Cricket: Catch all the action as Australia took on New Zealand during day three of their first Test, in New Zealand.
Glenn Phillips erases unwanted tag; ‘cracks in Australian batting’ still clearly evident — Wellington Test Day 3 Talking PointsMarch 2nd, 2024 6:26 pm
To recap, after being sent into bat, Australia scored 383, with Cameron Green unbeaten on 174, and then bowled New Zealand out for 179 on Friday. Glenn Phillips, who had only taken 25 wickets in his previous 109 matches for New Zealand, ripped the heart out of Australia’s middle order on day three at the Basin Reserve, finishing with career-best figures of 5-45.
“In three years, he’s turned himself into an international off-spinner. He’s been seen as a part-timer for quite a while. I hope his bowling today erases that.” “I’m always putting my hand up for a bowl,” smirked Phillips, who top-scored for New Zealand in the first innings with a counterpunching 71.On the eve of the opening Test match of the series, former Kiwi wicketkeeper and Fox Cricket pundit Ian Smith said the missing link for New Zealand was a champion spinner.“Where the hell we get one from, , because we’ve been trying for 30 years since I have been around. They haven’t quite found that kind of quality and I think that’s is a must for us.
Prior to the Test, former wicketkeeper Ian Smith told foxsports.com.au that it was critical for New Zealand to snare their chances in order to stay with the Australians. When play resumed on Saturday, the nightwatchman added another 35 runs in a valuable contribution to Australia’s second innings tally before falling to Matt Henry for 41.
Substitute fieldsman Henry Nicholls also offered the Australian captain a life when he dropped him soon after Kuggeljein’s spill on the boundary, allowing him another four runs. The Kiwis were far tighter in this regard in the second innings, but effectively the mistakes gifted Australia almost another century of runs which were clearly handy in the context of the Test.Speaking of shoddy, that label can be applied to the approach of many of Australia’s vaunted top-order as their struggle for rhythm and form continues.
On Friday it became clear that it was taking significant spin with Lyon snaring four wickets for Australia. And Phillips provided further proof of that on Saturday when snaring his first five wicket haul in a Test match. Alex Carey, too, fell cheaply once again and is another who will be keen to fire in the second Test after showing semblances of his best form with the bat during the Aussie summer.
The Test prior he scored a century in both innings against the South Africans in Mount Maunganui. And in 13 Test innings last year, he managed to make five centuries, including a fine ton against England.