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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Adam Collins (first) and Jonathan Howcroft (second)

Australia beat New Zealand to win third Test and series 3-0 – as it happened

Nathan Lyon
Nathan Lyon was again crucial to Australia as they completed victory on day four of the Sydney Test. Photograph: Dan Himbrechts/AAP

Summary

I think that’s about all for now from the SCG. Thank you, as always, for joining in during this Test, this series, and this summer. There’s going to be plenty more cricket to cover over the coming weeks with ODIs, T20is and the BBL finals, so I hope you join us back here for those. And if your appetite for action today still hasn’t been sated, England’s push for victory over South Africa will get underway shortly.

Australian captain Tim Paine was proud as punch. “I’m very lucky to be captain of this bunch,” he says.

What pleased him the most? Batting big in the first innings. “We haven’t struggled to take 20 wickets in recent years but getting significant runs on the board hasn’t always been possible.” Paine was also pleased with the depth shown around the group, one no longer reliant on a single batsman or bowler to deliver a hot streak of form.

Paine signs off by speaking thoughtfully about his team’s role, and cricket in general, during the horrendous bushfire season and the difficult situation facing many Australians.

Defeated Kiwi skipper Kane Williamson credits Australia for their performance throughout the series before saying it’s time for his side to learn from their mistakes and regroup.

“We did struggle to put them under pressure to take wickets... we weren’t able to get any partnerships together to get any first-innings pressure. We got exposed in many respects against a very good side... We need to use this experience to become better individuals and a better team.”

Player of the match - and the series - Marnus Labuschagne

“It’s good to see everything come together,” the run-machine says with his hands full of prizes.

What made this summer so much better than previous seasons? “My level of concentration, not doing as many silly things, and you have to have a little luck too.”

Here’s the first take on the match report...

Speaking of the crowd, hundreds are now on the SCG turf, which is great to see, while the presentation dais is constructed.

Australia’s players are performing their media duties and wading into the crowd. Broad smiles on everyone’s faces as you might expect, if not the hoopla you often find at the end of Tests.

Australia win by 279 runs

Another four day success, a clean sweep of the trans-Tasman series, Australia’s superb Test summer ends on an emphatic high. This was not the prettiest victory but Marnus Labuschagne’s 215 in the first-innings and Nathan Lyon’s pair of five-fors were hard-earned and deserve to be cherished.

New Zealand 136 all out

Matt Henry’s broken thumb is not being risked. New Zealand are all out.

WICKET! Watling c Cummins b Lyon 19 (New Zealand 136-9)

Impervious to the carnage unfolding around him, Watling continues his vigil, seeing off Lyon for four deliveries. Then as soon as he tries to engineer the strike for the start of the following over he sweeps straight into Pat Cummins’ bread basket at square-leg.

WICKET! Somerville b Starc 7 (New Zealand 136-8)

Somerville gets off the mark with an uppercut for four off Starc, then he calmly drives him square for three. Seven pretty runs but, in the circumstances, shots with a high degree of risk. You have to ask questions about what’s going on in New Zealand’s dressing room with the shot selection of some of their batsmen today.

And then Starc executes a centimetre perfect yorker that uproots middle stump with the most satisfying sound in cricket. We’ll be done tonight.

47th over: New Zealand 136-8 (Watling 19)

46th over: New Zealand 128-7 (Watling 18, Somerville 0) Nathan Lyon now has nine wickets for the match. New Zealand have another brain fade to add to their luggage on the flight home.

Updated

WICKET! Astle c Pattinson b Lyon 17 (New Zealand 128-7)

Whaaaaaat a caaaaaaaatch from James Pattinson! Absolute shocking shot from Todd Astle, swiping Lyon across the line, sending a top edge spiralling towards midwicket. It looks to be dropping safe but Pattinson, running around from mid-on, refuses to give up the chase and makes ground, pumping his arms and legs as if his life depends on it before diving forward to hold onto a memorable catch. Very Glenn McGrath at Adelaide Oval areas.

45th over: New Zealand 127-6 (Watling 17, Astle 17) Enough of Marnus Labuschagne’s legspin, time for Mitchell Starc to blow New Zealand’s tail away. Not this over. After Watling rotates strike Astle is equal to the paceman’s late reverse swing, drilling a couple of twos into the off-side for good measure. Both New Zealanders are now on the same score, Watling from 99 deliveries, Astle 15.

Joe Harman has emailed a suggestion for what to do tomorrow. “Assuming that NZ are still batting at the close of play (a big and not necessarily valid assumption) perhaps they should declare and concede the inevitable defeat AND use tomorrow (the ground’s booked after all) for a bushfire fundraising one day game-grab something positive out of this debacle.”

44th over: New Zealand 122-6 (Watling 16, Astle 13) Astle, apparently oblivious to de Grandhomme’s dismissal, tries to loft Lyon over the infield and gets perilously close to gifting mid-on a catch. Astle, apparently oblivious to his near miss to ball three repeats the shot two deliveries later, this time skewing awkwardly towards midwicket.

43rd over: New Zealand 118-6 (Watling 16, Astle 9) Astle gets off the mark with a four swept out of the rough. Labuschagne almost exacts immediate revenge with a fizzing legspinner that whistles past the outside edge of the bat and the top of off stump. He follows that up with the full toss that Astle dispatches into the deep.

WICKET! De Grandhomme c Burns b Lyon 52 (New Zealand 107-6)

The momentum is all with New Zealand at the moment. Australia are trying all sorts to force a breakthrough, Lyon bowling wide of off stump this over to induce a drive, but when he does CdG slaps him over extra cover for six!

And then he’s out. It’s a fine line between counterattacking and reckless, and chipping Lyon to one of three men stationed around cow corner immediately after hitting a six is probably the latter. Maybe we’ll be all over today after all?

42nd over: New Zealand 107-6 (Watling 14)

41st over: New Zealand 100-5 (Watling 13, de Grandhomme 46) Labuschagne is getting through the crease with plenty of energy and he’s tempting New Zealand into a mishit drive, but both Watling and CdG are secure in their strokeplay.

