Summary
Where do you even start after that? Congratulations to Australia for attacking with abandon a record run chase that seemed implausible at its outset. David Warner and D’Arcy Short set the ball rolling, and their aggression set the scene beautifully for the fantasy middle order of Chris Lynn, Glenn Maxwell and Aaron Finch.
For New Zealand it was a tame display in the field with no answers to Australia’s assault and a visible wilting as the pressure mounted. The 18 runs in wides and the two no-balls plus free-hits tells its own tale. It was a sad end to a night that began with Colin Munro’s blockbuster batting and Martin Guptill’s century, making him the leading run-scorer in T20 internationals. Not to forget the fan catch worth $50k NZ and the dismissal via a dislodged helmet.
Once the dust settles on the brutal magnificence of the hitting and the thrill of the contest, questions have to be asked about the nature of international cricket in the modern age on grounds as small as Eden Park. This may prove to be a one-off but the ease with which both sides chipped sixes around this tiny venue at times made a mockery of the exercise.
Australia’s win keeps the last match of the tri-series group stage alive. That fixture pits New Zealand against England on Sunday in a winner-takes-all decider (ok, run-rate will also become a factor) for the right to face Australia in Wednesday’s final. We’ll be here again to steer you through that one.
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Australia win by five wickets
18.5 over: Australia 245-5 (Finch 36, Carey 1) Not that the run out matters because Finch batters de Grandhomme into the stands behind the bowler’s head yet again to bring the match to a close.
WICKET! Stoinis run out 4 (Wheeler/Steifert) (Australia 238-5)
Unnecessary risky second to the arm of the man at deep point and Stoinis perishes. Quick release from Wheeler, excellent keeping from Steifert.
18th over: Australia 234-4 (Finch 29, Stoinis 2) Southee escapes with just seven from his final over as Australia coast towards the finish line. The highlight is Finch’s delicate late dab for four through the vacant third-man.
17th over: Australia 227-4 (Finch 24, Stoinis 0) Finch tickles the first ball after the wicket for four, then clubs a straight six while making a bubble with his chewing gum. That was the maddest over.
WICKET! Short c Seifert b Boult 76 (Australia 217-4)
Deary me, Wheeler begins the 17th over with a no-ball six and the free-hit is slashed for four! The original delivery was a rank full toss that Finch tried to pull but top-edged over fine-leg. The free-hit was a wide outside off that Finch only just reached to edge to third man. Oh my word, another beamer! This time Finch is caught in the deep, but he’s not walking. TV replays show that was way over waist height by Wheeler, Finch remains, and the second no-ball of the over means Wheeler is forced out of the attack by the umpires. This match has had everything.
Trent Boult completes the over, and would you believe it, has Short caught at long-on first ball - but it was the free-hit from Wheeler’s previous indiscretion. Not to worry, Boult gets his man via a mistimed pull a few balls later, the sky-ball pouched safely by Seifert’s gloves.
16th over: Australia 202-3 (Short 75, Finch 2) Good over from Southee, just the one boundary conceded and the dismissal of Maxwell. Can New Zealand turn this opening into a comeback? Short appears to be dropping anchor, Finch has yet to get into his stride, we could have a game on our hands still.
WICKET! Maxwell b Southee 31 (Australia 199-3)
Southee back into the attack. His first ball sails over his head for four, his second breaks through an attempted cut shot to castle all three.
15th over: Australia 195-2 (Short 74, Maxwell 27) One more over of Sodhi. Will it count? Not if Maxwell continues like this. The first ball is piled into and sent into the Auckland night sky with no return ticket. The rest of the over is more sedate and includes an appeal for a stumping after Maxwell fails to read Sodhi’s turn. One more hurdle overcome for the tourists, they’ve seen off the most dangerous New Zealand bowler, making their jog home that little easier.
@JPHowcroft It’s t-ball on a smaller field.
— Rick Back (@rickback180) February 16, 2018
14th over: Australia 186-2 (Short 73, Maxwell 19) Time for some deep breaths and steady heads for New Zealand which means Trent Boult’s thrown the ball. It’s another over Australia’s way though. Four tasty yorkers are repelled and the two loose deliveries are paddled to the fence, first by Short, then by Maxwell. Eden Park is now eerily quiet and Australia are in cruise control with plenty of talent waiting padded up.
