half-hearted sweep ended badly when Raval’s delivery clipped the top of his leg stump, ending the tailender’s innings after 85 balls and two fours.

It was a just reward for Raval (1-21 from 10.4), who’s done sterling work for a side that’s a bowler down.

Paine and Cummins put on 38 to further grind down the tourists. At 7-363, Paine (26 from 82) has been joined by Starc.

7.40pm: WICKET!

Opening batsman and part-time legspinner Jeet Raval strikes, bowling Pat Cummins around his legs to pick up his first Test wicket. It might be a blessing in disguise for Australia, as new batsman Mitchell Starc is likely to try and lift the run rate.

7.25pm: Slow going

The last 10 overs have yielded just 15 runs, as the visitors take a patient approach. It’s hard to imagine New Zealand would be disappointed with a draw — they’re a bowler down and have been slogging it out for a day and a half in 40C heat. Not easy.

Andrew Faulkner 7.05pm: The Doctor’s in

The Fremantle Doctor has at last paid a house call to Perth Stadium to provide the toiling Kiwi attack with the smallest of mercies.

How much of the stiff south-westerly penetrates the stadium’s high ramparts is another matter, but at the very least it’s blown away the smoke from the grassfire at the nearby Belmont racecourse.

Paine (21) and Cummins (eight) are edging up the total against a Kiwi attack that now comprises part-time leggie Jeet Raval and fulltime workhorse Neil Wagner.

Wagner’s 3-82 has come from 34 lion-hearted overs flung down in extreme heat.

Twenty minutes into the second session the Australians are 6-346. Paine will be hoping they can hang on long enough to allow him to declare when the pink ball is at its lethal best – just after twilight.

Pat Cummins dives into his crease as BJ Watling knocks off the bails. Picture: Getty Images
Pat Cummins dives into his crease as BJ Watling knocks off the bails. Picture: Getty Images

6.42pm: Second session begins

Indefatigable paceman Neil Wagner takes up the attack after the break, looking to wrap up Australia’s first innings. Wagner is into his 32nd over, more than any other New Zealand bowler, operating in stifling 37C heat. He shows no sign of flagging.

6pm: Lunch

Australia have reached 6-337 in their first innings after New Zealand picked up two wickets in the first session. Tim Paine has 15, Pat Cummins 5. The Kiwis have a real shot at keeping the home team below 400, and keeping themselves in the game.

5.45pm: WICKET!

Tim Southee removes Travis Head, driving at a wide ball but sending it straight to Santner at a shortish cover position. New Zealand have a sniff at limiting the Australian advantage here.

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5.30pm: 50 to Head

Travis Head, who batted just once in the two-Test series against Pakistan, sweeps

Mitchell Santner for four to bring up his seventh Test half-century. He came in at a difficult time on day one, late when the second new ball was swinging, but Head’s innings has been positive and full of aggression. His 50 came off 86 balls, with eight boundaries.

Travis Head scrambles to make his ground. Picture: Getty Images
Travis Head scrambles to make his ground. Picture: Getty Images

5.20pm: Just a few runs shy

As good as Marnus Labuschagne’s innings was, with just more seven runs it would have earned the Queenslander a slice of history. Had Labuschagne reached 150 he would have become the first Australian to notch three straight innings of 150+. He’ll have to settle for scores of 185, 162 and 143.

Marnus Labuschagne acknowledges the crowd after his dismissal. Picture: AAP
Marnus Labuschagne acknowledges the crowd after his dismissal. Picture: AAP

Andrew Faulkner 4.54pm: WICKET!

Marnus Labuschagne has been bowled around his legs by the tireless and impressive Neil Wagner.

Shuffling across to manufacture a leg-glance, Labuschagne misjudged the pace and lost his leg stump.

He falls for 143 (240 deliveries, 18 fours and a six) with the score at 5-301. Head (40 not out) has been joined at the wicket by Tim Paine.

4.50pm: Smoky scenes

Firefighters have had to scramble to control a fire across the road from Optus Stadium in Perth, AAP reports.

A scrub fire broke out at Belmont Race Course about an hour before play started on Friday, with thick smoke billowing from the site but not immediately in the direction of the $1.6 billion stadium.

— AAP

Spectators view the bushfire from Perth Stadium. Picture: AAP
Spectators view the bushfire from Perth Stadium. Picture: AAP

Andrew Faulkner 4.35pm: Steady going for the batsmen

Labuschagne and Head have weathered New Zealand’s early assault to take the total to 4-279 after 30 minutes’ play today.