40th over: New Zealand 97-5 (Watling 11, de Grandhomme 45) Lyon tempts CdG into a loose drive but any frustration the New Zealander may have felt following his streaky inside edge is released with a misfield allowing him to jog to the non-striker’s end. Watling then drops anchor.

39th over: New Zealand 92-5 (Watling 10, de Grandhomme 44) The pattern is becoming predictable as we head towards the conclusion of play. CdG gets off strike early before Watling defends patiently. Labuschagne is unable to generate a false stroke from his latest over.

38th over: New Zealand 90-5 (Watling 9, de Grandhomme 43) New Zealand deal comfortably with Lyon’s latest over. CdG’s scoring rate is now a brisk 75, Watling’s a watchful 11.

37th over: New Zealand 89-5 (Watling 9, de Grandhomme 42) It is spin from both ends, and the strategy almost works when Labuschagne rips one past CdG’s wafty cover drive. Still no breakthrough though and this partnership passes 50. Just under an hour left in the day.

36th over: New Zealand 88-5 (Watling 9, de Grandhomme 41) Labuschagne’s spell lasts just one over as Lyon is recalled. CdG scuffs around for three deliveries before lofting a delivery that turns, on the up, over mid-on for four. You fancy appealing to de Grandhomme’s ego might be Australia’s best plan of attack right now, perhaps with spin from both ends?

35th over: New Zealand 83-5 (Watling 9, de Grandhomme 36) Cummins is doing his best to force a breakthrough but there’s little happening for him out there now and he’s preying on a mistake from one of these two set batsmen. None is forthcoming this over.

34th over: New Zealand 80-5 (Watling 7, de Grandhomme 35) Tim Paine does go to Marnus Labuschagne - a change I like - and it almost pays dividends when CdG tries to drive over the top but succeeds only in finding a leading edge that drops just short of the sweeper coming in from the point boundary. De Grandhomme is playing his shots now, whipping Labuschagne to the on-side despite the ball turning towards off and barely bouncing above ankle height.

33rd over: New Zealand 77-5 (Watling 6, de Grandhomme 33) CdG moves into the 30s with two swings of the bat in the general direction of the covers. The first almost results in a chance for a diving Matthew Wade, the second is a thumping boundary. He follows that by picking up Cummins’ length out of the bowler’s hand and whipping him dismissively to midwicket for two more. Zero footwork from de Grandhomme, but he has a great eye and fast powerful hands.

32nd over: New Zealand 68-5 (Watling 6, de Grandhomme 24) Now the ball has softened, the batsmen have their eyes in, and the pitch has settled down again following its early rollings, things have all become a touch attritional again. New Zealand keep Australia waiting through Pattinson’s latest over. Perhaps time for Labuschagne to mix things up.

31st over: New Zealand 65-5 (Watling 4, de Grandhomme 23) Cummins isn’t out of the attack for long and when he returns he almost has Watling playing on a short delivery outside his off stump. This partnership is starting to reach awkward territory for Australia now, it’s lasted 12 overs, and with just 21 overs left in the afternoon a fifth day is looming large.

Last orders for Russell’s auction...

30th over: New Zealand 63-5 (Watling 3, de Grandhomme 22) Nathan Lyon’s ten-over spell is ended by James Pattinson’s recall into the attack. He backs up Starc’s maiden with one of his own, and looks threatening with some late reverse swing tailing into the right-handed de Grandhomme.

29th over: New Zealand 63-5 (Watling 3, de Grandhomme 22) Watling keeps out a full, swinging, probing maiden from Starc.

“Good afternoon Jonathan,” good afternoon Lee Henderson. “Couldn’t help but notice S.MacGill’s name up there on the SCG Honours board in your Twitter link. We’re sitting here wondering just what his eventual tally might have been if he hadn’t clashed with the Warne era. He certainly didn’t have the chutzpah of Warnie but by crikey the boy could spin a ball couldn’t he.”

A remarkable stroke of misfortune that the second best Australian leg-spinner of the modern era would arrive during the career of the very best. 44 Tests, 208 wickets at 29. In any other era he would have ended with eye-watering numbers.

28th over: New Zealand 63-5 (Watling 3, de Grandhomme 22) Lyon’s getting plenty of turn but there’s less variation for him than earlier, allowing New Zealand to formulate plans. CdG’s involves plodding his front leg down the pitch and hitting through the line over mid-off. He does so twice to good effect to leave Tim Paine scratching his chin.

27th over: New Zealand 54-5 (Watling 2, de Grandhomme 14) CdG has shown more than once this series he’s here for a good time, not a long time. He plays a few more loose strokes during the latest Starc over and it is a mystery how he is not dismissed. One in particular was too good, angling in from around the wicket then seaming away from the outside edge and the off stump. Mesmerising delivery. To compound Starc’s frustration CdG jams his bat on a yorker from the final ball of the over and collects four runs down to third-man. There is no justice.

26th over: New Zealand 50-5 (Watling 2, de Grandhomme 10) Ricky Ponting is ropable with CdG for playing a series of uppish strokes into the on-side. The batsman survives though, and advances his score with two twos and a single. There’s the suggestion a few spots of rain could be falling in the vicinity of the SCG and those clouds are not just grey with bushfire smoke. Could day five be required after all?

25th over: New Zealand 45-5 (Watling 2, de Grandhomme 5) Time for another burst from Mitchell Starc, and he almost immediately does for CdG who leaves a delivery that misses his off stump by the width of a huntsman spider’s furry leg. He then induces an reflexive outside edge from Watling with a rare delivery that spat off this docile surface. It is a gloomy afternoon now in Sydney with ash-laden clouds turning the sky into a scene from a Harry Potter movie when the dementors begin to circle. The floodlights are now in full effect.

24th over: New Zealand 44-5 (Watling 2, de Grandhomme 5) A rapid maiden from Lyon to the obdurate Watling.

23rd over: New Zealand 44-5 (Watling 2, de Grandhomme 5) Excellent straight drive from CdG for three before Watling doubles his score.