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13th over: Australia 175-2 (Short 68, Maxwell 13) Ben Wheeler has the misfortune to be recalled into the attack. Glenn Maxwell makes him regret the decision by sending an exocet for a straight six followed by a four over cover. The required run-rate is below ten. Australia can start to throttle down and still break the T20I record chase.
Exhilarating perhaps, but is this really cricket @JPHowcroft? Sodhi may drag this back for the Black Caps but edging it and hacking off the toe for 6 feels a bit off. Still, the kids are going to love it. I think I'm too old for this (I'm 43).
— Guy Hornsby (@GuyHornsby) February 16, 2018
I’m tempted to agree. It is starting to feel like a home run derby. The batting remains incredible though, it’s just ceased to be much of a contest with the ball.
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12th over: Australia 162-2 (Short 67, Maxwell 1) Will Lynn’s wicket cost momentum? No chance. Short flicks the next ball off his pads for six, proving it was no fluke three balls later with a cannon of a straight drive into that popular spot in the stands just to the on-side of the sight-screen. He caps the over off with another whipped four for good measure.
WICKET! Lynn c Guptill b de Grandhomme 18 (Australia 143-2)
How costly was that Guptill drop? Not as bad as he might have feared. First ball of de Grandhomme’s next over Lynn guides a low full toss straight to the same spot in the outfield but this time the centurion makes no mistake.
11th over: Australia 143-1 (Short 50, Lynn 18) Sodhi the key man for New Zealand, can he strike again? Not this time. It’s a decent over from the spinner nonetheless, despite Lynn bludgeoning him straight down the ground for four.
10th over: Australia 135-1 (Short 49, Lynn 12) De Grandhomme has the responsibility of following Sodhi but Lynn dumps him into the stand behind long off second ball to assert Australia’s dominance. He tries again two balls later but mistimes a cut high over cover that soars not far from Guptill who swoops in to make the catch but DROPS IT! How significant will that prove? Lynn should be out, Guptill ruefully looks at his taped fingers, and Australia continue their march towards history.
9th over: Australia 124-1 (Short 48, Lynn 2) Massive breakthrough for New Zealand but Australia have some serious firepower to come. The Black Caps need to maintain the pressure at the other end to Sodhi.
You know what time it is.
WICKET! Warner b Sodhi 59 (Australia 121-1)
What can Sodhi do? Not much there, dragged down to long-hop territory and dispatched over his head for six. Sodhi exacts his revenge soon after though, deceiving Warner with a wrong’un and clipping the off bail after beating the slog sweep. Breakthrough for New Zealand - but here comes Chris Lynn!
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8th over: Australia 114-0 (Warner 53, Short 46) Now it’s Colin de Grandhomme’s turn to be smacked around the Auckland night. Warner slaps a long-hop through midwicket for four and finds four more with an edge to third-man. There’s the 15th run off a wide in just eight overs, a few mishits that land safely, and the continuation of some superb aggressive running. Australia dictating terms at Eden Park. The crowd is becalmed and the fielders look skittish.
7th over: Australia 99-0 (Warner 40, Short 45) Key moment in the match with Ish Sodhi’s legbreaks brought into the attack in the first over after the powerplay. It’s a good over too - still worth eight for Australia - but there was no boundary and neither batsman seemed to read the turn. Short in particular looked uncomfortable, edging his first ball just short of third-man. The required run-rate is around 11, the current run-rate is over 14!
6th over: Australia 91-0 (Warner 39, Short 38) Another over packed full of runs. Four to Short with a whip off his pads, six to Warner with what has to be the least powerful straight drive in history. That was barely a chip and yet it still carries on this tiny ground. Blimey, that was hit! Southee goes from length to short and Warner absolutely batters him into the upper deck of the stand behind midwicket. Fair dinkum this hitting tonight has been terrifying! Somehow, Australia are cruising in pursuit of the highest ever T20I run-chase.
5th over: Australia 73-0 (Warner 26, Short 33) Australia have to be relentless in this pursuit and that’s exactly what they are being so far. Warner hasn’t been in great form recently but a meaty swipe for six over midwicket will help settle any of the skipper’s nerves. Ben Wheeler responds with a couple of wides, giving Warner time to gather himself and slog another almighty heave over long-on for six more. Oh dear, the second five-wides of the night keeps the scoreboard rattling over and Australia are miles ahead of the run-rate. Can they keep it going?
