Well, that was all an awful lot of fun. Mad, but a lot of fun. Australia were deserved winners of the series but New Zealand fought back well and had a couple of what you might euphemistically call unlucky breaks in Adelaide. Day/night cricket looks here to stay as Mark Taylor painfully forces Steve Smith to admit that he loved every minute of it (I’m not convinced he did, but whatever). Australia are back in action a week on Thursday in Hobart against the Windies, and that will be one of those old-fashioned day Test matches. How antiquated.
That’s all from us here at Hotel OBO - see you soon, and have a great week.
Mark Taylor’s doing the presentations. Josh Hazlewood is man of the match for his nine wickets. He admits that he and Nathan Lyon were pretty keen on the injured Starc heading out to bat at No9 when injured. Hazlewood’s pretty glad he wasn’t required I reckon.
The man of the series is.... David Warner and that seems very fair after the gazillions of runs he scored in Brisbane and Perth.
McCullum’s up to chat next. His players look gutted, but they deserve a lot of respect for the way they played today; let’s not forget Australia looked home and hosed a number of times but they kept hacking away and bowled well. McCullum bites his tongue on LYON-GATE (no-one is calling it that). He obviously wants to keep his match fee too. He also admits that he’s learnt some new lingo from the Aussies crowds, so every cloud and all that. I’m already very excited about the return leg back in New Zealand in February.
Finally, Steve Smith is talking to Tubby. The camera pans to Mitch Starc, who is literally on crutches. Why on earth did he bat?! All’s well that end’s well I guess. He limps up with the rest of them to lift the Trans-Tasman trophy. Woo!
Speaking of awards....
Updated... Allan Border Medal... 3 votes: Nigel Llong 2 votes: Shaun Marsh 1 vote: Mitchell Starc's foot #AUSvNZ
— Tim Barrow (@TheBarrow) November 29, 2015
When he hit the winning runs, Siddle looked to the skies and saluted his grandmother. He gives an interview to Mark Nicholas and, to be honest, I’m welling up a bit. He nearly is too. She would - as he says - be mighty proud. He came out on a pair and looked pretty damn calm. What a guy. Thankfully she saw his 200th Test wicket before passing away.
Trent Boult is being interviewed by Ian Healy and seems pretty chilled about losing. He’s a pretty chilled out guy in general. I’m sure he’s gutted, especially having bowled so magnificently, he ended up with 5-60. Healy mentions how great five Test series would have been and I can’t help but agree. Luckily, they’ll meet again the other side of the Tasman in February. I reckon the Kiwis will fancy their chances in those conditions.
Australia win the series 2-0, then....
So much about this is just incredibly special. It was a staggering game of cricket, with a great crowd, and all sorts of controversy. Peter Siddle, so deserving of a place in the side and having lost his grandmother this week, hit the winning runs with everyone in close. The Marshes did their bit too, with their places in the side under such scrutiny. Quite what Starc was doing out there at the end is anyone’s guess, but only added to some remarkable drama.
A thought for the Kiwis, who battled brilliantly to get back into this game after a tricky first day.
Gutted. Just gutted.
— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) November 29, 2015
AUSTRALIA WIN BY THREE WICKETS! WHAT A MATCH!
Eeesh. This is extraordinary. Ridiculous. Siddle looks to have inside edged one that falls just short of gully, but I don’t think he hit it. Then he absolutely middles a drive off Southee that nails the stumps at the non-strikers. That was four all the way. He pushes into the legside but there’s no single. Can Starc even do singles? The next one is full and he tries to smack it out of the ground. No run. Then he squeezes out a yorker. This is incredibly tense. Lyon and Hazlewood are both padded up apparently. Five slips in place, everyone catching.
But Siddle’s done it! He’s threaded it through off the last ball of the over. The dressing rooms’s gone mad, the crowd’s gone mad. He’s pushed off the back foot and he’s beaten point’s finger tips by nothing, and they dash through for two.
50th over: Australia 185-7 (Siddle 7, Starc 0) - AUSTRALIA NEED 2 TO WIN
Starc is in, for some reason. He’s injured and drives first ball but no run.
WICKET! NEVILL C WATLING B BOULT 10 - AUSTRALIA NEED 2 TO WIN
New Zealand wanted to bowl at Siddle and they get their wish. But Boult’s first ball is edged through a baying, bulging cordon and they scamper three. Two required, and all of Australia breathes a little easier. Nevill is firm in defence for a couple, but then one swings and he gets an inside edge. WHAT A CATCH FROM BJ WATLING. FIVE WICKETS FOR BOULT. MY WORD.
49th over: Australia 2nd innings 182-6 (Nevill 10, Siddle 4) - Australia require 5
Peter Nevill is the man. He really is. So calm. He just works Southee to leg and immediately barks “TWO!”, and they scamper through. He’s leaving what he can again, and for the last ball - which is driven firmly back to the bowler - every fielder is up in what would be the one-day ring. There is no ring because it’s Test cricket, but you get me. Two from the over.
48th over: Australia 2nd innings 180-6 (Nevill 8, Siddle 4) - Australia require 7
My word, it’s all happening. Siddle’s on a pair, and his grandmother died today, so he’s wearing two black armbands. The first ball is on his pad and he flicks hard to leg, and it just evades midwicket. That is so close, and it runs away to the fence, as Guptill races and can’t keep it in. In fact he might have taken it over himself. 7 to win.
Boult angles the next at his pads and it cannons into them with a massive appeal. Umpire Illingworth is unmoved bur McCullum doesn’t review! No dice, he’s hit the thing. Siddle defends into the offside, then leaves two. Breathe. Breathe. Breathe.
Updated
Wicket! Marsh goes for 49...
Australia 176-6 - require 11
Oh no! Shaun Marsh! How Shaun Marsh! Boult gets the ball to move but he just guides into the hands of Taylor at first slip and the crowd sound ever so disappointed. So do the commentators. I’m a bit gutted for Shaun Marsh too, ya know.
47th over: Australia 2nd innings 176-5 (S.Marsh 49, Nevill 8) - Australia require 11
Marsh sees out five dots from Southee, letting everything he can go. The crowd roar as he pulls the last of the over, thinking he’ll get the 2 required for that 50, but they settle for one.
John Rogerson has been in touch! He writes this:
“The day/night business is clearly a goer. So everyone should get a piece of this. I know there are issues about climate. Evening dew in India, risk of snow at Headingley. But England could try one test, at least. If you’re looking for perfect conditions, it’s got to be the South of France. Dry, warm evenings. Acceptable catering. Bemused locals. And you’re not going to tell me that England fans would baulk at having to spend a few days in yucky old Provence. Plus the cicada thing. The sound of crickets during the cricket.”
I agree with him, although I reckon it’ll be tricky in the UK. Not least because Test grounds already sell out and the summer evenings are so long. Wouldn’t be much “night” in the day/night thingy...