Apropos of nothing, here’s Bjork.

Tune.

22nd over: New Zealand 40-5 (Watling 1, de Grandhomme 2) CdG gets away from the danger end swiftly, inviting Watling to see off the bulk of another probing over from Nathan Lyon. Watling has been around for 34 balls for his one run.

21st over: New Zealand 39-5 (Watling 1, de Grandhomme 1) Cummins is bowling beautifully right now, teasing the inside and outside edges of the bats of both Watling and CdG. It is a joy to watch a fast bowler with this level of control.

Eloise Wright gives some context to charges consecutive one-sided series have led to a boring summer. “Yes, I’m always kind of annoyed when every test (not to say series) in an Australian summer seems to be a foregone conclusion,” she emails. “You would think I’d be used to it, having grown up watching the late 90s-early 00s teams, but I still find it pretty boring. Having said that, I’m finding myself less irritated this year than in summers past. For one thing, the northern summer was so crammed full of excitement there was bound to be a comedown. For another, with everything else going on at the moment, a little light boredom seems like just the ticket. I was at the SCG on Saturday and there seemed to be quite a few fire-impacted people around the ground. Personally, I was glad to get my parents out of the Blue Mountains on a danger day. I also overheard one firey telling a mate about their experience on NYE - after that, I imagine excitement at the cricket not required!”

20th over: New Zealand 38-5 (Watling 1, de Grandhomme 0) Watling repels an over of sharply spinning Lyon offies.

19th over: New Zealand 38-5 (Watling 1, de Grandhomme 0) Still time in the over for Cummins to whistle one beyond de Grandhomme’s outside edge. This is an impressive, hungry, remorseless, relentless, highly skilled bowling unit.

Ah yes, how could we forget!

WICKET! Taylor b Cummins 22 (New Zealand 38-5)

Maybe he was still digesting his national record? Maybe he was dewy-eyed like Bradman at the Oval? Either way, Ross Taylor has just been cleaned up by a Pat Cummins beauty. Angled in from over the wicket Taylor played inside the line leaving his off stump swaying like a drunk at closing time.

18th over: New Zealand 38-4 (Taylor 22, Watling 1) A nice round of applause from the SCG, and Australian players, in honour of Taylor’s milestone. He and Watling both look to have their plans to Lyon, and they’re taking the game to the spinner, not just allowing him to dominate.

Ross Taylor becomes New Zealand's leading Test run-scorer

A milestone for New Zealand in a wretched tour with Ross Taylor lofting Nathan Lyon for three over mid-on to overtake Stephen Fleming as his country’s most prolific batsman in Test cricket.

Updated

17th over: New Zealand 33-4 (Taylor 17, Watling 1) Cummins shares duties with Lyon after the resumption and he is predictably parsimonious.

“My two young children are currently taking it in turns to be sick through the night thanks to the dreaded norovirus,” emails Martyn Beeston. “I’ve currently got as much chance of seeing out the rest of the night in peace as New Zealand have of making it to 120. Only saving grace is that I thought the next Ashes series was due this year (which started making me feel queasy). What chance do you think we (Eng) have in 21/22?”

Slim to none Martyn, slim to none. Australia’s young and complete bowling attack on home soil will simply be too good for England’s fragile batting - as things stand. Then you have Warner, Smith and Labuschagne, the three batsmen in Australian conditions in a composite XI. A lot can change in a couple of years though. Root and Stokes could blossom with the bat, Archer could change the dynamic with the ball. But I’d be expecting 5-0 or thereabouts.

16th over: New Zealand 33-4 (Taylor 17, Watling 1) Taylor and Watling both work singles from Nathan Lyon’s first over after tea before the former accepts a long half-volley outside stump, thwacking four over mid-off. Taylor is now just three runs shy of becoming the all-time leading run-scorer for New Zealand in Tests.

The players are back out after tea. Will this be the final session of the series? 37 overs on offer for Australia to get on the Sydney Monday night circuit.

It’ll get better Stephen, I promise.

In response to the query about the most changes between Tests, England’s atrocious 1989 Ashes has been recalled. It was where my mind first went also, but I can’t grab exactly what the numerical differences between line-ups were per Test. 29 players over six Tests is extraordinary though.

Updated

Jack Faine has emailed in a question for the OBO hive mind. “I am just wondering if New Zealand’s mid-series change of five players is unprecedented in Test cricket? I can recall a number of occasions where three changes have been made to sides, but I cannot recall any time that even four, let alone five (!) changes have been made to a side between Test matches in the same series. Would be interesting to know.”

Tea on day 4: New Zealand 27-4 (Target 416)

Australia are steamrollering New Zealand now at the SCG. They could wrap up a series whitewash in the 37 overs remaining after tea.

Tim Paine
Australian captain Tim Paine takes a catch to dismiss Jeet Raval off the bowling of Lyon on day four of the third cricket test match between Australia and New Zealand at the Sydney Cricket Ground. Photograph: Andrew Cornaga/AP

15th over: New Zealand 27-4 (Taylor 12, Watling 0) Watling safely dead-bats a Pattinson maiden to see us through to the tea interval.

14th over: New Zealand 27-4 (Taylor 12, Watling 0) Taylor is a man with a plan, taking guard on off stump and sweeping as often as possible. It works well, earning a couple of twos, and also provides that heart-in-mouth appeal.

Jake Santa Maria is happy with a summer free of jeopardy. “After the Ashes, especially Headingley,” he emails, “I don’t mind the chance to actually relax and watch the cricket rather than cowering in fear of it.” Pssst, look over there, it’s Ben Stokes!

No, NZ are not five down (yet). Australia thought they had Taylor out sweeping onto his boot but the ball just hit the pitch before rolling up onto his boot.

Are NZ five down? Ross Taylor may be out but we’re going upstairs for a catch, soft signal not out.

13th over: New Zealand 23-4 (Taylor 8, Watling 0) Pattinson’s seam movement and the low bounce of this surface causes Taylor all sorts before he finally rotates the strike. Watling is more assured seeing off the last couple of deliveries with forward defences.