4th over: Australia 51-0 (Warner 12, Short 32) Trent Boult can’t believe his eyes. Short motors to 30 from 13 deliveries with another French cut for four. Australia’s opener has barely middled a ball but Eden Park is offering runs like an Oprah giveaway special.
Remarkable first 13 balls from Short. Played a false shot to 40% of them - yet scored 30 from 13 at a strike rate of 231.#NZvAUS
— The Cricket Prof. (@CricProf) February 16, 2018
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3rd over: Australia 43-0 (Warner 11, Short 26) Tim Southee’s turn to step into the Eden Park torture chamber and he’s greeted to the crease by 16 runs, a dropped catch, a wide and no dot balls. Warner started the punishment with a pulled four, Short escapes a difficult glove down the legside which wasn’t held by Seifert, a chance compounded by an orthodox legside boundary next ball. Incredibly, Australia are ahead of the run-rate.
2nd over: Australia 27-0 (Warner 5, Short 17) The chase is on! Short doesn’t middle any of Wheeler’s first three deliveries but they earn him 14 runs. The first is a thick edge for six over third-man, the second is a French cut for four, the third is a leading edge through the vacant cordon for four more! This ground is a graveyard for bowlers.
1st over: Australia 11-0 (Warner 5, Short 1) What can Australia do in reply? Warner and Short make a tidy start to the mammoth chase, earning two boundaries, the skipper timing a four over mid-off and Trent Boult sending down a bouncer worth five wides.
Some records from that first innings: New Zealand’s joint-highest ever T20I total, the highest total ever scored against Australia in a T20I, the most expensive bowling figures by an Australian (Andrew Tye 2-64) and Martin Guptill becoming the all-time T20I record run-scorer.
Oh, and the catch...
10/10 on the catch, 9.9/10 on the landing. #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/Do2RtbrZTi
— Troy Rawhiti-Forbes (@TroyRF) February 16, 2018
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New Zealand 243-6
That’s as blistering an innings as you could wish to see. Eighteen sixes; nine to centurion Martin Guptill, six to his opening partner Colin Munro, and two to Ross Taylor from the final pair of legal deliveries. Eden Park has been treated to some champagne hitting, enabled of course by the postage stamp nature of the rugby ground, but thrilling nonetheless.
In amongst the record breaking batting there was a crowd catch worth $50k NZ, a dismissal courtesy of a bouncer sending a helmet into the stumps, and a collapse - of sorts - from 212-2 to 224-6. I’m struggling to keep up with it all.
Join me back here in a few minutes to see if Australia can turn this procession into a contest.
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20th over: New Zealand 243-6 (Taylor 17, Wheeler 1) Tye continues Australia’s comeback with a promising final over that begins with a couple of singles and a dot before his fourth delivery is smashed by Taylor straight into, and out of, Short’s slippery palms on the midwicket fence. The momentum shifts radically as a consequence. Taylor twice slog-sweeping for six over the same fielder to end the innings, the first of which claimed one-handed in the crowd by a fan wearing a sponsor’s singlet, earning him $50k NZ! This night has had everything and we’re only halfway through!
Ross Taylor launches a SIX over the leg-side and we have our 2nd Tui-catch!!! 50k - what a grab!!! CROWD EXPLODING! #TriSeries #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/ejXqbZ9TTO
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 16, 2018
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19th over: New Zealand 225-6 (Taylor 2, Wheeler 0) Remarkably, this scoreline reads as something of an Australian comeback. What will New Zealand finally set Australia after that ridiculous start?
WICKET! Williamson c Tye b Richardson 1 (New Zealand 224-6)
The wheels are coming off for the Black Caps - but at 224 I’m sure they’re not overly concerned. Kane Williamson is the latest to go, failing to clear long-off from another Richardson slower ball.
WICKET! de Grandhomme b Richardson 3 (New Zealand 222-5)
All those inside-edges that favoured New Zealand are starting to work back Australia’s way. After Stanlake’s helmet-onto-wicket dismissal of the previous over, Richardson deceives de Grandhomme with a slower ball that’s dragged off the inside edge onto boot onto stumps.
