That’s it from me. Thank you for sticking with me. What a game eh? Who said this sport needs a surplus of sixes of fours? I’m always happy with a low scoring thriller and though the result was pedestrian in the end, it was still a tremendous turnaround from Australia who put the disappointment from the Zimbabwe series behind them with this two wicket win in the first of three ODI matches.
I’ll be back on Thursday. Catch you then.
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Australia win by two wickets
What an anticlimax to a sensational game of cricket. Cam Green’s cramps, a rain delay and then a wide which brought the winning run means the last half hour of this contest fizzled but don’t forget about the fireworks earlier.
Boult and Henry reduced Australia to 44-5 before a sixth wicket stand of 158 from Carey (85) and Green (89*) brought the Aussies to within touching distance of victory.
But three wickets for five runs saw momentum swing again but Green battled through cramp and had an able partner in Zampa to see the job home.
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45th over: Australia 232-8 (Green 89, Zampa 13) After a three minute rain delay Zampa’s check through the off side and then a bunt down the ground brings the scores level.
Rain delay with Australia just 4 behind
Cricket really doesn’t help itself at times. The umpires have called for a rain delay but the players haven’t left the field though the covers are coming on. Zampa has just launched a slog sweep off Santner to the cow corner boundary for four to take Australia to the brink of victory but the umpires have brought play to a halt. Top be fair to them, it is raining, but not enough to warrant all this malarky with only four needed for a proper result. The farce is amplified by the Kiwis staying out.
44th over: Australia 223-8 (Green 88, Zampa 5) I feel bad for questioning the authenticity of Green’s cramps. He really is struggling there. He’s hobbling around and looks in pain. When he can stand, though, he’s looking immense. One whip shot off Ferguson send the ball to the leg side boundary at pace and he stutters for a single. Zampa is happy to keep the strike with a single off the last ball to take the required target down to 10. Ferguson can’t find the breakthrough though comes relatively close with the first ball, but his yorker squeezes past Green’s stumps.
43rd over: Australia 217-8 (Green 83, Zampa 4) Not good from Santner who makes it easy for Zampa to take a single from the first ball with a nudge off the hip. He then bowls a wide to Green outside the off stump before Green takes a single himself. Zampa is comfortable for the rest of the set. Ferguson to Green in the next over. That could be the contest.
42nd over: Australia 214-8 (Green 82, Zampa 0) Eventually we finish the 42nd over after that long break. Green belts his first ball after receiving attention for cramp behind square with a thumping pull, taking four off the required target. The over started with a wicket but New Zealand need another two. Crucially Zampa is on strike for the next over.
Cam Green down with cramp
I’m not saying the big lad is playacting, but it is a convenient break for him as he looks to shepherd the Australian tail with 23 more runs needed for victory. He’s lost three partners in no time at all. He’s getting the full treatment from the phsyio who is working hard on both legs.
WICKET! Starc c Mitchell b Ferguson 1 (Australia 207-8)
Australia have lost their third wicket for five runs in a brief spell that has turned the game. Green is stuck on the other end watching his team-mates implode. This latest wicket is a tame one as Starc loops a simple catch to midwicket from a regulation back of a length ball from Ferguson.
41st over: Australia 206 (Green 78, Starc 1) That’s the end of Trent Boult who was unplayable with the new ball. 3-12 from his first five overs morphed into 4-40 from his 10. This final set started with the big scalp of Maxwell and cost a miserly three runs. But now that he’s out of the equation Australia will still fancy themselves despite one recognised batter remaining.
WICKET! Maxwell c Neesham b Boult 2 (Australia 205-7)
What’s he done? Glenn Maxwell has timed the pants off of this one but Jimmy Neesham has plucked a stunner on the deep backward square rope. Maxwell’s strong wristy flick off Boult looked destined for a maximum but the Kiwi on the fence has grabbed at the last second. Another twist. 28 needed. Three wickets. Which way is it going?
40th over: Australia 205-6 (Green 78, Maxwell 2) Success for Ferguson who has bowled better than his figures suggest. Just three runs from the over. New Zealand with a sniff, but only a sniff.
WICKET! Carey c Henry b Ferguson 85 (202-6)
Now then. Don’t go anywhere because we’ve got a game on here. From nowhere New Zealand have a lifeline as Carey mistimes his first shot in an age as he cross-bats off the back foot straight to Henry at mid-on. He looked to take on the shorter ball from Ferguson but doesn’t get hold of it. Wonderful knock comes to an end. Still Australia’s game though as Maxwell comes in.
