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That day in summary
Australia almost crushed it, let’s be honest. Had Burns and Smith managed to keep their heads as the final half hour progressed, their mountainous partnership had them set up for further domination tomorrow. But Neil Wagner struck back, suckering both of them into rash pull shots to Martin Guptill at square leg.
You’d be looking a gift horse in the mouth to criticise either batsman after their determined innings (Smith scored his 14th Test hundred and Burns his third) but it was a bit of a shame that they won’t bat on tomorrow. Burns ended up with 170 and Smith 137 after Usman Khawaja had perished early in the day on 24.
Tomorrow, Adam Voges will hope to continue his superb form and after nightwatchman Nathan Lyon is gone, he might have Mitch Marsh and Peter Nevill for company. Another 150-200 runs and this game is firmly in Australia’s favour.
The New Zealand bowlers? Wagner was the best on account of the late breakthroughs and Trent Boult had his moments, but Tim Southee (0-71 off 22) and Matt Henry (0-88 off 27) might have done more with the second new ball. It was a tough day in the field for the Black Caps but they’ve received some consolation late in the day.
All this sets us up well for another absorbing day tomorrow and make sure you join us from the first over of the day when all the live action will kick off again.
Stumps on day two - Australia trail by only seven runs
110th over: Australia 363-4 (Voges 2, Lyon 4)
Lyon survives the Wagner over and walks to the sheds a very relieved man! There was a short one first up, which Lyon moved back and got bat to. The next was much the same and he almost punted it to short cover and in fact; had a silly mid-off been in place he might have snaffled it. McCullum moved into that very spot and without a helmet, which seemed a little foolhardy. But the nightwatchman does the job and Australia end the day only seven runs behind the Kiwi total with six wickets in hand.
109th over: Australia 363-4 (Voges 2, Lyon 4)
Voges is a little more charitable to his partner here as the penultimate over progresses, blocking and leaving to maintain the strike against Henry. But what about next over, which will be the last? Wagner could pose all sorts. Henry’s over is a maiden so it’ll be Lyon who takes strike to the final over. We’re now well within squeaky bum time.
108th over: Australia 363-4 (Voges 2, Lyon 4)
Gawd, Voges gets another single off the first ball of the over and hands it over to the nightwatchman. Lyon taps his bat, moves up and down like he’s bobbing for apples and then watches Wagner’s off-cutter slide across in front of his outside edge. The paceman is coming over the wicket to the right-hander and has three men in close, two of them on the leg side. That doesn’t work so after three deliveries he comes around the wicket for a change of angle. Lyon ducks a bouncer. This is absorbing stuff. Lyon toughs it out again.
107th over: Australia 362-4 (Voges 1, Lyon 4)
With a single to Voges at the start of this Henry over, poor Nathan Lyon again has to do most of the heavy lifting. He’s off the mark with a streaky edge through the cordon, which races away for four. Elsewhere his defence is solid. If anything else is to go down you feel that Wagner will be the man. He’s up again next.
106th over: Australia 357-4 (Voges 0, Lyon 0)
OK, so the complexion of the game has changed remarkably in the last five minutes. Back then it looked like Joe Burns and Steve Smith would move to the close of play with ease after they’d dominated most of the day but now both are gone and what’s more, Nathan Lyon has appeared as a nightwatchman to project No6 Mitch Marsh. The man who has made all that happen is Neil Wagner, who is in this side for that very reason. He’d had a dirty day until his last couple of overs but now he’s a minor hero having made the two crucial breakthroughs. Lyon sees off five deliveries after the Smith debacle.
WICKET! Smith c Guptill b Wagner 138 (Australia 357-4)
Smith goes! Incredible! It’s a mirror image of the Burns dismissal and the Aussie skipper will be furious with himself. Oh dear. Anything could happen in these last few overs now. Can you believe that? Crazy stuff. It was short like the Burns one and he cracked it straight to Guptill!
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105th over: Australia 357-3 (Smith 138, Voges 0)
With Burns gone it’s time for one last burst of big Matt Henry, who huffed and puffed and almost blew a gasket earlier. What he has in front of him is a well-set Smith and a slightly nervy Voges looking to negotiate the handful of overs that remain before the close of play. It’s a decent enough over but the Australians negotiate it without fuss.
104th over: Australia 356-3 (Smith 137, Voges 0)
OK, this is a testing little period here for Our Adam Voges. Wagner’s hammering them in short with a man under the lid on the leg side and Voges loses sight of one to be struck under the armpit. Ouch. Might B-Mac invest in more than one slip for this? Shouldn’t there be a leg gully? Oh OK, he brings one in with one delivery to go in the over but Voges gets back and across to defend stoutly. Neil Wagner has finally got the breakthrough for the Kiwis – it’s music to the ears of the locals and they warmly applaud him as he grabs his cap and heads to the fence to cool his jets.
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WICKET! Joe Burns c Guptill b Wagner 170 (Australia 356-3)
Oh dear, only a ball after shovelling Wagner down to the fine leg boundary, Burns drowns in honey and biffs another short one straight into the hands of Guptill at backward square leg. NEW ZEALAND HAVE TAKEN A WICKET! STOP THE PRESSES!
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103rd over: Australia 352-2 (Burns 166, Smith 137)
There’s eight overs left for the day as Williamson begins his fifth. Burns looks very much like a man who doesn’t want to lose his wicket to such an unimposing bowling talent this late in the day. Brendon Julian is calling it “respect”, I’m calling it self-preservation from a man who knows he can fill his boots again tomorrow.