WICKET! Chapman b Stanlake 16 (New Zealand 220-4)
18th over: New Zealand 220-4 (de Grandhomme 1) Australia still plugging away and Stanlake produces a second over in a row without a boundary - one that ends with a wicket! Short and nasty from the big fast bowler, Chapman tries to pull, misses, and his helmet is knocked off and into the stumps! What an amazing dismissal, befitting a crazy night.
Well that was something you don't see every day! #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/EGwGPft0wc
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 16, 2018
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17th over: New Zealand 214-3 (Chapman 13, de Grandhomme 0) Three overs remaining for New Zealand to send their already massive total into stratospheric territory. How far can they go without Guptill?
WICKET! Guptill c Maxwell b Tye 105 (New Zealand 212-3)
Guptill’s incredible innings is brought to an end. A high full toss - borderline no-ball - from Tye ends up in Maxwell’s safe hands on the midwicket fence. What an exhilarating piece of entertainment that was from the Black Caps opener. Brutal hitting exposing the limitations of Eden Park.
A 2nd T20I hundred for @Martyguptill 🙌
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 16, 2018
49 balls - fastest in New Zealand history - 1 quicker than @Bazmccullum 👏#records #TriSeries #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/tODLyIsG9K
Brilliant and well deserved from @Martyguptill !! Top of the T20 runs leaderboard and a whole lot more to add over the coming years! Keep swinging @BLACKCAPS !!
— Brendon McCullum (@Bazmccullum) February 16, 2018
16th over: New Zealand 206-2 (Guptill 102, Chapman 10) There’s no reason to rub salt into Australian (and English) wounds but Aaron Finch drops a catch he should take on the midwicket fence off Chapman. The 23-year old makes his life count, ramping a four next ball.
100 for Martin Guptill (48 balls)
Eighth six for Guptill! Stoinis too full and carted miles in the air and easily over midwicket. Oh dear, it was a high no-ball too, which means a free-hit, which, of course, is smashed with zero grace, maximum efficiency for six more. This is astonishing.
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15th over: New Zealand 184-2 (Guptill 88, Chapman 3) Make that six sixes for Guptill to match the half dozen of his opening opening partner. The returning Richardson sends down a serviceable slower ball outside off stump but Guptill waits for it and slugs it into another time zone. He shows he’s no one-trick pony next ball, waiting deep in his crease and cutting behind square for four. What’s next? Six more! Bosh, this is frightening! Length, hammered back over the bowler’s head and just over the leaping long-on.
14th over: New Zealand 166-2 (Guptill 71, Chapman 2) Stoinis does his best to back up Agar’s good work with a tidy over of his own. Largely yorker length and straight it’s on track to be the second over in a row without a boundary, until Guptill extends his arms and drills a six over extra-cover. This ground is impossible to defend.
The NZ record for the most runs in T20Is is held by Suzie Bates (2337). With the West Indies here next month, she'll have the chance to take back any ground Guptill makes up in the tri-series. #NZvAUS #Statchat
— NZ Cricket Museum (@NZCricketMuseum) February 16, 2018
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Drenched in sun and sixes. NZ 138-1 after 11. #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/82DDh1F7KV
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) February 16, 2018
Most runs in...
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 16, 2018
Tests: Sachin Tendulkar 15921 runs
ODIs: Sachin Tendulkar 18426 runs
T20Is: Martin Guptill 2141* runs#NZvAus
13th over: New Zealand 156-2 (Guptill 63, Chapman 0) Mark Chapman the new batsman as Guptill completes Agar’s excellent over with a dabbed single.
WICKET! Seifert c Finch b Agar 12 (New Zealand 155-2)
New Zealand probably a little guilty of swinging too hard at Agar’s latest over, no boundaries arrive from the opening four deliveries and from the fifth Seifert picks out Finch on the square leg boundary. Easily the best over of the innings so far for Australia.
12th over: New Zealand 152-1 (Guptill 60, Seifert 11) Stanlake’s pace gets another whirl but Guptill keeps on keeping on, flicking a four behind square on the leg side and then working some less aggressive shots around Eden Park, in the process overtaking former teammate Brendon McCullum as the highest run-scorer in T20I history. When he’s offered the strike Seifert keeps up his phenomenal strike-rate, smashing his third delivery for four, courtesy of some poor fielding on the long-off boundary.