Bit late on this, but yeah...
Ok if Shaun Marsh is there at the end i promise to not give him shot on twitter ever again, but if we lose and he gets out LOOK OUT TWITTER
— Rob Moody (@robelinda2) November 29, 2015
46th over: Australia 2nd innings 175-5 (S.Marsh 48, Nevill 8) - Australia require 12
Boult find a beauty first up, which angles away from Marsh in the air and a little off the seam too. He misses, obviously. After a sequence of 15 dots, he gets off strike with a push into the covers to move a little closer to just the fourth 50 of the match. Nevill finds a very brave leave, then defends the last in a similar channel, learning his lesson. One from the over - surely it’s Australia’s now? Little bit of whiteline fever here, mind...
45th over: Australia 2nd innings 174-5 (S.Marsh 47, Nevill 8) - Australia require 13
All of a sudden, the pink nut is doing a touch under lights. It’s probably too late. Southee loves bowling to right-handers but Nevill is pretty secure. Most of the over finds the middle of the bat, but he has a swish and a miss at a lifter to the penultimate ball. Another maiden.
The end is nigh. Presumably you’ve all loved the day/night stuff? And a pretty good series all round, I’d say.
This is a lot of people. Test cricket is dead! Long live Test cricket!
123,736 total crowd for the first day-night Test. #AUSvNZ
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) November 29, 2015
44th over: Australia 2nd innings 174-5 (S.Marsh 47, Nevill 8) - Australia require 13
Boult’s back too, and there’s an edge first ball from Shaun that just drops short of first slip. It’s played with soft hands, but the ball is pretty soft now too. Marsh is more than happy leaving the ball outside off, and it’s a maiden. The camera pans to Rod Marsh and a selection of other Cricket Australia grandees, who are all looking very pleased with themselves. The attendance is 33,923 today, which is marvellous again.
43rd over: Australia 2nd innings 174-5 (S.Marsh 47, Nevill 8) - Australia require 13
Southee’s back for one last dip from the River End. 19 runs for Australia. Five wickets for New Zealand. Peter Nevill gets two of those runs immediately, flicking behind square on the legside for two. He defends to a man at silly mid-on, before driving down the ground for two - Southee got a hand to it, but couldn’t stop it. Again, he goes legside, this time for a single. Mike Hussey makes a typically sensible comment on the call - the oldish ball just hasn’t swung much since dinner, which is no use for New Zealand. Shaun Marsh flicks to deep square for a single to end the over. 13 required.
Grant Baldwin a shoo-in for Man of the Match, surely. #AUSvNZ
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 29, 2015
42nd over: Australia 2nd innings 168-5 (S.Marsh 46, Nevill 3) - Australia require 19
Craig continues. His nickname is Pidgey, by the sounds of things. Nevill scampers a single to mid-on that Marsh is a bit slow to set off for, but they’re safe. Shaun takes a single to mid-off then Nevill goes back to mid-on for another. That’s going to be his go-to. Looks like they’re having a drink.
With under 20 required, Brendan Brown’s email questioning my assertion that bums are squeaking again is probably well timed. It would take something remarkable from here for Australia not to win. But who knows? Stranger things have happened at sea. How fun would a tie be, by the way? We’re due one, surely.
Updated
41st over: Australia 2nds innings 165-5 (S.Marsh 45, Nevill 1) - Australia require 22
Peter Nevill strikes me as a man for a sticky situation, which this is. He’s had a great game, with his tail-marshalling 50 and top keeping. He sees a couple out from Santner, who is coming round the wicket, before just nudging past short leg for one to get off the mark. Shaun Marsh finds midwicket a couple of times and the over is done with just one from it. Australia are very close.
40th over: Australia 2nd innings 164-5 (S.Marsh 45, Nevill 0) - Australia require 23
It’s spin from both ends! Craig’s on, and Shaun is trying to cut his second ball when it’s not there to cut. He misses and there are massive umms and ahhs behind the sticks as Watling takes. There’s the tiniest gap on the off-side and he threads through for two, before defending the rest of the over.
39th over: Australia 2nd innings 162-4 (S.Marsh 43, Nevill 0) - Australia require 25
Shaun sees out a very eventful over, taking a single from the last ball into the legside. Bums are squeaking again, but Australia are very close.
Good captaincy from McCullum getting Santner on, and Dane Barclay has a theory on Smith’s captaincy: “Solid piece of captaincy by Smith,” he writes, “to allow the Marshes in prime time tv to bolster their stocks a la Watto for the last 13 years.”
Wicket! M.Marsh c Williamson b Santner 28 (Australia 161-5 - need 26 to win)
Jeez, how’s your bottle Mitchell Santner? He’s batted well in this Test at crucial times, but now he’s on for his first second innings bowl. McCullum’s playing on Mitch Marsh’s ego, I reckon. First ball he defends in the off-side, then he’s after the next! He hasn’t even caught it but it’s gone for six. My word.
He’s gone again at the next one but really not got it this time. It’s swirling about in the evening’s sky, but Williamson’s under it and takes a brilliant catch. It’s all happening. Mitch gone to Mitch for 28.
Updated
38th over: Australia 2nd innings 155-4 (S.Marsh 42, M.Marsh 22) - Australia require 32
Southee’s back, and Mitch takes one through midwicket off the first. Shane Warne is talking about body language. Of course he is. Shaun ducks under one, then defends hard. Oh, that’s lovely from the fourth - it’s sent through the covers very sexily. Four valuable runs. And two more, as he nails a pull in front of square that Latham clears up. Dot off the last, driven to mid-off. Australia are going to win this cricket match, and this is a very handy partnership indeed.
There’s no question Kane can’t answer....
Time for Brendon to apply the Kane I suggest @willis_macp
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) November 29, 2015
37th over: Australia 2nd innings 148-4 (S.Marsh 36, M.Marsh 21) - Australia require 39
All of a sudden, Mitch Marsh is looking decent. Not calm - that would be a lot to ask - but like he’s going to win the game on his own. He sends the first two for a couple each - backward of point, then down the ground - then gets a single into the covers. Oh, and now Shaun has joined the party. That’s a delightful drive down the ground for four. Lovely. It’s shots like that that have been seducing the selectors all these years. Just 39 to win.
36th over: Australia 2nd innings 139-4 (S.Marsh 32, M.Marsh 16) - Australia require 48
It’s probably not the done thing to say it, as he’s the man he’s replaced in the side, but Mitch has a bit of a Wattoian front pad at times, and Boult is honing in on it. The bowler is coming around the wicket and bowling more than 140 clicks, which is good. The second raps him on the pad and there’s an appeal, but not a very gutsy one. He’s pushing forward so hard in defence. The fourth is a half-volley and it’s nailed through cover on the up for four - what a beauty! The next is even fuller - I mean, it’s a full toss - but Mitch can only get one. Shaun misses out on a legside fullie last up. Target below 50. New Zealand need action ASAP.