39th over: Australia 202-5 (Carey 85, Green 77) 150 run partnership. You’ll have to do a lot of digging to find a better union in the middle for a ODI chase than this one. They’re not there yet but they will almost certainly reel in their target. They came together at 44-5. Now they 31 from 66 balls thanks to this expensive Boult over worth 11 runs. Carey clobbers the Kiwi spearhead over cover with a swashbuckling flourish and then Green muscles one over the infield through the on-side.
Guaranteed.
Oh no. Australia are going to win another World Cup with a nonsensical batting strategy, aren’t they?
— Nakul Pande (@NakulMPande) September 6, 2022
DROPPED! Is that the game?
Oh no! Boult has made a mess of what should have been a regulation catch down at fine leg. Ferguson’s extra pace rushes Green’s pull shot and it takes the top edge and flies down to the deep. Boult settles but he doesn’t get underneath it and is forced to stick his hands out from his body. He barely gets a finger on it and it lands tamely on the turf.
Green finishes the over with a sensational drive down the ground, bang out of the middle of the bat as it screams to the boundary. That encapsulates this partnership. Everything working for the Aussies, nothing going the way of the Black Caps.
38th over: Australia 191-5 (Carey 78, Green 73)
37th over: Australia 184-5 (Carey 76, Green 68) Too easy for the Aussies. Santner has been milked like a willing dairy cow. Four singles here as Australia bring the required runs below 50.
The more things change…
This is going like that ODI in England two years back when Aus were 80-odd for 5 and then chased down 303 or something with Carey and Maxwell making hundreds.#AUSvNZ
— Rohit Sankar (@imRohit_SN) September 6, 2022
36th over: Australia 181-5 (Carey 74, Green 67) Matt Henry is done and his final ball is deposited to the midwicket fence by Cam Green who plays a pull shot as if receiving a throw-down. Henry’s 10 overs are worth 2-50 but that four takes the partnership to 137, the highest ever for the sixth wicket for Australia against New Zealand. 52 needed for victory. Who’d bet against them?
35th over: Australia 171-5 (Carey 72, Green 59) The first over after the drinks break is an eventful one. Santner unleashes a huge appeal for lbw as he gets Carey on the pad. The ball skids under the batter’s sweep shot but on review it’s hit him outside the line of off stump. Good work from the on-field umpire. Salt is rubbed in the wound the ball after as Carey plays a wonderful lofted drive that dribbles to the long-off boundary. Textbook stroke with just enough elevation. As Ian Smith said on the comms, that is the sign of a good batting pitch.
34th over: Australia 166-5 (Carey 68, Green 58) Time for a drink. The last drinks break Australia were in a world of trouble. Now they’re cruising to a comofrtable win thanks to an unbeaten sixth wicket stand of 122. Once the ball stopped swinging Carey and Green have looked unfazed by the Kiwi seamers and spinners. This latest over from Henry (his ninth in the match) is comfortably dealt with. It’s worth just three runs with two singles and a wide. But runs aren’t an issue. Australia need 67 from the remaining 16 overs. New Zealand need a wicket and they need one fast.
33rd over: Australia 163-5 (Carey 67, Green 57) Now even Boult is wayward. His cross-seam half tracker is punished by Green at the top of the over and is sent with force to the backward point boundary. That means the Aussies can play it safe for the rest of the set and Green takes one beofer Carey takes two and then one. It’s a simple game for the hosts.
Side note, do you love the speckled seats in Queensland stadiums as much I do? They’re so great. You instantly know where you are when you see them.
32nd over: Australia 159-5 (Carey 64, Green 52) It looks so easy for Australia right now. I don’t think these two will ever lose their wicket. Henry starts with a no-ball and strays onto Carey’s pads a few balls later. The effortless flick for four is a sign of how well he’s seeing it. Two singles to finish the over. New Zealand look bereft of ideas at present. What a turnaround in this game.
31st over: Australia 148-5 (Carey 59, Green 51) There is no swing at all for Boult and he’s a lot easier to manage now than he was when he was hooping it around corners. Four singles – two for each batter – takes the partnership to 104. Australia were staring at a humiliating defeat at 44-5. Now they need 80 to win with Glenn Maxwell still to come.