11th over: New Zealand 139-1 (Guptill 52, Seifert 6) If Australia thought the game could change as a result of that dismissal, they need to think again. Length from Tye and Tim Seifert just caresses a lofted drive over long-off for six effortless runs. That was his first ball! Seifert, by the way, sent in at three ahead of skipper Williamson to capitalise on this blistering start.
WICKET! Munro c Maxwell b Tye 76 (New Zealand 132-1)
If it’s up, it’s going! Andrew Tye finds out the hard way, sending one into Munro’s slot and watching it sail over his head for six. Tye tries to correct by bowling at Munro’s pads but comes off just as badly, this time over square leg then midwicket - 6,6,6 - beastly hitting at Eden Park! He tries to make it four in a row but he can’t middle a length delivery on off stump and Glenn Maxwell makes no mistake on the long-on fence. What a knock from Colin Munro, 76 runs, 33 balls, six sixes.
10th over: New Zealand 114-0 (Guptill 51, Munro 58) D’Arcy Short’s leggies are called upon for the first time in international cricket and his second ball is slogged an absolute country mile over midwicket. That was ferocious hitting! Munro admires the shot from the non-striker’s end waiting for his opportunity, which he doesn’t waste, lofting Short for a straight six and then slog-sweeping for four more. Runs, runs, runs, runs, runs, so many bloody runs!
9th over: New Zealand 95-0 (Guptill 44, Munro 46) Bosh! Another six straight back over the bowler’s head. Munro dispatching Agar this time, taking full advantage of the short boundaries and the bowler’s generous flight. There’s a party atmosphere inside Eden Park and it’s little wonder with this partnership obliterating the scoreboard.
8th over: New Zealand 84-0 (Guptill 43, Munro 36) Amongst some excellent batting New Zealand have enjoyed their fair share of fortune too. A smart Stoinis over doesn’t deserve to concede a boundary, especially one that arrives off an outside edge onto Munro’s shoulder that skids away beyond short third-man.
7th over: New Zealand 76-0 (Guptill 41, Munro 31) David Warner turns to Ashton Agar at the earliest opportunity, praying for a change of momentum. It works - for two balls. The third is hoicked into the crowd over cow corner by Munro’s brute force. So brutal, it turns out, there’s a slight delay while a new stick is shuttled out.
@JPHowcroft May I get the conspiracy theories rolling? Australia are full on trolling England here. I wouldn't be surprised if they fall 3 runs short in the chase just because.....
— phil withall (@phil_withall) February 16, 2018
Feel free to get them rolling. So far this is all about New Zealand’s intent. Guptill and Munro are just going after anything in their wheelhouse and connecting with plenty.
6th over: New Zealand 67-0 (Guptill 39, Munro 24) Can Marcus Stoinis stem the flow of runs? No. Munro slaps him over extra-cover first up for four, flicking him to fine-leg for another boundary a couple of balls later. What a powerplay from the hosts.
5th over: New Zealand 56-0 (Guptill 38, Munro 15) Andrew Tye is into the attack and he’s almost into the wickets immediately but Munro’s mistimed drive bursts through his hands in his follow through and the caught-and-bowled opportunity goes begging. Guptill makes him pay, once again getting on the front foot, clearing his left hip and lofting a clean hit way over long off for his third six of the night. For good measure he paddles a leg-stump full toss for four to finish the over. New Zealand are setting themselves up for a massive total.
4th over: New Zealand 43-0 (Guptill 27, Munro 13) Shots fired! Guptill is after Stanlake and he connects for the second time in as many overs, launching a mid-iron 98m into the hospitality boxes above the sight-screen. That was pure. Three balls later Munro clubs down, timing Stanlake over mid-off and into the fence for four. Blistering start for New Zealand.
3rd over: New Zealand 31-0 (Guptill 20, Munro 8) A few inside-edges have favoured New Zealand early, including one that races away for four from Munro’s bat first ball of the third over. Richardson responds well though, conceding just one further run.
Eden Park MC pumping out gags from the get-go. "Get us on all the socials," he said before listing a few of the usual joints. Then: "Grindr too." 👀 #NZvAUS
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) February 16, 2018
2nd over: New Zealand 25-0 (Guptill 20, Munro 3) Plenty of anticipation for Billy Stanlake’s introduction after the lanky paceman did so well against New Zealand at the start of this tri-series. He won’t look back fondly on his first over at Eden Park though after Munro flicked him for three and Guptill angled him over gully for four from his first two deliveries. Three deliveries follow but one of those is from a mishit Guptill charge. He finds his timing soon enough though, dancing down the pitch and lofting Stanlake into the crowd over long off. Fast start by New Zealand.