Word.
In generating tense finish in prime time in front of big crowd, this match has done enormous good for Tests. Can work on bat/ball balance
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) November 29, 2015
35th over: Australia 2nd innings 134-4 (S.Marsh 32, M.Marsh 11) - Australia require 53
This is over is slightly calmer, which is good news for my heart rate. It’s a maiden - Bracewell bowling a tight off-stump-or-just-outside to Shaun, who is disciplined, leaving everything he can, and defending at those he can’t shoulder arms to. Breathe.
34th over: Australia second innings 134-4 (S.Marsh 32, M.Marsh 11) - Australia require 53
This is a big over for Australia. Not only do they take nine from it, but Mitch shows signs that he can actually bat. Shaun takes a single to mid-off, before Mitch chops down on one and it goes over point for two. Next one is laced so hard through the same region for four. Cracking shot. The last is hit hard again and it goes through cover for two. Boult doesn’t look happy.
Updated
33rd over: Australia 2nd innings 125-4 (S.Marsh 31, M.Marsh 3) - Australia require 62
Eesh. Bracewell bangs the second ball of the over in and Shaun goes after it and getting a top edge. There’s a man down there but he’s not near it and it bounces a couple of time before he cleans up to prevent a four. Later in the over, there’s one he is desperate to cut, but leaves, before taking a single off the next. Mitch edges the last but it falls short of slip. Those hands are so hard. My word.
Email time, from Robert Wilson, and it’s a belter to get us off the mark. “I know you guys like a bit of funny with your readers emails,” he writes, “or a riff-starting piece of eccentricity (eg. if you were stuck on a desert island which international cricketer would you eat first?). But there’s nothing funny to say about this. This is just fantasticfun. Ball dominating, every run a pearl without price. A dash of Warner, a splash of Hazelwood and Southee. AND these evening sessions are simply beautiful-looking. More of this, please.”
Seconded. This is astoundingly good fun.
Updated
32nd over: Australia 2nd innings 122-4 (S.Marsh 28, M.Marsh 3) - Australia require 65
Mark Taylor, bless him, is trying to explain Shaun Marsh’s test career, which is some challenge. Shaun is at the non-striker’s as Mitch defends so hard at Boult’s first, then has a huge swish at the second, which he is very lucky not to nick. Not clever. There’s an aggressive leave - if such a thing exists - to the third, before a horrid, slow, short wide is served up. He drives just short of mid-off, before driving wide of mid-off for two from the last ball. Better from Mitch.
Updated
31st over: Australia 2nd innings 119-4 (S.Marsh 28, M.Marsh 1) - Australia require 68
Bracewell continues and Shaun (the Marshes will from here on in be referred to by the first names to avoid confusion, not because I’m mates with them like the lads from Channel Nine) drives the first one uncomfortably and a bit uppishly through the covers for three runs which Tom Latham does brilliantly to prevent being four. With so little to play with, they need to look after runs that much, magnificent fielding. Mitch, who is desperately out of form, looks to play through the covers but inside edges to fine leg to get a single. Shaun sees out the remaining three balls safely, with a crunching drive cut off by mid-off. 68 required.
Important for cricket that New Zealand lose by one wicket here so that they can be maximally fuelled by Nigel Llong fury in future years.
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 29, 2015
30th over: Australia 2nd innings 115-4 (S.Marsh 25, M.Marsh 0) - Australia require 72
My word this session is not going to good for my heart rate. The Kiwis go wild when Voges goes, and Boult is steaming in. Two Marshes at the crease and New Zealand think they’ve got Mitch caught down the legside first ball! No dice. And they don’t review. He leaves the next two then defends the last very firmly to extra cover. Wicket maiden. Some game.
Wicket! Voges c Southee b Boult 28!
Australia 115-4, need 72 to win.
Game on. Boult’s back, he angles it across Voges, who goes with hard hands and gets a thick edge which is well taken low down by Southee at third slip.
Updated
29th over: Australia 2nd innings 115-3 (Voges 28, S.Marsh 25) - Australia require 72
Bracewell take the ball for the first ball after dinner, and he’s still got three slips and a gully. It’s darkening, and the ground is fully shadowed, but we’re not quite in the period where batting gets really tough. Marsh takes a single to backward square before Voges is beaten by a full one that shapes away. Belter. But he gets his bat inside it and takes a single to square-leg next ball.
Updated
Well hello everybody. Happy Sunday. Welcome to the twilight zone.
What a game of Test cricket this is. What a game Test cricket is. We have one humdinging session of day three left which, surely, will be the last of the match. The equation is very simple: Australia need 74 runs, New Zealand need seven wickets. Adam Voges and Shaun Marsh have shared 47 and, for mine, Brendon McCullum let the game drift slightly before the break, with Tim Southee not quite at his best, and Mark Craig unable to prevent a boundary each over. Earlier on, Mitchell Santner looked rather lovely with the bat in his 45 and the Kiwi tail had a bit of sting that Josh Hazlewood eventually nipped in the bud with a Test-best 6 for 70. Thanks to Russ Jackson for taking us through all that.
But it’s business time now. The lights will be coming on. The ball should be a little more talkative. The locker room pad-rash will be outrageous and every superstition in the book will be on show. How New Zealand would have loved another wicket before the traditional cricketing dinner break, and wasted a review on a Voges LBW shout just before it, but IT’S NOT OVER YET. Use dinner time and those refreshed legs to break this partnership and then get stuck into t’other Marsh and the tail is not too far away. It should be very fun indeed.
Send me your thoughts! I’m contactable in brief via the twitters - @willis_macp - or in more than 140 characters by email at the ever so cumbersome will.macpherson.freelance@guardian.co.uk. I eagerly await your thoughts.
Dinner - Australia requires 74 more runs with 7 wickets in hand
28th over: Australia 2nd innings 113-3 (Voges 27, S Marsh 24) - Australia require 74
Here’s a surprise; Adam Voges has something in his eye so stops, pulls off his helmet and sets about removing it as slowly as humanly possible. Back at his crease he bunts Southee towards cover to pick up one. Marsh does so too to Santner but its a far riskier venture that one. A clean gather would have had him in trouble but the rookie is fumbling everything now. Poor kid; he’s been magnificent for two and a half days.
There’s the Voges review and then two more deliveries before dinner; one edged low to Williamson at gully and the other defensively prodded down the pitch, so the Aussie pair survives through to the 40-minute break and happily so. What a tense final session we’ve got on our hands now; there will almost certainly be a result. That’s all from me but Will Macpherson will be stopping by soon to take you through until the bitter end. Thanks for all your emails and tweets throughout the day.
NOT OUT! Voges survives
Well outside the line. Nothing to see here.
REVIEW! The Kiwis have had a speculative LBW shout against Voges
And they’re not confident but it’s worth a try.