102nd over: Australia 351-2 (Burns 165, Smith 137)
Ooof, there’s a lovely dab down to the third man boundary here by Smith to bring up Australia’s 350. Neil Wagner looks like he’s shot his bolt and earlier, even Boult looked shot. Not a day for the bowlers this one. Smith’s forward defence looks like an act of mockery at this point.
101st over: Australia 346-2 (Burns 165, Smith 132)
We’re scheduled for 10 more overs today but there is also the possibility of an extra half hour’s play, which New Zealand will fancy about as much as root canal work. Williamson continues with his offies but they’re pretty easy pickings for the batsmen. The crowd, meanwhile, have had to make their own fun.
Can't decide my favorite moment from today. Both had overcome a few hurdles #NZvAUS @stevesmith49 pic.twitter.com/nXQOKbC8jG
— RYΛN PIERSE (@ryanpierse) February 21, 2016
100th over: Australia 343-2 (Burns 163, Smith 131)
There appears no immediate threat of a sink hole opening up in the middle of the pitch, so Brendon McCullum tasks Neil Wagner with removing one of these batsmen. If that’s the bowler’s aim, sending down half-trackers to Joe Burns is unlikely to do the job. The Queenslander treats the left-armer like a rented car, flogging him out to cow with another rasping pull and McCullum is soon lecturing his man. A couple of balls later Burns miscues an aerial attempt at the same thing but it lands safely and they get through for three. The local commentators are so emotionally battered that they’re chalking it up as a win to New Zealand. That says a bit about the way this day has played out.
99th over: Australia 335-2 (Burns 156, Smith 130)
I remain one step ahead of Brendon McCullum in at least one sense, because Kane Williamson is indeed introduced for some off-spin now. It’s awkward and jerky and not particularly flash, but it’s certainly worth a shot when things are going so badly. As an exponent of filthy part-timers himself, Steve Smith is most respectful of his fellow batting genius’ offerings.
98th over: Australia 333-2 (Burns 155, Smith 129)
Now it’s Smith’s turn to hit the fence when he cracks his umpteenth square drive between point and gully to reach the rope with Boult’s first ball of the over. Perversely, it’s with a mis-hit that Smith puts the pair past the Chappell partnership figure; he French cuts past his stumps for four to bring it up. The question from here I guess is how the scoreboard damage could mount in the next 45 minutes or so as the frontline bowlers tire and also what sort of shape they’ll be in tomorrow after a day of fruitless toil.
97th over: Australia 325-2 (Burns 155, Smith 121)
Phwoar! Joe Burns hasn’t been the stylist in this partnership but now there’s a gorgeous on-drive, which he sends thundering past Southee for a boundary. Ian and Greg Chappell’s record third wicket partnership against New Zealand is now six runs from being broken, if you were wondering.
96th over: Australia 321-2 (Burns 151, Smith 121)
Boult keeps soldiering on but there’s a defeated slump to the Kiwi effort at the moment and they know well that as this pitch continues to flatten, Australia could rack up untold amounts of runs tomorrow.
95th over: Australia 319-2 (Burns 150, Smith 121)
Now it’s 150 for Burns! He gets down on one knee and cracks a square drive to bring it up off 294 deliveries, during which time he’s seen off a couple of new balls, weathered the odd storm and shown what you can do if you knuckle down and apply yourself. It’s rarely been flowing or free, but he’s doing a power of work for his country. Moments later Smith makes it a 250-run partnership when he walks into a nice straight drive to the fence off Southee. The last hour of play can’t pass quick enough for the Kiwis.
94th over: Australia 312-2 (Burns 149, Smith 115)
Just as David Brent proposed the theory of “different drinks for different needs”, Australia has shown today that there’s more than one way to move yourself past 300 in the first innings of a Test match. They’ve taken 94 overs to edge past that mark while the Kiwis blazed their way to 370 from 65 overs. The big difference is that Australia still have eight men back in the sheds and one of them is currently posting Bradmanesque numbers. Burns runs four more down to third man to finish another disappointing over for Boult.
93rd over: Australia 305-2 (Burns 145, Smith 112)
Common sense prevails and Tim Southee returns to the attack but it’s more of the same, unfortunately for New Zealand. He’s curving it away nicely but it’s nothing that the batsmen are tempted to nibble at. Time for some Kane Williamson spin once the shine is off the new ball?
92nd over: Australia 304-2 (Burns 145, Smith 111)
Remember when New Zealand took the new ball and it was darting all over the place? Good times, they were. Now it’s like an old rag. Trent Boult is smiling but it’s not the wide-eyed grin of the World Cup. Unlike the Australian batsmen, he’s forcing it. He might want something a bit stronger than Lucozade at this drinks break.
91st over: Australia 300-2 (Burns 141, Smith 111)
Smith is just rubbing it in now, slapping Henry for another boundary and one that sees Corey Anderson quite unnecessarily hurl himself at the boundary in a vain attempt at a save. Settle down big fella... Australia’s 300 is up too and as Henry finishes his over he’s flailing his cap around in frustration. He probably wishes he was wringing Smith’s neck.
90th over: Australia 294-2 (Burns 140, Smith 106)
It’s a hundred for Steve Smith – his 14th in Tests! He brings it up by spearing a low square drive wide of gully for a boundary to register three figures from 195 deliveries. It featured 12 boundaries and wasn’t scored at the McCullum rate, but it’s every bit as valuable to his side. As it stands his Test average is now pushing 60. Superb, as is the cover drive he essays for three when Boult gives him some width. To say Australia have been dominant today is becoming quite an understatement.
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89th over: Australia 287-2 (Burns 140, Smith 99)
Burns isn’t taking any chances against Henry as the big quick’s impressive spell continues, perhaps a little too far outside off stump but nevertheless forcing the batsman to watch every ball like a hawk. Burns’ patience pays off when the final delivery is short and he deposits it out towards deep mid wicket for a boundary.