1st over: New Zealand 12-0 (Guptill 10, Munro 0) Kane Richardson gets things underway for Australia and he drifts onto Guptill’s pads first ball, handing the Kiwi opener an easy nerve-settling boundary. It’s a mixed bag from Richardson with some pleasing swing both ways battling for attention with a couple of wides. When he gets it on the money and finds Guptill’s edge it races past gully to the hilariously short third-man boundary that’s practically on the edge of the ring.
Nearing go time in Auckland. Australia’s fielders are out on the Eden Park turf in their largely black uniform with a green and yellow fade. New Zealand’s opening pair are striding towards the middle in their even blacker outfit. How much more black could it be? None, none more black.
We're all set! Colin Munro and Martin Guptill stroll out to the middle for first ball #nzvaus pic.twitter.com/SPfM4quNY3
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 16, 2018
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Sure, the shortest straight boundaries in cricket at @edenparknz. But also the deepest pockets since @VFLPark. #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/pyBCd21Bxv
— Adam Collins (@collinsadam) February 16, 2018
Or as David Warner describes it, “MCG straight, Adelaide Oval square.”
Some cricket news from around the site, in case you missed it...
England have announced their 2023 Ashes venues, and Australian fans will be delighted with the news about Trent Bridge:
Meanwhile, the Ben Stokes saga rumbles on:
It’s a good looking surface in Auckland. Inspecting the track Mark Richardson says he expects pace and bounce, not to mention some turn too.
Here’s the deck for tonight’s T20I between New Zealand and Australia!
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 16, 2018
Play to start at 5PM AEDT #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/VT2f30L0Oj
The weather’s perfect too, by the way.
In contrast to the sparse attendance at the Cake Tin earlier this week, New Zealand Cricket are expecting a big turn out for this Friday evening encounter against the old enemy.
3000 tickets left at Eden Park for the #NZvAUS T20 - the biggest cricket crowd since the World Cup semifinal. Punters will have to hustle... pic.twitter.com/lQPVvKXPfe
— Andrew Alderson (@aldersonnotes) February 16, 2018
New Zealand will bat first
Kane Williamson won the toss and has elected to bat first.
Kane Williamson has won the toss and opted to bat first at Eden Park #nzvaus pic.twitter.com/Kx8E6JeDMw
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 16, 2018
New Zealand XI
One change for New Zealand with Mitchell Santner’s knee playing up, handing Ben Wheeler an opportunity.
BLACKCAPS XI: Guptill, Munro, Williamson (c), Chapman, Taylor, De Grandhomme, Seifert, Wheeler, Southee, Sodhi, Boult #nzvaus pic.twitter.com/50YIYRR43b
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 16, 2018
Australia XI
No changes to Australia’s in-form XI.
AUS XI: Warner (c), Finch, Short, Lynn, Maxwell, Stoinis, Carey, Agar, Tye, Richardson, Stanlake https://t.co/Mej0M8lgWc #NZvAUS
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 16, 2018
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Preamble
Hello everybody and welcome to live OBO coverage of the fifth T20 of this tri-series. Tonight’s contest pits New Zealand against Australia from Eden Park in Auckland.
Australia make the short journey across the Tasman in rare form after securing a hat-trick of wins so far this series and already assured of a place in the final. The big-name batters have crushed attacks while the varied and efficient bowling unit has shown the value of selecting an international line-up at the conclusion of a healthy domestic competition. After struggling in this format for some time Australia not only look to have found their feet but are moving ominously towards a situation where the quality of the Big Bash League can sustain international ambitions long into the future.
For the hosts there is more at stake in the short-term with New Zealand’s participation in the tri-series decider not yet assured. With one win and one defeat from their opening two matches the Black Caps require one more result to confirm their place in Wednesday’s final. Should they lose tonight they open the door for England to sneak through when they face the Kiwis in the final rubber of the group stage on Sunday.
As always, if you have anything to share, email and Twitter are both open.
Jonathan will be here shortly. In the meantime, remind yourself how Australia booked their place in next week’s final:
