Henry to Labuschagne, Australia v New Zealand
Brought into the New Zealand team to add pace, Matt Henry (bowling to Marnus Labuschagne at the Sydney Cricket Ground) didn't justify replacing Tim Southee with first innings figures of 1-94, particularly since Southee had 12 wickets over the past two tests. There's an argument that those wickets came after Australia had established a first innings advantage, although New Zealand's bowling took a hit with Boult's injury preventing him playing in the first test.
More likely NZ, having won the toss in the second test, should have batted first to try to gain the advantage instead of taking the field. I'm not sure it would have changed the result but playing Southee in the third test here (who as deputy would have been in the running to captain in Williamson's absence) would have allowed NZ to play a stronger team. It's possible the NZ selectors took a 'Bill Lawry' type of decision to allow Tom Latham to be captain, considering that Williamson, Nicholls and Santner couldn't play due to illness.
The major factor in the series has been Australia's bowlers' dominance over the NZ batters. Boult, Wagner and Southee could match the Australian pace bowlers for skill and commitment but not speed, with the Australian bowlers hitting 150kph and the NZ bowlers averaging 125-130kph. In the spin department, NZ's Santner was hopelessly outclassed by Lyon.
NZ's batting has been disappointing, particularly the engine room of Williamson and Taylor who have had successes against Australia in the past.
That's largely because Australia's bowers have performed well and with Labuschagne's emergence the batting has been able to outlast pressure applied by an impressive performance from Neil Wagner.
Crowds have been good with a great turnout in Melbourne - more than 80,000 attended the first day of the Boxing Day test and about 200,000 overall, including a lot of New Zealand supporters. More than 36,000 spectators attended the first day of the SCG test.
Henry to Labuschagne, Australia v New Zealand
Brought into the New Zealand team to add pace, Matt Henry (bowling to Marnus Labuschagne at the Sydney Cricket Ground) didn't justify replacing Tim Southee with first innings figures of 1-94, particularly since Southee had 12 wickets over the past two tests. There's an argument that those wickets came after Australia had established a first innings advantage, although New Zealand's bowling took a hit with Boult's injury preventing him playing in the first test.
More likely NZ, having won the toss in the second test, should have batted first to try to gain the advantage instead of taking the field. I'm not sure it would have changed the result but playing Southee in the third test here (who as deputy would have been in the running to captain in Williamson's absence) would have allowed NZ to play a stronger team. It's possible the NZ selectors took a 'Bill Lawry' type of decision to allow Tom Latham to be captain, considering that Williamson, Nicholls and Santner couldn't play due to illness.
The major factor in the series has been Australia's bowlers' dominance over the NZ batters. Boult, Wagner and Southee could match the Australian pace bowlers for skill and commitment but not speed, with the Australian bowlers hitting 150kph and the NZ bowlers averaging 125-130kph. In the spin department, NZ's Santner was hopelessly outclassed by Lyon.
NZ's batting has been disappointing, particularly the engine room of Williamson and Taylor who have had successes against Australia in the past.
That's largely because Australia's bowers have performed well and with Labuschagne's emergence the batting has been able to outlast pressure applied by an impressive performance from Neil Wagner.
Crowds have been good with a great turnout in Melbourne - more than 80,000 attended the first day of the Boxing Day test and about 200,000 overall, including a lot of New Zealand supporters. More than 36,000 spectators attended the first day of the SCG test.