88th over: Australia 281-2 (Burns 134, Smith 99)
Steve Smith is being a tease now. With a two and a single Burns gets him on strike with four balls remaining in the Anderson over but the Australian captain is watchful and risk averse all of a sudden, so the milestone must wait.
87th over: Australia 278-2 (Burns 131, Smith 99)
Henry is making plenty of things happen but not all of them are good. He thinks he might have Smith caught behind at one point but the Kiwis decide against a review and as if to compound the missed chance, Smith lathers him for a boundary to move to 99.
86th over: Australia 272-2 (Burns 131, Smith 93)
Hmm, dunno about this one. Trent Boult wasn’t setting the world on fire but unless McCullum is orchestrating a change of ends for his bowlers, I don’t see why you’d bring Corey Anderson on instead of Southee or Wagner right now. There’s only two from the over but the batting pair won’t mind it one bit if Anderson continues.
85th over: Australia 270-2 (Burns 130, Smith 92)
Henry’s a slight chance of an LBW here as he bowls to Smith because even with the new ball darting about the Australian captain still feels comfortable shuffling across in front of his stumps to play the straight one to leg. For now it’s a risk that is paying off.
85th over: Australia 270-2 (Burns 130, Smith 92)
Henry’s a slight chance of an LBW here as he bowls to Smith because even with the new ball darting about the Australian captain still feels comfortable shuffling across in front of his stumps to play the straight one to leg. For now it’s a risk that is paying off.
84th over: Australia 270-2 (Burns 130, Smith 92)
It’s now a 200-run partnership for the Australian pair when Burns tucks a couple down to fine leg. That came up off 362 balls (3.33 runs per over) and Smith is drawing ever close to another Test century now. The feature of this over and indeed the partnership is hard running, which turns ones into twos and re-emphasises the dominance of the Australians over what has been a fairly flat-footed Kiwi side in the field.
83rd over: Australia 263-2 (Burns 130, Smith 89)
This is an absolute gem of an over from Henry, who is shaping it out and ducking it back in off the seam in equal measure and generally proving a nightmare to handle for Burns. The big Kiwi is making the ball talk. It’s hard to fathom how he didn’t take a wicket in this over but Burns survives. I, meanwhile, am having some technical difficulties, so stick with me!
82nd over: Australia 261-2 (Burns 128, Smith 89)
Hmm, actually it’s Southee who misses out on the new ball because Boult appears at the other end to replace him. He doesn’t fair any better than Henry to start with and Smith finishes the over with consecutive boundaries by clipping him down to fine leg and then through square leg to draw within a couple of blows of his hundred.
New Zealand take the second new ball
81st over: Australia 253-2 (Burns 128, Smith 81)
The Kiwis take the new ball and interestingly, abort the Boult-Southee partnership to give Matt Henry first crack. It’s a decision partially vindicated when he sends an absolute jaffa past Burns’ outside edge with his first ball but there’s some real dross in the over too; four byes and four leg byes when he’s spearing them down leg. Still, it only takes one decent ball and the Black Caps are back in it. Henry did enough there to suggest he could produce such a gem.
80th over: Australia 245-2 (Burns 128, Smith 81)
Southee’s maiden is just window dressing before the arrival of the new ball, which New Zealand desperately need at the moment.
79th over: Australia 245-2 (Burns 128, Smith 81)
Wagner is continuing with the short stuff after the break and he’s got both a short leg and a pair of shortish square legs in place to Burns. The trajectory of the deliveries that follow is fairly predictable though he can’t overdo it with restrictions in place. Burns ducks and weaves when he needs to and negotiates the rest without trouble.
This batting pair is currently on track for a record, too:
Highest 3rd wicket partnership for AUS v NZ
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) February 21, 2016
G.Chappell & I.Chappell 264
Smith & Voges 224
Burns & Smith 174*
Hussey & Katich 155#NZvAUS
78th over: Australia 244-2 (Burns 128, Smith 80)
Okay, we’ll have somewhere between 30 and 33 overs in this final session of day two and it’s Tim Southee who’ll have a couple of warm-up overs with the old ball before the new one arrives. In between that and the last over of second session we were treated to one of the most lovably naff moments in sports broadcasting history when Sir Richard Hadlee was presented with a $50 Dilmah tea voucher for his appearance on the local broadcast. As someone has since pointed out to me, it was even laminated!
Anyway, there’s no more vouchers on offer in the Southee over but there’s runs for both batsmen.
Tea on day two at Hagley Oval - Australia 241-2
77th over: Australia 241-2 (Burns 126, Smith 79)
Okay then, the umpires actually elected to play on and finish the last three delievries of the Wagner over. The first is short and Smith pulls it out to cow for one. Maybe it’s a good thing that he’s jumped back on the horse rather than walking off. Maybe not. Burns sees off the rest and the players walk off for a 20-minute breather. Smith in particular will be glad for that.
There was 90 runs from 28 overs in that session at 3.21 per over and the Kiwis failed to take a wicket. I think we all know it went Australia’s way.
Horrible, horrible thing seeing a batman fall like that... Thank goodness he seems to be ok.
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) February 21, 2016
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A nasty blow to the head of Aussie captain Steve Smith!
Ooh, that’s ugly. It was a short one from Wagner and Smith ducked out of the way, absorbing the full impact to the back of his helmet before falling face first to the turf in shock. He’s up on his feet now and walking around fine but we might take an early tea I think. It was a nasty blow and completely at odds with the meandering last half hour of play. It looks like he’s okay though and there’s plenty of concern for the Australian captain from both sides.