Updated
27th over: Australia 2nd innings 111-3 (Voges 26, S Marsh 23) - Australia require 76
It is Bracewell who replaces Craig at the river end but as he does so, Shaun Marsh is actually starting to look confident, like he’s meant to be here. Bracewell’s over is a maiden but not a particularly threatening one. We’ve got 5 and a half minutes until dinner; time for one long over or two quick ones.
Crowd control update from Adelaide Oval:
Stumped. pic.twitter.com/3RLh8ebKiP
— Anthony Leach (@ahleach) November 29, 2015
26th over: Australia 2nd innings 111-3 (Voges 26, S Marsh 23) - Australia require 76
Southee keeps trucking but he’s lost the earlier magic now and when he strays short and wide outside off stump Voges delights in pounding him between point and cover with another square-driven boundary. Might it time to roll the dice and try Santner? He couldn’t do any worse than Craig, surely. Doug Bracewell is warming up for another trundle but time is fast running out for the Kiwis to make inroads before dinner.
25th over: Australia 2nd innings 105-3 (Voges 21, S Marsh 22) - Australia require 82
There’s a bit of a pattern developing here and one that’s working well for the Aussies; Voges gets off strike early against Craig and Marsh continues to find his way and off the final ball of the over, hammers another boundary down the ground. He’s really hitting his stride now.
24th over: Australia 2nd innings 100-3 (Voges 20, S Marsh 18) - Australia require 87
Let’s just pause for a minute; irrespective of the kind of ball they use and what time play starts, how bloody good is Test cricket? We’re such a self-loathing mob, cricket fans. We really should revel a little more in this kind of game. Speaking of revelling, Southee has an LBW shout here against Marsh but after it’s turned down the Kiwis deliberate for too long to call for a review, so the moment passes. Replays show that a challenge wouldn’t have been able to overturn Illingworth’s ‘not out’ call because it was only glancing leg stump.
Marsh celebrates by whipping Southee off his pads for a boundary that brings up Australia’s hundred. That was a beautiful stroke.
Marsh has now scored more than in 50% of his previous Test innings.
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) November 29, 2015
23rd over: Australia 2nd innings 95-3 (Voges 19, S Marsh 14) - Australia require 92
Voges gets another early-over single off Craig and Kiwi pundit Ian Smith says he’s still certain that the Kiwis can pull this off later tonight. He’s not out of line there, but it won’t happen if Mark Craig sends down full bungers. Even Shaun Marsh belts those ones away for boundaries.
22nd over: Australia 2nd innings 90-3 (Voges 18, S Marsh 10) - Australia require 97
The Nine team are writing off Tim Southee now and right on cue he sends an absolute peach rearing past Adam Voges’ outside edge as the batsman gropes for the ball. Southee has a big shout for LBW but Umpire Illingworth is having none of it and when the batting pair scamper through for a single it’s given as a run off the bat.
@rustyjacko new prediction: he makes a gorgeous looking fifty and gets himself out with the target in sight. #chroniclesofShaun
— Anthony Reynolds (@APJReyno) November 29, 2015
21st over: Australia 2nd innings 89-3 (Voges 17, S Marsh 10) - Australia require 98
Marsh faces up to Craig again and though the spinner’s got his trademark wrap-around sunglasses on, there’s nothing relaxed about this situation and he’s darting them through a little to quick to truly threaten so it’s easier for Marsh to press forward and find a gap on the off side. The target’s now in double figures and so is Marsh.
20th over: Australia 2nd innings 87-3 (Voges 16, S Marsh 9) - Australia require 100
Crack! Now Voges gets moving with a super cut shot when Southee drops short and wide. As per the Voges house style, it’s slammed hard into the turf with a downward motion and screams away between gully and point and then from the last ball of the over he goes squarer to pierce the ring of in-fielders and pick up four more.
Dilemma faced by Marsh & Voges: defend dourly now to stem the NZ momentum, or attack now in daylight to avoid having too much to do tonight
— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) November 29, 2015
Updated
19th over: Australia 2nd innings 79-3 (Voges 8, S Marsh 9) - Australia require 108
Ooh, some spin now but contrary to my armchair captaincy choices, McCullum plumps with Mark Craig. Again Voges clips a single to start the over and the crowd becomes hushed. They needn’t be too nervy; it is Mark Craig. He drags one short and Marsh cuts late to beat the man at point and pick up four. He’s now sitting on the greatest 9 in Australian cricket history – surely even superior to Rob Quiney’s.
18th over: Australia 2nd innings 74-3 (Voges 7, S Marsh 5) - Australia require 113
Tim Southee is back for another blast now and Voges gets a leading edge towards cover for one when it’s angling in dangerously towards his front pad, which means an entire nation has five balls of white-knuckle torture as Shaun Marsh continues to prod away. He survives. We’ll take that.
17th over: Australia 2nd innings 73-3 (Voges 6, S Marsh 5) - Australia require 114
You know when I was paying out on Doug Bracewell during the Brisbane Test? Yeah, someone hacked my keyboard. Sounds implausible but I assure you, it’s a tech-crime that is sweeping the suburbs of Australia. Tell you what hasn’t changed? Shaun Marsh is still terrible at running between the wickets and here turns a Voges two into a Voges one by ambling down the wicket and rounding the crease with the turning circle of the QEII. We’ve got fifty minutes until the dinner break now and I don’t know about you, but I’m having fingernails for my tucker.
Day-night tests, it's the jet-lag that's most difficult to deal with... #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/iZOLZt0218
— Elle Allsop (@Elsifer_3) November 29, 2015
Updated
16th over: Australia 2nd innings 72-3 (Voges 5, S Marsh 5) - Australia require 115
Phwoar, there’s a dead-set run out chance here when Marsh drops a single to mid-wicket but Santner is a bit slow moving in and his throw well wide. Mark Taylor reckons Marsh is on clover now because he’s past 5, traditionally a stumbling block in Tests. Welcome back to the era of adjusted expectations.
15th over: Australia 2nd innings 70-3 (Voges 4, S Marsh 4) - Australia require 117
Doug Bracewell is bowling an absolute treat here, angling it across the doubtless nervy Marsh but the left-hander pinches three through the cordon thanks to some hard-running and clear calling from Voges; probably the ideal chaperone in a situation like this because he’s a Western Australia teammate and a man known for his common sense approach to things. I’m still not unclenching though.
When a picture tells 800,000 words.
Shaun & Friends. #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/EGcftOQjAS
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) November 29, 2015
Updated
14th over: Australia 2nd innings 67-3 (Voges 4, S Marsh 1) - Australia require 120
This pink-ball stuff is off its head, isn’t it? There’s a huge LBW shout against Shaun Marsh first up but Umpire Illingworth turns it down. Then he’s forward and defending...confidently? Probably not. He’d be bricking it now but gets off the mark with a single to leg. It’s not entirely fair, but this man probably has voodoo dolls made in his honour. Can he make a hero of himself today? Those 120 runs look like 400 now.
WICKET! Smith lbw Boult 14 (Australia 66-3)
Smith’s gone! And so is my heart! This is just bonkers at the Adelaide Oval. It’s a twilight nightmare for the Aussies and their skipper is gorn! It was only clipping the top of middle but that’s all that’s needed in this case. See ya later Smudger. Australia is in all sorts.
"We're into the Marshes" - genius by @GerardWhateley
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) November 29, 2015
REVIEW! Smith has been given out LBW to Boult!
It’s on! It’s bloody on! I reckon Voges thinks he’s out but says they may as well try in case it was high.
13th over: Australia 2nd innings 66-2 (Smith 14, Voges 4) - Australia require 121
Voges is off the mark with an outside edge along the deck through gully and it races away for four biscuits. I don’t mean to be an ‘I told you so’, but Bracewell was always going to be the man, wasn’t he? One thing I forgot to mention: they were busily checking the front-foot no ball when Warner left the arena. Hmm...
Nope, it's out. https://t.co/epZa7ro9kf #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/U8W4An7anh
— FOX SPORTS Cricket (@FOXCricketLive) November 29, 2015
WICKET! Warner c Southee b Bracewell 35 (Australia 62-2)
Warner departs! My oh my. Bracewell sends one rising across Warner and the batsman just hangs his bat out at it to send the catch through to Southee in the cordon. This is ON LIKE DONKEY KONG COUNTRY AT YOUR COUSIN’S HOUSE. Adam Voges is in next but an entire nation turns its hateful eyes to Shaun Marsh. Buttocks update: back to firmly clenched
12th over: Australia 2nd innings 62-1 (Warner 35, Smith 14) - Australia require 125
And wouldn’t you know it, Smith starts this Boult over by cracking a classical cover drive to the fence. He gets a single too and then so does Warner with great enthusiasm because he’s having a real struggle trying to keep Boult out. The constant switch of line isn’t ideal for Boult either and he’s desperately unlucky when Smith plays a through-the-legs glance inches past leg stump for four.
Santner drops Smith! Oh my word!
11th over: Australia 2nd innings 50-1 (Warner 34, Smith 3) - Australia require 137
SMITH IS DROPPED! Holy hell. That was an absolute sitter. Poor Mitchell Santner. Smith bobbed up and down as Bracewell came in, shanked a pull shot into the air and straight to Santner at mid-wicket and though the debutant was looking into the sun he should have swallowed it. He doesn’t. It goes straight through his nervy hands and lands on the grass. Warner rubs it in by thumping Bracewell through mid-wicket for four. Has Santner just dropped the game? The poor kid.
“Oof. Biff, baff. It has to be said, Warner, when he’s up for it, makes 4th innings calculations a much simpler affair,” says Robert Wilson. “Scoring at that rate in these circumstances is a total game-changer. I’m guessing there’ll be lots of Dave-love in the sheds if he does another hour of this.” Funny you should say that Bob, ‘Dave-love in the sheds’ is the name of my upcoming collection of cricket-themed erotic fan fiction.
10th over: Australia 2nd innings 45-1 (Warner 30, Smith 2) - Australia require 142
ARGH! Has Smith just been put down? I think so. He slashes at an attempted square drive off Boult and sends an outside edge low to Watling but the diving keeper can’t hold it falling to his right. I think it hit his glove before the ground. A tough chance but a chance. Smith is happy enough to get off strike but the next one to Warner is an absolute peach and screams past his outside edge. Boult is real handful at the moment. He’s gotta be the guy, but he’ll also need a rest soon.
9th over: Australia 2nd innings 44-1 (Warner 30, Smith 1) - Australia require 143
Dougie Bracewell is on to replace Southee now and he’s no more lucky than his old mucker when Warner sweats on a bit of width outside off stump and dabs through gully for a boundary and then clubs him over the infield to pick up two. He’s got 587 runs at 117.40 in this series, Warner. Bradmanesque stuff.
8th over: Australia 2nd innings 38-1 (Warner 24, Smith 1) - Australia require 149
Smith hasn’t really settled at all here. He’s flapping like 20yo Smudge when Boult sends one across him and past the outside edge. The left-armer is really hitting his stride in this spell. This next 30 minutes, to resort to blatant cliche-peddling, is just vital for him.
Scott Lowe is mostly optimistic. “Look I don’t know how this match is going to turn out – it really is 50/50 here – but I feel very comfortable predicting that Shaun Marsh will utterly fail again, probably in some comical fashion. He truly is a Shane Watson replacement in this regard.” New Zealand could do with a few wobbly seamers in the style of Our Shane right now, mind you.
7th over: Australia 2nd innings 38-1 (Warner 24, Smith 1) - Australia require 149
Now there’s a stifled shout against Warner when Southee jags one back into the lefty’s front pad but it’s more than a little high and Warner clips to leg next up to get off strike. A hush descends across the ground, then a brief round of applause as Smith takes his mark. The crowd doesn’t know what to do. Smith does. He gets off the mark by dropping one towards cover and taking off for the quick single.
6th over: Australia 2nd innings 34-1 (Warner 21, Smith 0) - Australia require 153
Steve Smith arrives at the crease and also gets a few full ones, the last of which draws a spirited appeal from the Kiwis but it’s more enthusiasm than anything. Not out.
WICKET! Burns lbw Boult 11 (Australia 34-1)
Burns goes! Well, it has to be said that he never really looked like it there. Boult swings one in appreciably and Burns just sort of falls across it and misses clipping it to leg. Again he was playing with a bit of a diagonal bat. It’s proving a real issue for him in the last few innings. There’s no complaint from the batsman or his partner when the finger goes up and off he trudges. Boult’s done the trick. What might this trigger?
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5th over: Australia 2nd innings 30-0 (Warner 18, Burns 10) - Australia require 157
This is a real puzzle for McCullum early in the Australian chase; both bowlers have bowled ‘wicket’ balls but if the batsmen keep going at this sort of clip it’ll be over by the dinner break. In addition to the odd boundary Warner is finding twos everywhere early and Ian Chappell reckons it might quickly deflate the Kiwi bowlers. Time for some Mitchell Santner and Doug Bracewell I reckon; everything those two have done in this Test has been gold. Keep it going.
Stephen Armson reckons I’ve been had. “Hey Rusto! Might I be the first to suggest you might be the victim of an elaborate Bill Thacker-flavoured ruse over there? Unless you knew that already and I’ve fallen for the old “Thacker-Jackson” switcheroo, which I really should have seen coming. In my defence I’m pissed on Ha Noi beer, wahey!” Is this another one of these Internet jokes I don’t get and then end up feeling like an old person?