Both batsmen have played confidently and aggressively to keep the board ticking over.

Labuschagne (127 from 224) has played two especially sumptuous shots this morning – a signature cover-drive and a textbook straight-drive, both from Southee’s bowling.

When Head (34 from 54) dabbed Southee to the backward-point rope he brought up the 50 stand (86 balls).

It’s such an important period of the game – and the series – as the Kiwis need to strike while they’re still relatively fresh.

4.05pm: Key session looms

New Zealand are down a strike bowler but they have a ball that is only 10 overs old as they pursue early wickets. Tim Southee will start off on day two, Marnus Labuschagne (110) is taking strike. Left-armer Neil Wagner will operate from the other end for the Kiwis.

3.30pm: Nearby ...

Andrew Faulkner 2.35pm: Injured bowler may bat

Losing the toss – a crucial toss – in Perth has been compounded for the Kiwis by losing paceman Lockie Ferguson to injury.

Lockie Ferguson in a moon boot today. Picture: Getty Images
Lockie Ferguson in a moon boot today. Picture: Getty Images

“An MRI scan has confirmed a right calf muscle-tendon strain for Lockie Ferguson which will prevent him bowling in the remainder of the first Test in Perth,” the Kiwi camp says.

“He is available to bat. We are still awaiting a further report which will inform the next steps of his recovery.”

Accustomed as they are to adversity, the other Kiwi bowlers picked up the slack to keep Australia in check last night.

They could scarcely have been more impressive: the way they charged in, the way their fielders chased everything, the way they kept coming.

But with Australia to resume on 4-248, with Marnus Labuschagne 110 and Travis Head 20, the tourists desperately need early inroads to get out of this infernal heat.

The forecast is unforgiving – 41C today, followed by 41 tomorrow and 40 Sunday.

Peter Lalor 1.36pm: Kiwis suffer fresh injury blow

The Kiwis have suffered a significant blow before play starts on the second day.

New Zealand bowler Lockie Ferguson will not bowl again in the first Test at Perth Stadium.

An MRI scan on the quick who is playing his first game for the Kiwis confirmed he has a calf strain.

Lockie Ferguson. Picture: AAP
Lockie Ferguson. Picture: AAP

Ferguson was picked in the side because veteran Trent Boult had not recovered from a side strain. He bowled 11 overs and should have had the wicket of Steve Smith but Tom Latham put down a sharp chance in slips when the batsman was on 19.

He broke down in the second session and went for scans last night.

It is terrible news for the Kiwis in conditions that are draining for bowlers.

Australia is well placed at 4-248 after a difficult day on a wicket that proved more difficult for batting than expected. With four days of 40 degree temperature predicted ground staff were forced to put a lot of moisture in the wicket to keep it together.

Batsmen and bowlers both reported tennis ball bounce that made scoring difficult. Steve Smith made 43 from 164 balls and was on his way to what would have been his slowest half century when dismissed.

The sun dried the wicket as the day continued but lights and a new pink ball in the last session meant there was no relief for the batsmen.

Marnus Labuschagne, however, was not too bothered. He resumes on 110no, his third consecutive century and one that brought up his 1000th Test run. The No 3 who emerged after coming into the side as a concussion substitute in the Ashes is in an extraordinary run of form and averaging almost 60.

Only three Australians reached 1000 runs in quicker time: Don Bradman, Sid Barnes and Neil Harvey got there in fewer innings.

Travis Head survived a difficult spell under lights after Matthew Wade was bowled when shouldering arms to a swinging deliver. The South Australian is 20no.

Peter Lalor 1.30pm: Can anyone stop Marnus?

Marnus Labuschagne is not going to play second fiddle to anyone anymore.

Something of a support act to Steve Smith in the Ashes and David Warner in the Pakistan series, he has some argument now to say that he is an equal of and not an understudy to the veteran pair.

Marnus Labuschagne. Picture: AAP
Marnus Labuschagne. Picture: AAP

Labuschagne brought up his century on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand in Perth with a flamboyant six hit back over the head of spinner Mitchell Santner.

He ended the day on 110 off 202 balls with Travis Head alongside him on 20 and Australia 4-248

It was Labuschagne’s third consecutive Test hundred and was brought up with Smith struggling to find his rhythm at the other end and Warner back in the rooms.

Read more here

Additional reporting: Peter Lalor

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