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76th over: Australia 239-2 (Burns 125, Smith 78)
Another pre-tea over, another maiden, another win to the Australian pair. They remain determined to see this through until the break and then possibly cash in afterwards. By then it’s likely they’ll have drawn close to New Zealand’s first innings total of 370, which isn’t looking so crash hot now that the pitch has flattened out. Who’d want to be a bowler today?
75th over: Australia 239-2 (Burns 125, Smith 78)
Steve Smith and Joe Burns are nudging the Black Caps into submission here. How many nudges is Smith up to? Must be at least 35. Wagner on the other hand is now the leading exponent of muttering shakes of the head for this session. He can’t take a trick out there.
74th over: Australia 237-2 (Burns 123, Smith 78)
This tea break can’t come soon enough but at least Gary Naylor has arrived with some laughs. Good to have you, Gary!
@rustyjacko I don't mind the tradition of people falling asleep at the Test - except when it was Ian Bell.
— Gary Naylor (@garynaylor999) February 21, 2016
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73rd over: Australia 235-2 (Burns 122, Smith 77)
In the course of this over Jeb Bush has apparently given up the ghost on his 2016 US presidential campaign and there’s a few Kiwi spectators who look like they’re about to throw in the towel too. At least the ones who are awake.
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72nd over: Australia 234-2 (Burns 121, Smith 77)
Finally, a genuine edge! But there’s bad news for Anderson because it flies away through a big gap in the cordon and races to the boundary off Burns’ blade. Gah! That’s the only action in another quietly frustrating over for the Kiwis.
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71st over: Australia 230-2 (Burns 117, Smith 77)
This is all very tidy stuff from Wagner and he’s shaping it away from the right-handed Burns with the old ball but neither batsman looks troubled in the slightest and the bowler’s exertions are perhaps even a little wasted while he pursues a line outside off stump. Burns has no incentive to do anything stupid. At the risk of mozzing him he should be spiriting his way towards 150 by the time the new ball is taken.
70th over: Australia 229-2 (Burns 116, Smith 77)
Anderson’s in to Smith again and there’s one slip, gully, short mid wicket, short extra cover and regulation mid-off and mid-on. Smith beats all of them, cutting a short one into the ground and past the outstretched hand of the man diving to his right at gully. That’s four bits and we’re half an hour from tea.
69th over: Australia 224-2 (Burns 115, Smith 73)
Wagner’s similarly wholehearted as Anderson but there’s not much going on at the moment. McCullum might have to resort to some funky part-time bowling options in the next ten overs to bide his time before the second new ball. His front-liners are doing nowt with the old one.
Are you saying boo or boourns! On ya brother! @joeburns441 👊
— Chris Lynn (@lynny50) February 21, 2016
68th over: Australia 222-2 (Burns 114, Smith 72)
Anderson is as strong as an Ox and really puts his back into it but it does feel like he should bowl faster than 128 km/h, doesn’t it? No matter, he’s getting a bit of extra bounce out of the deck as he angles it across Smith and that cause at least the odd awkward moment. Those have been too few of late for the Aussie pair. And with that, i’s Richie Benaud’s score at the moment! Here he is getting cranky about a famous Aus-NZ moment:
67th over: Australia 220-2 (Burns 113, Smith 71)
I’m reading Brendon McCullum’s mind today (I wish I could swing a bat like him instead) because Wagner is now on for a spell. He wasn’t exactly setting the world on fire earlier but I still feel like he could make something happen, even if it involves a few boundary-balls. He’s got a slip and a man in at short cover. Smith clips him to leg for two but that’s all in a tidy start.
In saying all this, Wagner’s roots are in South Africa. Perhaps a Pakistan-born bowler would be a better bet:
Steve Smith Test average versus each nation played -
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) February 21, 2016
WI - 165.6
IND - 93.0
SA - 67.2
NZ - 60.0
ENG - 43.2
PAK - 34.2#NZvAUS
66th over: Australia 218-2 (Burns 113, Smith 69)
We’ll have some more Corey Anderson now with Southee taking a breather and regrouping. Might it be time for a full-volume burst of Wagner as well? Before we get to that there’s an issue of a blow-out in Anderson’s boot. He’s literally worn his way through them. Somewhat unexpectedly, that segues into a long discussion of Walter Hadlee’s boots in the Kiwi commentary box. Can they please send them across the ditch to do the Australian broadcasts too? They’re brilliant. A single to Smith is the only score of the over.
65th over: Australia 217-2 (Burns 113, Smith 68)
Matt Henry is back after the drinks break and he’s got a wide 2-3rd slip with a gully to Burns but neither that nor whatever has been mixed with the Powerade sufficiently fires him up for a breakthrough.
Burns a vital, career-making hundred despite not always looking great. Big lesson for the younger generations of Aust batsmen to guts it out
— Daniel Brettig (@danbrettig) February 21, 2016
64th over: Australia 215-2 (Burns 111, Smith 68)
This is getting a bit ugly all of a sudden. Southee’s banging it in short to Burns and I’m not really sure why because he plays the pull shot like a dream and has no trouble depositing a few more to the fence. The first one was an absolute screamer of a shot. The Aussie pair give half a chance later in the over when they take off for a kamikaze single to Boult but the paceman’s throw makes it look like he’s fielding with his non-preferred hand. He’s, err, not though.
Burns MUST be a cornerstone of Australia’s next Ashes campaign. You can't spell Burns without urn. #NZvAUS
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) February 21, 2016
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Burns gets his hundred and the Australians are past 200!
63rd over: Australia 204-2 (Burns 101, Smith 67)
He’d taken an age to crawl through the 80s but all of a sudden Joe Burns has notched his ton when he glides Henry through gully for a boundary to bring up his 3rd Test century from 191 deliveries. This knock has featured 12 boundaries so far and he’s rarely looked troubled in the last two hours. That’s also pushed his average up to 46+, which is reasonable going in the early stages of his career.