We’ve gone from Headingley 19 to Cape Town 11.

12th over: New Zealand 22-4 (Taylor 7, Watling 0) The natural variation is doing the trick for Lyon. Phillips was undone by one that didn’t turn as much as he expected, so he ended up inside the line with a straight bat. Lyon himself barely appealed, and it took the enthusiasm of Paine and the close fielders to convince the rest a dismissal had taken place.

“I was also confused by Ricky Ponting’s commentary,” emails Paul Morton. “The technology backs up the on-field umpire, but the umpire is still ‘wrong’.” Yeah, I don’t get it either. Luckily we’ve got more of this to come with Brendon McCullum (New Zealand’s Michael Vaughan?) lining up a dossier by the sounds of things for later in the broadcast.

WICKET! Phillips c Paine b Lyon 0 (New Zealand 22-4)

New Zealand use their two reviews on outside-edges in a matter of minutes. Sums up their miserable tour. Glenn Phillips is the latest culprit, going back to Lyon and feathering a catch behind the wicket.

WICKET! Lyon has another, Phillips this time, but again it’s going to DRS. Stand by...

11th over: New Zealand 22-3 (Taylor 7, Phillips 0) Pattinson bowls a maiden to Taylor. The Kiwi legend did his best to get the scoreboard moving but a lack of footwork and an absence of timing on this difficult surface meant all his strokes turned into ungainly swipes.

10th over: New Zealand 22-3 (Taylor 7, Phillips 0) Another example of a very tight decision going against New Zealand on-field that is subsequently confirmed by technology.

This is not my take on the summer, but I’m sympathetic to people who hold it. Are there many others of you out there lamenting the lack of close finishes?

WICKET! Raval c Paine b Lyon 12 (New Zealand 22-3)

First look at Nathan Lyon for the day, and he takes just four balls to strike. Beautiful teasing off-spinner from around the wicket into the left-hander drawing the batsman forward then spinning and bouncing away from the stroke, grazing the finest outside edge on the way through to Tim Paine’s gloves. The edge was so faint Raval did not feel it but snicko confirmed the deflection. New Zealand can start packing their suitcases.

REVIEW! Raval does not think he’s caught behind off Nathan Lyon...

9th over: New Zealand 22-2 (Raval 12, Taylor 7) Pattinson replaces Starc and he’s quickly into a more imposing rhythm than we’ve seen previously in this Test. Angling into Taylor he targets the stumps with pace and is unfortunate to concede four runs when a thick outside edge scoots through an unguarded portion of the cordon.

The only shades of Headingley I can see are the slate grey ones overhead. If NZ are in this up to their necks it’s because they have sunk so far they’re drowning, not waving.

8th over: New Zealand 18-2 (Raval 12, Taylor 3) Raval has come out playing with freedom and he takes Cummins for runs all around the wicket with some lovely strokes, including a crisp straight drive and controlled pull.

Ian Loiterton has logged on. “Adam mentioned in the commentary that Warner has made 18 x 100’s at home, 6 x 100’s abroad. That’s a ratio of 3:1,” he emails. “Wondering if there’s any stats about how this compares to other batsmen? High, middling or (as I suspect) low? I’d be curious, as all is not well in the state of Denmark (read Australian batting line up) just yet, when Warner’s inability to travel is viewed in conjunction with the Burns issue, Wade’s questionable performance at No.5 and the need for more consistency from Travis Head. In summary, the Smith / Labuschagne double act, in conjunction with the potency of Australia’s bowling attack, may be masking some deep seated issues when it comes to playing the likes of India in tests (forget the silly short version). Your thoughts on the current line up and whether there’s any viable personnel changes in the making, based on recent domestic performances?”.

An astute email Ian. I think the first thing to say is that nobody is banging the door down to come into the side, so that aspect of the equation isn’t around to overly complicate matters. As for the imbalance of the line-up, I agree, however, with the exception of India away, the individual brilliance of one one of those top three is probably sufficient right now to win a series. Semantically that could well be papering over cracks. Alternatively, it could just be a reflection of cricket being a team game made up of individuals, of which Australia are currently blessed with half-a-dozen or so of the very best right now.

7th over: New Zealand 10-2 (Raval 4, Taylor 3) Taylor misses a pull - a shot he might not go to very often on a pitch with such low bounce - before getting off strike with a single. Raval then works one off his hip to complete the over.

6th over: New Zealand 8-2 (Raval 3, Taylor 2) Cummins is the ideal partnership bowler in conditions like this, gives nothing away, always makes the batsmen play, and forces rash shots against the other bowlers. His latest over of relentless line and length goes for just one.

5th over: New Zealand 7-2 (Raval 3, Taylor 1) I do enjoy dismissals like that. Nobody seems happy with the outcome despite the on-field umpire being proven correct, doubly so, as his original judgement was confirmed as accurate by the best available technology. Yet, because of decades of confirmation bias (much of which must now be retrospectively considered inaccurate) we are up in arms. Did I think it was out in real time? No. Am I satisfied with the original decision and application of DRS? Absolutely.

WICKET! Latham LBW Starc 1 (New Zealand 4-2)

DRS gives the green light to Australia courtesy of an orange one on ball-tracker. Starc, from over the wicket, beat Latham’s leg-glance for pace, and appealed for an LBW that looked optimistic at best, but umpire Erasmus raised his finger in a flash. Latham was nonplussed, reviewed, and the third umpire confirmed his downfall with the computer simulation indicating the ball was glancing the very outer coat of varnish on leg stump.

WICKET! Latham LBW b Starc... but it’s gone upstairs. That was a very very sharp call from umpire Erasmus. That looked a bit leg-side.

Updated

4th over: New Zealand 3-1 (Latham 1, Raval 0) The SCG is becalmed once more following the euphoria that greeted Lyon’s superb catch. It was effectively a slips catch, but square of the wicket, giving it an added degree of difficulty because of the inability to gauge the trajectory of the ball out of the bowler’s hand. Pretty ordinary shot, mind you, and a disappointing way for Blundell’s otherwise promising series to end. Latham sees off a Cummins maiden from around the wicket.