4th over: Australia 2nd innings 24-0 (Warner 14, Burns 9) - Australia require 163
Deary me. Warner doesn’t quite get forward enough to drive Southee here but still goes through with it and he really has to reach in order to spear it the left of the man at point. It hung in the air for an eternity, that one, but flew away for a boundary. More messy fielding gifts Warner a second where only one should have been available. Ross Taylor looked like a very old man backing up a wayward through and failing. He needs one of those Allan Border circulation kits I think. Boult’s nightmare over continues when he strays onto Burns’ pads and gets clipped for another boundary. The Aussie pair is hurtling along now.
3rd over: Australia 2nd innings 13-0 (Warner 7, Burns 5) - Australia require 174
Ouch. The last thing you need when you’re defending a small total is misfields and Brendon McCullum has a Grant Baldwinesque fumble through the legs here at mid-off to gift Warner two. Far worse is Southee’s fourth ball; a rank half-tracker that Warner slaughters to the boundary at deep cover.
I hate to say it, but Joe Burns is looking very susceptible to an outside edge here as he jams his bat down diagonal and sends leading edges out towards the fieldsmen on the off side. Watch this space.
SHOT! Good battle between Southee and the Aussie openers at the moment. LIVE: https://t.co/0nF46zDa50 #AUSvNZ https://t.co/Q5JGGOStUc
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 29, 2015
2nd over: Australia 2nd innings 6-0 (Warner 1, Burns 5) - Australia require 181
By the way, Brendan Brown from an over before has just cursed Australia’s chase. “He’s a very juicy stat to create a bit of frisson in this run chase - in 1993 at the Adelaide oval, the West Indies set Australia 186 runs to win the 4th Test and the series. Australia were bowled out for 184, West Indies winning by 1 run. How about that for a spooky portent?” Sorry Brendan, I am blocking my ears and going “LALALALALA”. Also, they’re chasing 187 today. Totally different kettle of fish you see?
Trent Boult pairs with Southee and on the plus side for Australia, he’s not bowling with quite the same level of demonic genius as his partner but Joe Burns’ boundary through gully is still a streaky one off a thick outside edge. Buttocks update: still firmly sealed.
1st over: Australia 2nd innings 2-0 (Warner 1, Burns 1) - Australia require 185
Orright, the Aussie chase is under way and Tim Southee steps up the plate with a truly magnificent opening delivery, which swings in the left-handed Warner, pitches on an awkward length, cuts him in half and flashes over the top of middle stump. Wowsers. That was just too good. Warner’s very keen to get down the other end when he nudges a follow-up to leg.
Oof, Burns gets an even better one from Southee; fast, angled towards him and then swerving away past the outside edge. Burns too scurries through from a single to leg thereafter, one that flies away off an inside edge.
Brendan Brown is one of the readers who is full of confidence for this Australian chase. “I can’t see a batting collapse like that in the first innings,” he says. “The Aussies to win by eight wickets. Who is Rusty tipping?” I’ll let you know once I unclench my buttocks, Brendan. That first over from Southee looked ominous.
Australia need 187 to win
...and opinion is divided on the email stream with doubting Thomases as plentiful as supreme optimists. First time reader Bill Thacker has this to say: “I’m new to cricket and finding this whole OBO business very intriguing. It’s better than the telly which has WAY too much scoreboard-type information. Very confusing. And ugly. I prefer your streamlined, pared-down narrative. Very Scandi-noir detective story. I don’t really know what a yound Michael Hussey is, though (Over 43). is it a good thing?”
I like that Bill’s pointed out a typo in his first OBO email. Next thing he’ll want me to get the score right as well.
WICKET! Boult b Hazlewood 5 (New Zealand all out for 208) - Australia need 187 to win
Hazlewood castles Boult! Phew, and not before time. He was starting to boil away like Peter Finch in Network as Boult and Bracewell biffed him around but he slams down a fast and full one that splatters Boult’s timber. The Aussies trot off for the 20-minute tea break and must now steel themselves for a tricky 187-run chase to take out the Test. We’ll be done today either way, you’d think.
New Zealand pass the 200-mark
62nd over: New Zealand 204-9 (Bracewell 24, Boult 4) - NZ lead by 182
Boult’s pulled his head in a little now – perhaps at the insistence of his partner – and gets off strike early in the Marsh over by bunting to leg. Bracewell thanks him by crunching Marsh out to cow corner for a boundary and the Kiwi total is now past 200. Boult’s finding singles everywhere, too. He almost does the Fosbury flop cutting Marsh out to point but somehow gets a run and Bracewell’s accordingly playing with freedom and intent but he can’t find a single late in the over to Boult’s on strike for the next. We’re about ten minutes away from the tea break, by the way.
61st over: New Zealand 197-9 (Bracewell 19, Boult 2) - NZ lead by 175
Hazlewood should probably put on a bib as he starts this over to Boult because he’s basically licking his lips at the prospect of a cheap sixth wicket but he’s let down badly by Joe Burns at mid-wicket when the latter misfield’s Boult’s artless swipe to leg. He gets through for a single.
60th over: New Zealand 194-9 (Bracewell 17, Boult 1) - NZ lead by 172
Interesting. Bracewell gets a chance to run through for a single with three balls still to come and while most batsmen of his sturdiness might have avoided exposing a Trent Boult type tailender to so much of an over so early in his innings, Bracewell calls him through. The two balls that follow show why he might have reconsidered; the latter flies inches past the top of Boult’s middle stump as he backs away and slashes. Even more bizarrely, Bracewell lets his partner take a single off the final ball.
WICKET! Southee c Lyon b Marsh 13 (New Zealand 192-9)
Marsh gets Southee! And just as I’d been slagging off the Aussie fielding, Nathan Lyon circles around the boundary to take a gem of an outfield catch at deep square leg, where the ball had swirled around and dropped from a great height. New Zealand lead by 170 now. I still fear that might be enough.
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59th over: New Zealand 191-8 (Bracewell 15, Southee 13) - NZ lead by 169
Josh Hazlewood is an angry, angry man right now. He forces Southee into an awkward prod to one that lifted nastily off a length and the outside edge flies at catching height right where the cordon ain’t, running away for four. The over finishes with a quick single and a shy at the stumps by Lyon, but in line with a worrying new trend in Australian Test cricket, both batsmen probably knew on some subconscious level that the Aussies rarely hit the stumps like that anymore.
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58th over: New Zealand 185-8 (Bracewell 14, Southee 8)
One thing that you can say of Marsh in this spell is that he’s bowling the kind of stump-to-stump line that more bowlers ought to try against the tail, because as they say, they miss, you hit. It’s an eventful maiden from the younger Marsh.
Not out! Bracewell survives
Okay, the professional cricket umpire was right and I was wrong. It was bouncing a little too high there but late in the innings as it is, it was probably worth a try by the Aussies.
Review! Marsh thinks he's trapped Bracewell in front
And I think he has a point...
57th over: New Zealand 185-8 (Bracewell 14, Southee 8)
Clonk! Bracewell and Southee actually look like they’re having fun out there now and the latter steps down the wicket to loft Lyon for a boundary down at deep square leg. He could really punish the Aussies here.
56th over: New Zealand 179-8 (Bracewell 13, Southee 3)
The New Zealand lead has crept up to 157 now and I don’t know about you, but I’m incredibly nervous about this whole scenario. Can’t you just see Boult, Southee or Bracewell doing literal cartwheels as Australia collapses for 112 or something? I’m feeling very pessimistic.
Bad Santner. #AUSvNZ
— Tony Tea (@AfterGrogBlog) November 29, 2015
55th over: New Zealand 176-8 (Bracewell 12, Southee 1)
Tim Southee can certainly knock up a quick 40-odd, so the Aussies need to be diligent here as the big Kiwi arrives at the crease. He’s off the mark with a single to leg.
WICKET! Santner stumped Nevill b Lyon 45 (New Zealand 175-8)
Santner departs! And that is a classic spinner’s dismissal from Lyon. A ball prior Santner had skipped down the track and turned a decent delivery into a half-volley, smashing it for six over cow corner against the spin. But Lyon strikes back perfectly, spearing one down wider and faster as Santner advances again and Nevill pulls off a neat stumping. Poor Santner; he did the splits to try and make his ground again but his enterprising knock is over. His 76 runs for the game may well prove decisive though, who knows?
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54th over: New Zealand 169-7 (Santner 39, Bracewell 12)
Mitch Marsh took some welcome poles in the gloom yesterday and had he not, you can bet your bottom dollar that both he and his brother would be facing plenty of scrutiny should Australia bungle this Test. He still might, to be honest, but for now he’s performing his bowling role well in the absence of Starc and an edge from Bracewell in this over falls millimetres short of Steve Smith’s outstretched right hand at second slip.
53rd over: New Zealand 169-7 (Santner 39, Bracewell 12)
Hello, there’s some sharp turn here for Lyon as he resumes to Santner, so much so that Peter Nevill’s having a hard time gloving everything cleanly. Santner’s also trying to cut another boundary when it’s a little too close to his off stump for comfort but he survives a decent examination from the offie.
52nd over: New Zealand 169-7 (Santner 39, Bracewell 12)
There’s some fantastic areas from a group of stags in the crowd, who were all wearing t-shirts emblazoned with a photograph of Chef Shane Warne pouring a bottle of Foster’s over some BBQ fare. It’s making me hungry, I’ll be honest. Mitch Marsh comes on for his first bowl of the day and sends a real pearler past Bracewell’s outside edge from the final ball of the over, which signals drinks.
51st over: New Zealand 167-7 (Santner 38, Bracewell 11)
Nathan Lyon’s back now to replace Hazlewood and Santner is looking for something to drive through the off side. He waits and waits and then gets a short one he can cut wide of point for a boudnary. James Brayshaw is calling Adelaide Oval a “bespoke stadium”, as opposed to the ones you buy off the rack.
Santner looking decent. Bring your child to work day paying dividends for New Zealand. #AUSvNZ
— Charlie Reynolds (@cwjreynolds) November 29, 2015
50th over: New Zealand 163-7 (Santner 34, Bracewell 11)
Teased by that near-miss of a few overs ago, Steve Smith has put a man in at a very short mid-on now in the hope that Santner will nudge an on-drive in the air again. He doesn’t though and like the Craig partnership, this one is quickly acquiring nuisance value for the Aussies as Bracewell gets comfortable.
49th over: New Zealand 159-7 (Santner 33, Bracewell 8)
As Good Haze becomes Bad Haze again in the blink of an eye, Santner seizes the initiative by cracking him for a smart pair of boundaries, the last a rasping pull shot wide of mid-wicket. The Nine team are full of praise for not only this, but the way the young Kiwi calmly departed the arena after Mitchell Starc’s first innings spray. Well he was hardly going to turn around and clock him, was he? The Kiwis lead by 137 now. That’s an awkward chase as it is. Strap in.
48th over: New Zealand 151-7 (Santner 25, Bracewell 8)
Peter Siddle is being the most fast bowlery fast bowler in this Test, isn’t he? Anything that hits the pad is just definitely out, no matter where it pitched or made contact. He’s launching into another enthusiastic appeal here when he raps Bracewell’s leg guard but if Merv Hughes had squatted next to leg stump then, this one wouldn’t have even hit him. Bracewell celebrates by hoofing the Victorian over the deep square leg boundary from the final ball of the over. Good stuff.
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47th over: New Zealand 142-7 (Santner 22, Bracewell 2)
Doug Bracewell arrives at the crease and gets of the mark with two to cover and the Aussies know well what a threat he can pose with the blade so won’t be resting on their laurels after the two early breakthroughs.
WICKET! Craig c Nevill b Hazlewood 15 (New Zealand 140-7)
Hazlewood gets the first pink-ball five-fer! So Siddle’s arrival wasn’t a segue to a change of ends for Lyon because Hazlewood continues from the river end and removes Mark Craig after the Kiwi spinner drives lavishly at a length ball that cut away from him ever-so-slightly. That’s a well-deserved haul for Hazlewood, who bar a couple of misfires has bowled tremendously in this innings. New Zealand is 118 ahead with 3 wickets in hand.
The more you watch Hazlewood, the more you're convinced the #Ashes were an aberration. Kid's going to be around for the long haul. #AUSvNZ
— Dileep Premachandran (@SpiceBoxofEarth) November 29, 2015
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46th over: New Zealand 140-6 (Santner 22, Craig 15)
Peter Siddle’s back into the attack now, but the sense is that it’s just so Nathan Lyon can switch to the river end of the ground. While all that’s going on, Mitchell Santner continues to look like a potential match-winner for the Kiwis; how important do his his 31 first-innings runs look now? And his unflappable bowling? And cool-headed catching? A lot to like. He has an awkward moment here half-driving towards Raphael at mid-on but the ball drops a metre or so short of that man.
45th over: New Zealand 140-6 (Santner 22, Craig 15)
Santner’s showing his full range of strokes now, rocking onto his back foot and driving Hazlewood through cover to pick up three. Even more frustration for the bowler is the next one, which Craig safely deflects wide of the cordon for a boundary. He’s far too short right now, Hazlewood, and seems to have temporarily lost his way. If you were wondering – and I guess it’s possible that I’m the only person still interested in this – today’s sub-fielder is Sam Raphael.
44th over: New Zealand 133-6 (Santner 19, Craig 11)
Hmm, not a hugely impressive crowd so far for a Sunday, is it? 15,000 max, I reckon. Isn’t Sunday the day you’d most want to head down? Maybe they’re all out the back having a few sherbets while the sun is still out. Mark Craig’s solid as a rock against Lyon in this over. Maybe his teammates have been getting stuck into him about losing his wicket to the offie.