62nd over: Australia 195-2 (Burns 92, Smith 67)
Southee has a slip, a gully, backward square leg and a short mid off in place to Burns but when he turns through mid-wicket New Zealand are again confronted with the weakness of posting Henry Nicholls’ in the deep. The Aussies know they can easily get back for two and do as the custard-armed throw comes in. The batting pair is ever-so-slightly ratcheting up the tempo here as a one-sided session wears on.
61st over: Australia 191-2 (Burns 89, Smith 66)
This has become so bleak for New Zealand that Ian Smith is contemplating why a ball is even called a ball. “Because it’s round!” shouts and exasperated Mark Richardson, providing the most unintentionally entertaining moment of the day. We have to make our own fun at the moment. The Aussies are just sleep-walking their way through the session and the Black Caps seem powerless to stop the slow slide.
60th over: Australia 189-2 (Burns 88, Smith 65)
As Tim Southee starts the second over of his spell, reader Ruth Purdue arrives with some pointers for B-Mac. “Why do people not go for the LBW with Smith or a Yorker? That batting style is begging for it surely? At least get him to drive on the up? Just some ideas.” Ruth, I’d be tempted to try the old backyard trick of bowling two balls at once. As it stands it’s all a bit easy and Smith uses soft hands to angle Southee past gully for a boundary and Burns is off the unlucky 87 mark too.
59th over: Australia 183-2 (Burns 87, Smith 60)
“New Zealand just have to get people out,” says Ian Smith, who sounds very concerned. He’s not wrong though. The home side’s attack is looking very one-paced at the moment. Might they be ruing their lack of spin options? Do they need more Corey’s? Would a Mitch have done the job? Always works for Australia. For now McCullum plumps with a Matt. Henry arrives with a tidy over but it’s nothing more.
58th over: Australia 182-2 (Burns 87, Smith 59)
Hmm, looks like I was right about Boult’s body language. He’s off for a spell and Tim Southee’s back with some right-arm pace to go with Anderson’s angled left-armers. Reader Pete Salmon has an addition to the made-up stats fun. “Love the made up statistical categories,” he says. “I once witnessed a Javed Miandad one day century which was: 104 Worked. Everyone was quite annoyed!” I tell you Pete, they don’t look real rapt in the member’s area of Hagley Oval right now. People are falling asleep.
57th over: Australia 179-2 (Burns 87, Smith 56)
Anderson’s still trucking away, all floppy fringe and beefy frame. It’s not a bad over to Burns in particular but Burns chances his arm from the final ball and slashes a slightly streaky square drive wide of point and out to the fence. He’s on the cricket devil’s number now - 87. Look out.
56th over: Australia 173-2 (Burns 82, Smith 55)
Boult’s darting his eyes around as he walks back to his mark here, almost as though he’s saying, “no really, if someone else wants to take over for a bit I’d be fine with that.” He keeps going. There’s only one slip and a gully to Smith, whose defence is looking impregnable at the moment. New Zealand look like they’re counting down the overs until the new ball. Smith turns a single down to fine leg and one thing I didn’t mention an over back was that the partnership is now worth 100.
These seem like made-up statistical categories but I’m fine with that:
Steve Smith's latest Test 50 -
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) February 21, 2016
Drives - 33 runs
Pulls - 7 runs
Pushes - 5 runs
Worked - 3 runs
Flicks - 2 runs#NZvAUS
How many swishes, hoicks and nudges were there?
55th over: Australia 171-2 (Burns 81, Smith 54)
Old mucker Robert Wilson returns with an observation about the Steve Smith picture from a few overs back. “Hilariously effete for an Australian sportsman,” is Bob’s take. “Oh look, he seems to be saying, a cricket ball! How simply horrid. Steve Waugh would have committed hara-kiri/suppuku if someone had taken such a pic of him. Anything to avoid hearing what Merv Hughes would have said.”
Bob, I interviewed Steve Waugh a few months back and here’s a director’s extra for you; from an extensive selection of drinks on offer as we sat down to do it, he chose one of those small glass bottles of apple juice most commonly consumed by young children. And yet, despite this, his surprisingly slender arms and the fact that he was wearing a lycra cycling jersey, I was still completely aware of his aura. That is the mark of a man, don’t you think?
54th over: Australia 168-2 (Burns 79, Smith 53)
Boult is coming around the wicket to Smith and delivering from as wide on the bowling crease as he can to enhance the angle back into the pads. It ties the Aussie skipper up for most of the over but eventually he clips what should only be a single through cover but with some slack outfielding from Neil Wagner they get back for two. A single to finish it helps Smith keep the strike.
Steve Smith brings up his half-century
53rd over: Australia 165-2 (Burns 79, Smith 50)
Anderson continues with some teasing stuff well outside Steve Smith’s off stump but the Australian No4 is prepared to play the waiting game and eventually shuffles across to clip the single that takes him to his 16th Test 50, which took 93 deliveries and featured 6 boundaries. He’s only just getting warmed up by the look of him.
52nd over: Australia 164-2 (Burns 79, Smith 49)
Bang! Smith’s latched onto another cover drive when Boult gives him some width and it careens away to the fence. Then there’s a strange moment when Burns hesitates turning for two and might have been run-out if faced with a better arm than that of Henry Nicholls. When there’s a chance of two more a couple of balls later the gun-shy Aussies decide against it, even though it would have taken Smith to his half-century.