Australia are on their way.

Nathan Lyon has sent Australia on their way with a blinding catch.

3rd over: New Zealand 3-1 (Latham 1, Raval 0) Thank you very much Adam. You remain the hardest working man in cric-business. Good luck snatching a few hours kip before wading into South Africa v England.

The rest of you; are you on email? You simply have to be these days. Send yours about this match, and anything else you want to discuss to this address: jonathan.howcroft.casual@theguardian.com.

Anything pithier, maybe with a gif, or a link to a little-known highlight, can be sent on Twitter to @JPHowcroft.

WICKET! Blundell c Lyon b Starc 2 (New Zealand 3-1)

What a catch! Lyon had plenty to do with his dive low to the right and got both hands to the ball to complete a fantastic snaffle! Australia are up and about. An apt moment for me to pass the baton to JP Howcroft. Will he deliver an Australia victory inside four days for the fifth time this summer? I think he might. Bye!

Updated

2nd over: New Zealand 3-0 (Latham 1, Blundell 2) Target 416 Cummins get the new ball to Blundell, who, of course, made a ton in pursuit of a similar (notional) target this time last week. He takes a single behind square, leaving Latham a couple to get through. He ducks the bouncer and leaves outside the off stump.

1st over: New Zealand 2-0 (Latham 1, Blundell 1) Target 416 For those still playing along with this, the five penalty runs were added to New Zealand’s first innings. So, the target is 416, not 421. It also means that the Black Caps retrospectively avoided the follow-on. Ah, cricket... if it didn’t exist you couldn’t make it up. Latham leaves and defends before pushing a single to cover to get the chase underway. The other way to look at this is that New Zealand have World Test Championship points to win if they draw this fixture. Yes, that will require batting for 141 overs but it gives them an incentive to dig in here. And not get run out! Dear me! That would have been the fate of Blundell had Head’s throw been on target from cover when the opener took a quick single to finish the over to get off the mark. Ugh!

Some crazy Andrew Samson numbers on SEN radio as the players walk back on. Labuschagne finishes with 896 runs, nine short of Hammond in 1928-29. He batted for 1768 minutes (29.5 hours) and 1457 balls. Warner made 786 runs, batting for 1731 minutes (just short of 29 hours), across 1219 deliveries. Blimey. Mitch Starc has the ball in his hand, Latham the man on strike to begin. PLAY!

421 to win, but 416 to make. That’s the effect of the penalty runs that were added a couple of overs before the declaration. That’ll throw up a fun statisical debate if they do get the runs. Will it be the record? That’s currently 418 in the fourth innings. They would reach a higher target than that but with fewer runs. Fun!

AUSTRALIA DECLARE! WICKET! Labuschagne c Latham b Henry 59 (Australia 217-2 dec).

We had the forehand smash from Labuschangne but Henry claims his wicket with his next delivery, caught at long on. Paine calls them in! New Zealand are set 421 to win. Warner walks off unbeaten with 111 to his name, his 24th Test century.

51st over: Australia 211-1 (Warner 108, Labuschagne 56) Cricinfo have said that the five-run penalty has been applied but it will be given the New Zealand as penalty runs at the start of the new over. But, wasn’t Warner meant to be on strike for this over? I think he’s actually docked them a run and applied the penalty. Andrew Samson explains on SEN radio that this was the correct interpretation once assessing Warner as having ran on the pitch with the last shot of the previous over: withdraw the runs made from that ball then award five-runs to the opposition.

50th over: Australia 206-1 (Warner 106, Labuschagne 53) Warner checks an off-drive off Henry before clipping yet another single to midwicket. He’s made so many runs out there today. Labuschagne has a gallop down the track but misses everything. So, they’re not far away from declaring, we can safely assume based on the evidence of that shot. Has someone told Marnus about Hammond’s 905, I wonder? Probably not. He’s one closer to it with a quick single to backward point. He gets a bit of a telling off from Aleem Dar after the run, telling him not to run on the pitch. Warner slaps out to the sweeper at deep backward point for two more, then a single to finish to deep midwicket again to bring up the 100 partnership. It’s not without controversy though... Aleem Dar has withdrawn the run because he says Warner has ran on the pitch. Or warned them? He hasn’t docked them five runs, as he is entitled to do. The scoreboards all over the place. What doing?

Labuschagne to 50!

49th over: Australia 202-1 (Warner 103, Labuschagne 52) With four through midwicket and a single to mid-off, Marnus Labuschagne gets to raise his bat yet again, a half-century to go with his 215 from the first innings. He’s arrived at the mark in just 64 balls. By the end of the over, Australia are beyond 200 as well.

Here’s Warner’s century.

And Marnus.

Warner completes his 24th Test hundred!

48th over: Australia 194-1 (Warner 102, Labuschagne 45) Henry to Warner on 99, and he takes off after defending to him! The bowler pings at the stumps and isn’t far off running him out. Forget what I said about his ease in the 90s in the previous over! Right, back to the task at hand... and there it is! The milestone is brought up with a whip through the legside, the prolific pair coming back for three. Off comes the helmet as Warner launches into his familiar celebration once again this summer. That’s a third ton across those five Tests this and his 18th in Australia, fourth at the SCG and fifth against NZ. 147 balls to get there with nine boundaries.

47th over: Australia 190-1 (Warner 99, Labuschagne 44) Labuschagne takes a single from the first delivery of CdG’s over, giving Warner a good look at the two runs he needs for a century. He knows this terrain well, carefully defending to both sides of the wicket as required, waiting for his ball, before taking the one on offer to midwicket off his hip. On to 99. The No3 steers a couple more to complete the over down to third man, closing in on another half-century himself.

46th over: Australia 186-1 (Warner 98, Labuschagne 41) Matt Henry is back for his first spell since the first few overs this morning, Labuschagne clipping three out to deepmidwicket, helped by a misfield. Warner gives the strike straight back and moves into the 90s with a single, pushing off the front foot behind point. Whoa! Warner gets a boundary from a ball that leapt off the track! He somehow managed to get some bat on ball, helping it over the cordon. He then makes it two fours in a row, moving to 98 with a compact tuck to fine leg - a poor finish from Henry.

“Hi Adam.” Hello, Liz Musgrove. “I’m a new convert to OBO, but loving it, thanks for the entertainment and insights. I grew up with cricket commentators burbling away as the background to summer and I’m quite enjoying the Sky coverage via Kayo - Isa Guha is a standout for me - but get a much better sense of the state of the contest from the OBO. It’s also a great way to catch up on events if I’ve been doing other things. So thanks again for the work you and your colleagues have put in!”

Well, isn’t that lovely? Thanks for dropping me a line. Yes, the OBO is a special community. I was a long-term reader before jumping on the tools four years ago and it remains one of the most enjoyable things I get to do as a cricket writer.

45th over: Australia 173-1 (Warner 89, Labuschagne 37) Labuschange gets Australia’s first run of the session, a single to cover. CdG is back on his very consistent line and length, Warner happy enough playing himself back in. Yes, quick runs are the name of the game but not at the expense of a Test ton.

“If you insist calling Wagner ‘The Composer’, I’m wondering whether Marnus has ever been given the handle of ‘The bus interchange’?” asks Ian Loiterton. That might require some googling from me. “One for the bilingual dyslexics out there.”

The players are back on the field. We know that because Sweet Disposition is playing over the PA as they walk out. It’s a big improvement on Great Southern End, which prevailed for about 15 years. de Grandhomme to Labuschagne. PLAY.

A big session for Australia. They piled on 136 runs at 4.9 runs an over, losing just the one wicket. Unfortunately for Australian fans, that was Burns - the man who needed runs the most - when he was trapped lbw by an excellent Astle wrong’un. But that loss, and when Labuschagne dropped by the same spinner as soon as he came to the crease, were the only moments of hope for the Black Caps. With Australia 375 ahead, the only questions left are whether Warner can reach a 24th ton, if Labuschange can overtake Hammond and when Paine will declare.

Updated

LUNCH: 172-1

44th over: Australia 172-1 (Warner 89, Labuschagne 36) A graphic flashes up on screen as Somerville begins the final over of the session: Labushagne has made 872 runs this home summer, only behind Wally Hammond’s 905 from his famous 1928-29 Ashes campaign in Australia. I doubt that’s on Tim Paine’s radar but maybe someone should let him know at the break, in case it is just a matter of an over or two for him to get there as they approach a declaration target. LUNCH it is!

43rd over: Australia 171-1 (Warner 89, Labuschagne 35) Wagner with his final over before the break, doing well to nearly floor Warner with an inswinging yorker, the two sharing another laugh as they pass. Indeed, he accidentially hit him with the bat! Good colour, mucking around. Fewer smiles for the bowler when Warner picks up a full toss over midwicket for an easy four - a misdirected change of pace.

42nd over: Australia 164-1 (Warner 84, Labuschagne 33) They’ve already put on 50, Labuschagne deflecing Somerville - back into the attack - for a couple to bring that up in 74 balls. He celebrates with a reverse sweep, something I don’t think we’ve seen from him this summer? Not that often, in any case. It works too, trickling away to the third man boundary. Isa Guha on telly is quick on the stat, noting that it was just the third time that Marnus has reversed in Tests. He tries another version of the sweep, a lap, but misses the ball... Watling does too, three more added, this time byes. Ten off it. The lead is 367 with six minutes until lunch.



41st over: Australia 154-1 (Warner 83, Labuschagne 27) The Composer returns for his second spell today, with time for a couple before lunch from Paddington End. Labuschagne takes one to cover to begin, Warner then grabbing a single behind square. The former finishes with a handy cut shot, chopped behind point for two.

40th over: Australia 150-1 (Warner 82, Labuschagne 24) Astle now around the wicket but through the umpire to Warner. As Bharat Sundaresan notes below, there’s an old-school charm about that approach; yet another reason to be on the Team Todd bandwagon with me. It doesn’t bother the opener, who gets down low for his smash-sweep behind square for four. It takes him into the 80s.



39th over: Australia 141-1 (Warner 75, Labuschagne 22) CdG finds Labuschagne’s outside edge, swinging hard at a cut shot, but it runs away safely to the rope with no slips in place at this stage. Once again, he’s into the 20s. 101 runs have now been scored today across 24 overs. The TV cuts to Smith on the balcony, who must secretly hate how much time he’s spent waiting to bat this Test season.

38th over: Australia 136-1 (Warner 75, Labuschagne 17) When Warner gets his chance after a long time at the non-strikers’ end he plays resourceful sweep in front of square, racing back for two. He’s three-quarters of the way there.

Check out this feature on one of the most talented people in and around the game, photographer Ryan Pierse. Also a fantastic human being.



37th over: Australia 133-1 (Warner 73, Labuschagne 16) Labuschagne is owning the strike, taking the entire CdG over, starting with a couple off his pads and finishing with one in the same direction down to fine leg. Warner is still in range of three figures before lunch but that’s now more likely to come up after the break.

36th over: Australia 130-1 (Warner 73, Labuschagne 13) Labuschagne is confident enough to use his feet again at Astle now, as he should be considering he made 215 in the first dig. “He’s looking to score off every ball,” says Kerry O’Keeffe on telly.

35th over: Australia 124-1 (Warner 72, Labuschagne 8) Speaking of white-ball cricket, it is a white-ball field for CdG with Watling still up to the stumps. There’s not a lot to see here - one off; the lead 327. With probably nine overs until lunch, they should be able to move that number along to 360/370 by then.

“My project is almost finished, Mr Collins!” reports Abhijato Sensarma. Good work. “But Burns has departed before I could watch him on the telly. The approach they have taken to this innings is similar to that of an ODI, as the run-rate proves. This is a magnificent opportunity for Marnus to make a mark about his attacking skills. He’s a part of the ODI squad for the India tour, so this scenario offers him the best chance to exercise his skills. With approximately the same number of overs being left as he will usually have batting at No4 against India in coloured clothing, he needs to construct his innings accordingly. If he gets the twin ton too, that will be the icing on the cake for his home summer!”

Good point. I’d forgotten that Labuschagne is off to India next week for that three-game series. Yes, that’s right, they are off to India for just three ODIs. Hmmm.

34th over: Australia 123-1 (Warner 71, Labuschagne 8) Five off Astle but at least he’s giving it a chance to spin (both ways) with ample flight. Keep him on, skip.

33rd over: Australia 118-1 (Warner 67, Labuschagne 7) Another belt-and-braces CdG set. In fairness to the Black Caps, the last ten overs have gone for 41. That’s an improvement from the first 40-minute window today when 57 runs were added.

An overrated modern talking point, for mine? Honours boards. Alas, Lyon is now on there at the SCG following his excellent five-wicket bag on Saturday.



32nd over: Australia 116-1 (Warner 67, Labuschagne 6) Oh no! Astle drops Labuschagne! It’s a sitter too: fingers up, in and out. Such a good bit of bowling to beat him in flight, the drive checked straight at him. What can you say? A tough moment for all the members of Team Todd. Ian Smith is a fan as well, saying he should be an “automatic selection” for the next New Zealand Test team.

31st over: Australia 112-1 (Warner 65, Labuschagne 4) CdG isn’t letting Labuschagne put the foot own from the get go here, at the stumps throughout.

The good news for Burns is that Uncle Rod Marsh is no longer the selection boss so the below average won’t be the only number looked at when deciding his fate.



30th over: Australia 110-1 (Warner 65, Labuschagne 2) Another wrong’un straight away to Labuschagne, this one turning too much. As Kerry O’Keeffe says on TV, Astle didn’t bowl it anywhere near enough when the game was there to be really influenced on that opening day. Ooi, he bowls another at Warner to finish, which isn’t far away from getting him in strife. That’s a very handy over. Well done.

They take drinks. Here’s the projection. Very nicely bowled, HOT TODDY.

WICKET! Burns lbw b Astle 40 (Australia 107-1)

I told you about the Astle googly! It’s good enough to beat Burns, a lovely delivery beyond his inside edge and crashing into his front pad. It wasn’t given out on the field but the DRS shows it was doing everything right, hitting leg stump. Another good start from Burns but he ends his summer without pressing to 50 or beyond.

29th over: Australia 107-0 (Warner 64, Burns 40) Colin de Grandhomme, who had the new ball on the first morning, is pacing around the wicket at Warner and giving it his best, stump to stump all the way. Four risk-free runs are added, the lead 310.

28th over: Australia 103-0 (Warner 61, Burns 39) I see a couple of tweets suggesting that Australia should open the door to New Zealand. They clearly haven’t been watching closely enough - that is not happening, and nor should it with so much time left in this game. They might have a 400 lead by lunch the way this is going. To Astle’s credit, after having 11 taken from his first over today, he backs up with tidy maiden at Burns. He has an very useful googly on him.



27th over: Australia 103-0 (Warner 61, Burns 39) Another milestone, the sixth time that Warner and Burns have passed 100 runs together at the top of the list, the two sharing a hug. Wagner is mixing it up every ball but we’ve passed the point of the series where that is going to get into the heads of the home batsmen. Tom Latham is with his bowler, tweaking the field, refusing to completely give in - there are men spread all over the legside as he leaps in from around the wicket. But nothing comes of it, Burns retaining the strike with a quick single behind point.

26th over: Australia 99-0 (Warner 58, Burns 38) TODD! Be still my beating heart, Astle is into the attack for the first time this morning. There’s one person who enjoys this development as much as me: Dave Warner. He takes one delivery to get down into his reverse sweep posture, executing the shot perfectly, whacking it away behind point for his fifth boundary. He’s well on his way to a ton here. Not to miss out on the fun, Burns hits him back over his head for SIX to finish! Watson-esque from the Queenslander, holding his pose as the ball sails over long-on. The Australian lead is now 302 with 57 taken from the ten overs so far this morning.

25th over: Australia 88-0 (Warner 53, Burns 32) Burns moves into the 30s with his most commanding shot of the morning, getting on the front foot to drive Wagner through cover for four. There’s the usual array of short and slower deliveries but the Australian pair have his measure at this early stage of his spell.

There’s a big ol’ love-in about Mark Waugh on the telly, led by Shane Warne, who explains why his old teammate is his favourite player of all time. It’s something we share in common, as it happens. That was the first piece that wrote for a cricket magazine and spent four weeks in the autum of 2015 researching it in the MCC Library. Not a very efficient start to my freelance life, it must be said. Gary Naylor agrees: “I don’t often agree with SK Warne, but...” before dropping this at me.

I know it well.

Warner to 50!

24th over: Australia 81-0 (Warner 50, Burns 28) They’re taking runs as the see fit off Somerville, ODI-style. With a clip off his pads, Warner moves to his half-century from his 82nd delivery. That’s his 54th score above 50 in Tests, 23 of those converted into tons. He has every chance to make it 24 in an hour or so from now.

23rd over: Australia 76-0 (Warner 46, Burns 27) No matter what happens in this final bowling innings for New Zealand, Neil Wagner is leaving Australia with his reputation enhanced yet further. What’s not to love about a cricketer who does it his own way, relentlessly, with a smile on his face throughout? Sure enough, he’s throwing himself around here, leaping across the track to deny Warner a run when pushing back at him. It’s the only delivery really in his half. He could have been called for a wide when misdirecting well down the legside but Umpire Erasmus lets him off with a warning. “If he bowls another one I’ll call it,” he explains to Warner when asked why it wasn’t signalled. “I didn’t mean to bowl it that wide!” Wagner responds. “Shane Warne used to bowl it out there into the rough!” They all share a laugh when walking back to their respective positions. What a guy.

