Australia thrash Black Caps by Jim Ellingham

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Scorecard:

New Zealand v Australia

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DateLine: 14th January 2006

 

After the excitement of last seasons Chappell-Hadlee series where one-day cricket was at its best and the NewZealand team matched Australia blow for blow, a lot was expected for this summers return series. Hope and expectations on this side of the Tasman were high in the run-up to the series with this Australian unit being vastly different to the side that dominated on these shores in February. However, the day before the Auckland match, Shane Bond pulled out with injury and a sense of frustration crept in. Ultimately, frustration turned to humiliation for New Zealand cricket supporters as Australian pace bowler Brett Lee unleashed one of the best spells of fast bowling to be seen in NewZealand.

 

New Zealand’s new captain, Daniel Vettori, won the toss and as per the set game plan sent Australia in on a fresh early season pitch. His decision was immediately vindicated when Franklin had Gilchrist picked up at slip through a sharp catch by Astle with McCullum diving in front of him. New Zealand then lost its way temporarily as Katich and Ponting put together 117 runs for the 2nd wicket. Ponting in February looked like a batsman at the peak of his powers and his innings at Eden Park conjured up memories of his Twenty 20 innings on the same ground last year. Vettori picked him up LBW in a dubious decision with the batsman being a long way forward and from then on Australia struggled. Styris and Vettori took advantage of the conditions to both record very tidy figures. Another positive for New Zealand was Chris Cairns’ return to form with the ball. Cairns and Mills were impressive at the death as Australia finished with 252/8.

 

New Zealand’s reply couldn’t have started more poorly when Vincent had a wild heave off Bracken. He forgot to move his feat and the splatted stumps rather summed up what was to come for the Black Caps. All the batsmen then turned their attentions to survival as Brett Lee ran in with a strong breeze at his back and literarily terrified the Black Caps. In six stunning overs he rendered the Black Caps efforts redundant. His first victim was a hapless and at the moment hopeless Hamish Marshall who failed to get in line and got bowled. James Marshall was next to go as he appeared to not see the ball as the irregular bounce let it thud into his pad, plum in front. McMillan was his third victim as he fished outside the line and was picked up by Hussey in the gully. McMillan was obviously distracted though by movements behind the side screen. Stuart Clark also bowled impressively in picking up three cheap wickets. The rest of the innings was highlighted by a bludgeoning Cairns innings of 37 not out and many pitch invasions and bad behaviour from the crowd. Measures have been taken to ensure that similar scenes don’t occur at Westpac Stadium in Wellington where in February, the Australian’s were abused and pelted with projectiles.

 

(Article: Copyright © 2006 Jim Ellingham)