51st over: Australia 157-2 (Burns 79, Smith 42)
Who is your favourite Corey? Haim? Feldman? McKernan? Worthington? I’m a Feldman man myself but I reckon Corey Anderson is pushing himself up the list of late. He’s on now for just his second over of the innings after McCullum threw him the ball for a speculative over late on day one. There’s a single to both batsmen but that’s the only damage.
Speaking of damage, looks like Brett Lee is getting the band back together...
Hell has frozen over Six n Out are back together this Friday there will debates about runs n wkts. Just music & memories of mates #lucky
— Gavin Robertson (@GavRobbo375) February 21, 2016
50th over: Australia 155-2 (Burns 78, Smith 41)
We’re baaaack. And the Australian pair stride purposefully to the crease in these bucolic Christchurch settings, surrounded by lush parklands and spectators on deck chairs. “There’s so much going on around Hagley Park” says Kiwi commentator Simon Doull, possibly noting the 3-4 cars that have driven past the ground in the last minute as we stare at an aerial shot.
Anyway, Trent Boult is the man with the ball and Steve Smith’s on strike to start with. The Aussie skipper takes his time and has a few sighters but when Boult gives him some width he’s got no trouble depositing an angled drive through the gap at cover and out to the fence.
Steve Smith’s Wagner Wheel#NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/mrfkrmawLc
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) February 20, 2016
Hello OBOers
Russell Jackson here to take you through the rest of the day’s play, with Australia making steady progress so far on day two, even if it’s a little more cautious than Brendon McCullum’s blitzkrieg yesterday. I guess he’s actually done them a bit of a favour in that regard because they can afford to take a little extra time with their own first innings.
Do make sure to email in or tweet me with your thoughts throughout the day on what promises to be an ideal Sunday in front of the TV.
We said it last night, we said it this morning: New Zealand had to win the first session today. And when Trent Boult removed Usman Khawaja within a quarter hour of resumption, it looked that maybe they would. Especially when Joe Burns was given out caught behind.
Unfortunately for the hosts, the third umpire assessed that ball to have clipped his shirt rather than his glove. The reprieve was vital. It free up Burns to play with greater freedom as the session got deeper, while Smith did as he does best: taking his time to defend and leave before slowly breaking into stride.
The two go to lunch having put on an unbeaten 84, Burns well on his way to a century and Smith looking dangerously in control as far as Brendon McCullum is concerned.
The skipper tried to unsettle his opposing number by attacking his body via Neil Wagner’s left-armers, no fielders forward of square on the off-side for much of his spell. But as he grew comfortable, the experiment proved redundant. They may been a play b, c and d if Smith can carve an innings deep into this beautiful Christchurch afternoon.
I’ll leave it there. Russell Jackson will take up the attack after lunch interval, the players due back out on the field half an hour from now. Until next time, it’s been fun.
49th over: Australia 151-2 (Burns 78, Smith 37)
Burns is not going to be drawn into temptation the final over before lunch, no matter how appetising Williamson’s offbreaks may appear. He takes a couple off the final ball out to cover with a risk-free drive, collecting Australia’s 150 in the process, but that’ll be that.
Time for a feed. I’ll collate some final thoughts before signing off.
48th over: Australia 149-2 (Burns 76, Smith 37)
Great couple of overs from Boult, testing the well-set Smith. This set he probes away at off-stump again, left-arm over the wicket to a right-hander. Then he cuts one back in to his Smith on the pad, then rifles another in to whack him in the box, then gives him a decent bouncer that has Smith swaying back. On. The. Money.
47th over: Australia 149-2 (Burns 76, Smith 37)
Interesting bowling combo, this: Boult and Williamson. Yes, the part-time off-spinner. He’s flighting them nicely in his first over, dropping the ball well. The batsmen only take a couple of singles.
46th over: Australia 147-2 (Burns 75, Smith 36)
Trent Boult returns with a few minutes left to lunch. He settles immediately into an accurate line, just outside off, making Smith think about drives, think about protecting his stumps, think about surviving. In the end it’s a maiden.
45th over: Australia 147-2 (Burns 75, Smith 36)
Smith plays a... I don’t know what that was. Just got behind a short ball and knocked it in front of him, then took a single. Burns top-edges his next pull. It goes for four, but that’s at least the mistake Wagner has been waiting for. Burns goes back into his shell and starts dodging the rest.
Adam Collins about to resume the attack from the OBO chair.
Updated
44th over: Australia 142-2 (Burns 71, Smith 35)
Burns ticking things over nicely, after his uneasy start this morning. A full ball from Henry is effortlessly driven for four, through mid-off. Then a straighter ball clipped for two. He’d be starting to have centurial thoughts. Is that a word? It is now.
43rd over: Australia 136-2 (Burns 65, Smith 35)
Smith deciding he’s seen enough of Wagner’s short stuff, he pulls hard from the first ball. But it’s as though he’s decided to hit a hat-trick of fielders. He just misses the short leg, draws a half-save from the square leg, then has it mopped up by the deep midwicket. Single.
Burns follows suit, his pull going finer, but for the same result. Smith clips the fuller ball square for two, then pulls a single fine, and Burns does the same. Suddenly it’s looking easy against this leg-theory attack.
42nd over: Australia 130-2 (Burns 63, Smith 31)
Smith playing a slightly dicey stroke against Henry, reaching for a wide ball that he should perhaps have left alone, but his hand-eye is good enough on this occasion. Still those slight hints of the chance of getting Smith out.
Smith drives a run, and it’s Burns’ turn to settle. They’re in no rush, the Australians, and this is the key difference between this performance and some others we’ve seen against good bowling on pitches with a bit of life.
41st over: Australia 127-2 (Burns 63, Smith 28)
Wagner doesn’t mind who’s facing, he’ll bounce them nonetheless. Burns manages to jab a single from a ball that doesn’t get up enough. Smith dodges a couple more, then Wagner tries to bowl him behind his legs. Loving the enthusiasm, if not the execution. Smith glances a run from the last.
40th over: Australia 125-2 (Burns 62, Smith 27)
Henry gives Burns some width again, and the opener calmly deflects three runs behind point. Smith defends, defends, leaves, defends.
39th over: Australia 122-2 (Burns 59, Smith 27)
There are maidens and there are maidens. Good aggressive one from Wagner, a sustained short-ball attack with the left-arm-over angle, pushing Smith back and back and back some more.
38th over: Australia 122-2 (Burns 59, Smith 27)
Thanks Adam. Matt Henry is trying to blast out Sniffer Smith, but if it was that easy, someone else would have done so. Full and fast outside off is the recipe for the over, one is driven for four, then another for three.
Burns gets in on the act with a pair of twos in the same cover area. 11 from the over with minimal risk.
37th over: Australia 111-2 (Burns 55, Smith 20)
Burns and Smith commence the over with near-identical straight drives for three each off Wagner, who has to drop it back a fraction here. He can’t: Burns cashes in with a boundary later in the over, a harder-hit drive to the extra cover rope. And 123 balls after coming to the crease, Burns has reached his half century. With a burst of confidence after raising the bat, he swats Wagner through square leg off the back foot for another boundary. This is a great over for Australia, their most productive of the day and innings. 14 from it all said.
I’m handballing to Geoff Lemon for the next half an hour or so as I’m about to join the RadioSports radio commentary for a stint on the mic. Turn the telly down and tune in if you fancy; here or here depending on which country you’re tuning in from. Back shortly.
Updated
36th over: Australia 97-2 (Burns 43, Smith 17)
Back, across, swivel, drive. That’s Smith at his best, walking into Southee’s half volley, timing it straight past the bowler to the rope. His stay is starting to get ominous for McCullum’s men now. Once he’s set, it’s a helluva struggle. NZ got the first breakthrough, and that was great, but they need a second one. In short: they need Smith. Right now.
35th over: Australia 93-2 (Burns 43, Smith 13)
One of my favourite things about working in politics was various former staff of New South Wales Premier Bob Carr who used to rip him off. Impressions invariably involved his deep, powerful pronunciation of ‘Wagner’; his favourite. I can’t think of New Zealand’s bowler’s name in any other way.
Having found his defensive range, Smith is now on the advance. He doesn’t miss out through the covers when Wagner overpitches; a lovely boundary. To end the over he does it again, albeit with less power, still they come back for three.
That’ll do them for a drink. Get stuck into that cordial. I wonder if at Test level they discuss the quality of “the drop” like park cricketers routinely do?
In keeping with my drinks break theme of yesterday, let’s have a local tune.
34th over: Australia 85-2 (Burns 43, Smith 6)
Burns eases another drive through the covers, collecting through from Southee. It’s been slow going, but his persistence is starting to pay off. Smith continues to watch the bowling carefully. The audible “No Run!” each time he defends. It’s all part of his process of ‘getting in’, as the say. He knows there’s no rush.
33rd over: Australia 82-2 (Burns 40, Smith 6)
Neil “The Composer” (sorry) Wagner given a trundle with his left arm seamers for the first time this morning. No frontline spinner for the hosts, deciding to go with Wagner ahead of Craig. Not a bad start, Burns only able to score when picking off a bouncer to long leg. He’s faced 117 balls for his 40.
More poetry from our guy who does it best.
Wind in Wellington.
— Geoff Lemon Sport (@GeoffLemonSport) February 20, 2016
In Canterbury, McCullum
blows the hurricane.
(#CricketHaiku now being sought by @WhiteLineWire)
32nd over: Australia 81-2 (Burns 39, Smith 6)
Tim Southee is given a chance to now operate from the favoured Botanic Gardens end, replacing Boult. He’s successful in getting a bit of nip towards Smith, prompting the Australian skipper to play with caution throughout. Another quality maiden.
New Zealand’s women defeated Australia yesterday in their opening ODI. The good news for the tourists was that Beth Mooney made a half century on ODI debut. We like her; tenacious and busy.
Beth Mooney's performance on debut was one of the highlights of today's ODI: https://t.co/Zup4CRTOGE #WFvAUS pic.twitter.com/i3JaMbnnvX
— Southern Stars (@SouthernStars) February 20, 2016
31st over: Australia 81-2 (Burns 39, Smith 6)
Reprieve! Matt Henry has Joe Burns in a real strife, trying to leave a rising delivery with his arms high above the line of the ball. Umpire Martinez gives him, presumably deciding that the deflection was a result of brushing a glove. Burns immediately goes upstairs, suggesting confidence. And he’s validated, TV umpire Illingworth reversing the call, the ball looking to actually clip the striker’s shirt.
A frustrated Henry overpitches to end the over with Burns thumping a fluent cover drive to the boundary, his first four of the day.
Robert Wilson has logged on from Paris:
“Ruth Purdue makes a good point about McCullum’s knock in the context of a spitting pitch and a hooping nut. Not many can do that. It has to be said though, it helps if you’re the kind of bloke who can even mis-hit it for six. There was a straight maximum yesterday about which he did not seem entirely serious. There have been a lot of biffers but we’re gonna miss his aw shucks air very much.”
30th over: Australia 77-2 (Burns 35, Smith 6)
A better over for Australia, Boult perhaps getting a bit tired after a most energetic burst this morning. Both batsmen take singles before Smith clocks his first boundary, a pull shot.
“Smith is a nick out man,” says former NZ skipper Jeremy Coney on the RadioSportNZ commentary. Many have arrived at this conclusion but he continues to plunder anyway. Will he today?