22nd over: Australia 73-0 (Warner 44, Burns 27) Warner gives Burns the strike back and it looks like he wants to whack Somerville over midwicket again using his feet by default, but he elects to play him carefully. There’s nothing gained for him trying to do anything silly here; the run rate is going to take care of itself.

21st over: Australia 72-0 (Warner 43, Burns 27) Warner quickly into the 40s with back to back boundaries, cutting Henry with authority then deflecting just as expertly behind point. He’d love a home ground ton to end the Test summer.

Updated

20th over: Australia 60-0 (Warner 34, Burns 25) There we go! Burns skips down the track at Somerville and lifts him over the rope at midwicket for SIX! He didn’t overhit it or anything like that, backing his strength to go the full journey. Earlier in the over, Warner put him on strike with a deft little steer past slip for three. On telly, Warne is saying they will want 400 before declaring. The lead is now 263.

19th over: Australia 51-0 (Warner 31, Burns 19) Burns isn’t quite fluent yet, his drive for two far from middled, but it is enough to bring up the half-century stand between these two. As I said off the top, don’t underestimate the importance of these statistical columns when squads are being picked five months from now.

“Without wishing ill on Warner or especially Burns in my heart I’d love to see that man Marnus out there for one last hoik of the season,” writes Cameron Bray “Burns might NEED to make a score but who would begrudge some stat-buffing for our mighty first drop? Love your work.”

Well, if Labuschagne walked out right this moment he could have a pop at twin tons? He should have secured that milestone in Perth, getting out when well set in the second innings there. It’s pretty much the only thing left for him now.

18th over: Australia 49-0 (Warner 31, Burns 17) Somerville starts with his off-spin from the Paddington End, Warner taking a quick single into the offside straight away. Burns takes a look at a couple before advancing down the strip, getting just to where he needed to be in order to flick the ball out square leg for his first run of the morning. Warner again, who strikes the first boundary of the day, crashing Somerville through cover standing tall in the crease. That’s a pretty shot.

17th over: Australia 43-0 (Warner 26, Burns 16) Warner is away first ball, with a purposeful punch off the back foot through cover for a couple. “WAIT ON!” he roars next when driving to the man in there. As they note on telly, nobody calls quite like the opener. He’s kept in defence until the final ball, clipping a further single to keep the strike when Henry gets his angle wrong from round the wicket.

The players are walking out to the middle. Warner will be taking the first ball. We’re told there was a bit of rain in the air before play, which is great news in terms of offering some fire relief, but are starting on time at the SCG. It will be Matt Henry starting off for the Black Caps from the Randwick End. PLAY!

Here is the pitch. Of course, Steve Smith is shadow batting. On the telly, there are some pictures of James Pattinson carrying Justin Langer around by the arms in a pro-wrestler move. Patto is loving it. What a lad. I need a GIF of that right away.

This is my fifth OBO of the weekend. You know who has been there with me for all of them? The most dedicated emailer there is: Abhijato Sensarma. He’s dropped me a line. You can too.

“It is half past four in the morning here in India, but I find myself up and running already for a while by now because today marks the deadline for the submission of a school project (frankly, which day doesn’t?). The cricket will certainly help me power through the rest of the assignment. And one of my eyes will be on Joe Burns, who faces the challenge of needing more runs than goodwill at this point of time. International sports is an unforgiving field, as the recent batch of dropped Australian openers would know. The pitch is flat enough to get a good score, and tough enough to make the good score seem impressive - Burns needs to stick out there and confirm his ticket to Bangladesh.”

Using cricket to procrastinate from a school project? Ahhh, how comforting. This is something, I’m sure, we can all identify with. It’s fair to say I wasn’t a very good student during the 2005 Ashes. I recall taking a unit that semester which was very Monash Arts: history of the city of Melbourne. Simpler times!

If you’re after a top read before we start, check out Emma John’s beauty on four-day Tests. She’s spot on: we get way too down on ourselves as a sport.

Bushfire relief. As we have thorughout the Test, let’s keep an eye on the Russell Jackson bat auction. If you haven’t seen it as yet, as a kid he had a bat signed by ten Test captains. To raise crucial cash for those who have been battered by these awful fires, he’s putting that to auction. Sure enough, it’s getting some fantastic support from our cricket community and closes when the Test ends. Snap it up!

For those of you who weren’t with me during the Newlands OBO earlier, what an absorbing contest. It would be the most England thing imaginable if they end up pulling off a win after their previous week on tour. Here’s Vic Marks’ report.

Welcome to day four at the SCG

We are about two sessions behind where the first two Tests were at this stage as the hosts continue their push for relatively quick runs ahead of an almost certain declaration at some stage around the middle of today, their lead currently 243. As always in a third innings of this nature, the focus becomes an individual one, and today that will primarily be Joe Burns, who is on 16 not out overnight.

When the opener posted 97 in his first innings this summer, recalled after Cam Bancroft and Marcus Harris failed to make it work during the away Ashes, there was a consensus that the game of musical chairs had finished. David Warner was effusive: he wanted Burns by his side for the long haul. But after that, his scores against Pakistan and New Zealand read 4, 9, 53, 35, 0 and 18. He got a good’un in the first innings here, but that will be forgotten by the time the next Test squad is selected for Bangladesh midyear. Long story short: he really needs a score.

There’s a lot of goodwill towards the Queenslander, who has been treated poorly by selectors over his strange journey in and out of the national team. Remember, he made 180 in his previous Test before missing out entirely on a spot on the Ashes trip. Even if this is a relatively low-intensity hitout in pursuit of these declaration runs, everyone in and around this team want him to make it work.

As for the Black Caps, their job is a familiar one: containment. They almost certainly won’t be given a realistic chance to win this game unless they bowl Australia out in a session. And sure, they should try and do that. But if it doesn’t happen - the more likely scenario - they need to suck as much time out of this game as possible then bat their way to some World Test Championship points by securing a draw. That’s at least something to hold onto. Or so I’ll tell myself!

So, good morning to you all. I’m looking forward to your company. Drop me a line.

Updated

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