43rd over: New Zealand 131-6 (Santner 18, Craig 10)
Am I getting a bit overenthusiastic if I compare Santner’s batting to that of a young Michael Hussey? Obviously he’s nowhere near Test-era Hussey but there’s something eerily familiar about the physique, the leaving technique and his compact, economical movements around the crease. Hazlewood finishes the over by banging in a bouncer that Santner has no chance of scoring from. That’s also economical, I guess.
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42nd over: New Zealand 130-6 (Santner 18, Craig 9)
Clonk! Mitchell Santner skips down the track to Lyon and effortlessly lofts him over cow to pick up four runs and continue his stellar debut. How composed has he looked? A real find, I sense. And isn’t this cute; the bankers have co-opted the enthusiasm of a loveable old man?
Here’s to Nugget Rees - all round Aussie team supporter; his inspiring speeches always motivate the Aussies. #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/wOximk41XP
— CommBank (@CommBank) November 29, 2015
41st over: New Zealand 125-6 (Santner 14, Craig 8)
Let’s be honest, there were a few doubters heading into this New Zealand second innings when it came to Hazlewood’s credentials as attack leader and he really blew them away last night. He’s also started well today with the wicket of Watling. A six or seven-fer isn’t beyond him here. Craig drives him down the ground for three but he’s moving it away from the left-handers quite nicely. Smith and the cordon should be at the ready.
Good news IAN Chappell has driven to ground. Bad news he's locked keys in car. Contact @CricketTalkback to help pic.twitter.com/kUSGGepezf
— Damien Fleming (@bowlologist) November 29, 2015
40th over: New Zealand 122-6 (Santner 14, Craig 5)
Ooh, Steve Smith clearly saw enough of Siddle in that first over and he’s decided that Mark Craig is a far greater chance of falling to Nathan Lyon, as he has on a number of occasions already in this series; Craig seems to handle the quicks much better than his spin-bowling kin.
39th over: New Zealand 120-6 (Santner 13, Craig 4)
Mark Craig arrives at the crease now and he’s certainly no mug with the bat. He gets off the mark with four to third man after a meaty ‘pleave’; half playing, half leaving, and deflecting the ball along the carpet.
Robert Wilson arrives with our first email of the day and he’s gone the tonk. “I’ll be livid if this game doesn’t go the full three sessions,” he says. “Haven’t seen a lick of the after-dark action yet and today’s my day (especially after my luxurious 4am lie-in). Re. Umpires. They’re quite clearly utter bastards, umpires. They’re mostly drunk, criminal or Satanists. I thought eletronic aids would mitigate their intentional foul-ups and moral turpitude. It appears to have made things worse. Time to act. New laws, round-ups, mass trials - that’ll learn ‘em. I join with all reasonable people in the cry - What do we want want? Total infallibility! When do we want it? NOW! Working on the protest song as we speak...”
Seems reasonable.
WICKET! Watling c Smith b Hazlewood 7 (New Zealand 116-6)
Hazlewood gets the early breakthrough! Oh dear, that’s a horror start for the tourists. Hazlewood is probing away outside off stump and with a little extra bounce off a good length, takes the edge of Watling’s unconvincing forward prod and Steve Smith holds on to a very handy catch diving to his left at second slip. Adam Voges probably would have gobbled it at first but Smith was decisive and took it cleanly.
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38th over: New Zealand 116-5 (Santner 13, Watling 7)
We’re under way on day three and there’s more Peter Siddle drama when his back foot slides in the middle of his delivery stride and the bowler has to pull out of what would have been a huge no ball. He’s limping as a result, too. Siddle gathers himself, gets back to his mark and then finds a better grove around Santner’s off stump but only just pushing past the 130km/h speed range. Santner’s got a big job to do here and he starts with some solid forward defence in Siddle’s maiden.
Here’s another guy Mitchell Marsh will be looking at over his shoulder...
A ton for Stoinis to go with 75 in the first innings at the WACA: https://t.co/FId4NovDzJ #SheffieldShield #WAvVIC pic.twitter.com/xywlneDBaN
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) November 29, 2015
Memo: fit Australian fast bowlers needed
I’m going down to the Hobart Test and by the looks of this, I might be watching a Sheffield Shield bowling attack...
Be alert not alarmed, but I think Peter Siddle is struggling with an injury. Did a warm up/fitness test under gaze of doctor this morning.
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) November 29, 2015
A Mitchell Starc update
Well, this would appear to be very good news for all concerned. Hopefully he’s back bowling sand-shoe-crushers within the month.
McDermott on ABC: Starc injury not as bad as they thought. After three weeks he'll start working. #AUSvNZ
— ABC Grandstand (@abcgrandstand) November 29, 2015
Okay I can’t help myself with more sub-fielder chat
As per this report by Mel Farrell from ESPNCricinfo, it appears as though Cricket Australia has caved to the demands of the uninformed masses and ditched Grant Baldwin as their sub-fielder. Madness, if you ask me. He’s not just a massage therapist, he’s a former Victorian 2nd XI cricketer who captained an emerging players XI containing five future internationals on a tour of England. He’s also 28 and incredibly fit and agile. What more do people want? Will some 21-year-old from the Futures League really do a better job? I guess that’s the thing about common sense eh; not so common...
Anyway, if you’re in the mood for more sub-fielding fun, here’s a nice list of infamous sub-fielders. But really, I still just cannot believe that supposedly informed broadcasters and journalists have led the charge against Baldwin. How do they feel about the not inconsiderable amount of players who’ve done the job with alcohol in their system? Even if Baldwin had one ropey effort yesterday, he’s only continuing a long standing tradition of the game. Why the fuss now?
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Preamble
Hello OBOers and welcome to the third and, if things continue at their presently mad rate, possibly final day of the inaugural pink-ball Test in Adelaide, where the Kiwi tourists hold a 94-run lead with five wickets remaining. They were butter to Josh Hazlewood’s hot knife last night but let’s be honest, any more than 75 runs from them here will make for a nervy, thrilling chase in the later sessions today. Dunno about you but I cannot wait for this to get under way.
You can get me on the usual contact details above with your thoughts on anything from yesterday’s DRS controversy to the use of sub-fielders. As regular readers already know, I’ll give preference to sub-fielding emails and tweets. Sorry, that’s just how it is.
Meanwhile, in response to this Fairfax report into the dealings of his charity, Shane Warne has just come out swinging on Channel Nine and had the following to say:
"We've got absolutely nothing to hide at the Shane Warne foundation...the 16 cents in the dollar is also factually wrong." - Warnie on Nine
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) November 29, 2015
"We're actually seeking our legal position on it as well..." says Warne re what he calls "irresponsible journalism" of recent reports.
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) November 29, 2015
Russell will be here soon but in the meantime, here’s yesterday’s match report and also a little bit more on the Nathan Lyon DRS controversy, which has altered the course of the game.
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