29th over: Australia 71-2 (Burns 34, Smith 1)
Burns consistently taking singles at the back end of overs, taking the bulk of the strike. He takes all of this Henry over, a maiden, albeit a fraction less penetrative than his previous set.
28th over: Australia 71-2 (Burns 34, Smith 1)
A lot to like about Boult’s spell this morning. His struggle continues with Burns, neither giving an inch. Leave, block, leave block. There’s a beauty in the monotony to all this. Oh, then Burns has a go! Out of step with what we’ve become accustomed, he throws his hands at a fuller delivery and gets an edge. Thankfully for the Australian it doesn’t carry to gully, and even gets him a run.
Steve Smith bats like "A meth addict with purpose", says @tom_cowie - a disturbingly accurate description followed
— White Line Wireless (@WhiteLineWire) February 20, 2016
27th over: Australia 70-2 (Burns 33, Smith 1)
Henry’s approach is clear: attack those pegs. Smith gets off the mark with an unconvincing drive off the inside edge, before the New Zealand quick has two attempts at yorking Burns. He responds to both competently. This is good cricket.
26th over: Australia 68-2 (Burns 32, Smith 0)
Boult’s found his groove here, forcing Burns to make a decision on each delivery: to defend or leave. He miscalculates on one occasion, his forearm copping a whack when leaving a fraction late. An astute maiden.
@GeoffLemonSport
— Liam Fallon (@msp_liam) February 20, 2016
Moves across his stumps
The bowlers cry in anguish
Steven Smith scores runs#haiku
25th over: Australia 68-2 (Burns 32, Smith 0)
Matt Henry replaces Tim Southee and immediately gets into contest, the right arm quick beating Burns’ edge, before the Australian opener turned the strike over the first time he overpitched. The Burns story interests me as much as any today.
Khawaja's first completed Test innings below 50 since his return to the side in November. The beginning of the end? #BringBackSMarsh
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) February 20, 2016
24th over: Australia 67-2 (Burns 31, Smith 0)
Well that’s my question from the previous over answered, it won’t be Khawaja’s day. A fine piece of bowling from Boult. It can’t be overstated how badly the Black Caps needed that, especially seeing the back of the genius number three.
A couple of leaves and a few defensive prods from the Australian captain is enough for the left-armer to complete his wicket maiden. That’s the stuff of an attack leader. They’re up and about.
Ruth Purdue has written in to pose, on the available evidence, a quite valid question.
“What truly amazed me with McCullum’s innings is that the pitch was doing so much already. It is no flat track. To do it on that sort of wicket is gift in itself. What a player. Why is he retiring again?”
Robert Wilson liked that I used “corro” in my copy yesterday. Want to see your corro in here? Got a question? A view? A hot take? I’ll publish anything. Surely you’ve worked that out by now. adam.collins.freelance@theguardian.com.
WICKET! Khawaja c McCullum b Boult 24
Oh that’s the breakthrough! Khawaja misses out in the first innings for the first time since coming back to the Australian side. Boult does just enough straightening off seam to win the Australian’s outside edge; McCullum does the rest at first slip. The skipper said in his press conference last night that their bowlers would create chances and it would come down to if they were good enough to take them. Once again, he leads from the front. That’s a big moment.
23rd over: Australia 67-1 (Burns 31, Khawaja 24)
Lots to like about the way Burns has started, getting those feet going whether defending on leaving. He collects another pair through mid wicket.
22nd over: Australia 65-1 (Burns 29, Khawaja 24)
Trent Boult takes the honours from the Botanic Gardens/City End. Gotta love a ground with multiple names for each end. I, for one, fancy any English venue with a Football Stand End.
Khawaja looked hot last night. Those two cover off Matt Henry nearing stumps were as purdy as anything we’ve seen from him this summer. He continues as he finished with the first boundary of the morning after Boult drops short; Usman doesn’t miss out on those, guided behind point to the rope.
I know it’s a bit early for this, but on the available evidence I’m happy to pose the question: will this is the fifth time on the trot that we are blessed with a Khawaja first innings ton?
21st over: Australia 59-1 (Burns 29, Khawaja 18)
Tim Southee is chucked the ball from the Port Hills end to open the day. Burns profits from a loosener on the pads, a couple to get his day underway.
It’s a big day for Burns. Two tons in the summer after coming into the XI at the top of the order should place him well, but one feels that it won’t take much for Shaun Marsh to gazump him. He is on the defensive through the rest of the over. There looks a slight touch of outswing. The hosts will like that.
Good morning from the stunning Hagley Oval. It may be a newish international venue, but it’s already developing a reputation as one the international game’s most photogenic with those rolling banks full of deck chairs and the like.
They motored in here as gates opened this morning to secure best vantage point, and why wouldn’t you after yesterday? It’s all been said about Brendon McCullum’s historic hand. What a time to be alive.
Before we turn to today, Baum and Lemon put fine words to the innings that was. I had a go too.
Casting forward, the game is truly in balance. Out in the middle before, the track looks a lot drier, suggesting conditions will favour Australia. But McCullum was adamant that there’ll still be plenty in it for the seamers this morning.
He’ll need there to be. Because here’s the thing: whenever his Black Caps have been in a position to put Australia under pressure through the course of this summer they have made a mess of the pivotal session. They can’t afford that today. They need to make a deep incision. Letting Smith and Voges and co to cash in after a robust start doesn’t tend to end well.
So, grab a cup of tea and hang out with me. Want to talk? @collinsadam for the short missives, adam.collins.freelance@theguardian.com for the long. Let’s hope it’s absorbing. See you in ten.
Adam will be joining us soon but in the meantime, here’s all the action from day one at Hagley Oval.
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