Maiden 50 for Cam Green
A little swivel pull off Boult for one means that 23-year-old Cameron Donald Green has his first international half century. Long way to go yet but that is so good from the young ‘un.
30th over: Australia 144-5 (Carey 57, Green 49) 100 run partnership up for Australia. Brilliant from these two. Just superb fight to drag their team to within a realistic shot of winning a match they were basically eliminated from in the opening exchanges. Seven off this Ferguson over and it’s easily dealt with. Pace isn’t a problem for the Australians.
Ferguson will need to ‘un-Lockie’ this partnership. Apologies.
Lockie Ferguson’s ODI record is actually quite handy - 74 wickets at 28 with an RPO of 5.6 yet he’s not been so effective recently #AUSvNZ
— Andrew McLean (@McleanOnCricket) September 6, 2022
29th over: Australia 137-5 (Carey 54, Green 45) Boult returns, and just in time. This partnership is starting to creep up to triple figures. As you’d expect, Boult is on the money immediately but the Aussies are showing him respect. Carey is fortunate though, that his chip doesn’t land straight back into Boult’s hands. Instead he gets a single, as does Green before Carey scampers a couple behind square.
28th over: Australia 133-5 (Carey 52, Green 44) That’s an expensive over from Ferguson that starts and ends with boundaries. The first came off Carey’s bat and went down the ground. The second was nonchalantly flicked by Green who cashes in on a full toss. Between that a wide and three singles adds up to 12 from the over. New Zealand need to sort this out sharpish.
50 for Alex Carey
Given the context of this low scoring match, that is one phenomenal knock from the Aussie ‘keeper. He came to the crease at 27-4 and was there at 44-5. He’s fought back and brings up his milestone with a perfectly-timed on-drive.
27th over: Australia 121-5 (Carey 46, Green 40) Green is given a freebie by Santner from the last ball of the over, a loopy full toss that the big man hammers for four. The wheels are coming off slightly for the Black Caps.
26th over: Australia 115-5 (Carey 45, Green 35) A four to start as Carey tickles Neesham down to the fine leg fence. That’s his fourth boundary. So impressive. I was in Manchester when Jofra Archer knocked him on the face and split his jaw open. I remember thinking that he’s a fighter and that is obvious watching him drag his team to within a shot of winning. Well, still a few more shots needed. But this is so good from the Australians. Four singles – two apiece – means it’s eight from this over.
25th over: Australia 107-5 (Carey 39, Green 33) Lovely batting from Green. He gets down low and unleashes those long levers to meet Santner’s floated ball with a mighty sweep. Catches it clean and it explodes to the fence behind square. Two singles sign off the set so that’s six from it. Their partnership is up to 63. The Black Caps need to get back to what worked earlier and that’s attacking the stumps with seam.
24th over: Australia 101-5 (Carey 38, Green 28) We’re deep into the ‘middle-overs’ phase of ODI cricket. It’s not a thrill a minute but it is captivating as both teams jostle for position ahead of the crescendo to come. Neesham’s over goes for just two. Run rate isn’t an issue with Maxwell to come and a low target to get. Carey and Green will want to take this as far as they can.
23rd over: Australia 99-5 (Carey 37, Green 27) Just two from this Santner over as each batter adds one more to their respective scores. The commentators (I must find out their names) are singing the praises of young Cam Green. Too right. He’s been magnificent. Showed a lot of guts coming out with his team in a deep hole. You already know he’s a superstar in waiting but this is further proof if you needed any.
22nd over: Australia 97-5 (Carey 36, Green 26) Tell you what, I’ve done a few of these OBO shifts so I can confidently say that New Zealand get through their overs faster than most. This is hurtling by, even with the bowling changes. Jimmy Neesham is into the attack. Four from his first set with Green pulling and then flicking a pair of a single down to deep square either side of a flowing drive from Carey that is pulled up before the rope as the batters scamper three. This partnership is now up to 53. Commendable effort but still 136 to win. Long way to go.
21st over: Australia 92-5 (Carey 34, Green 24) Oh wow. That is an audacious reverse slog from Carey that fortunately lands in open space. Never mind that though because he CRUNCHES his conventional slog-sweep and deposits Santner long over cow corner. No doubt about that one. Pressure building on the bowling team. You’d still rather be New Zealand but Williamson has some plotting to do.
20th over: Australia 84-5 (Carey 27, Green 23) Another thick inside edge flies down to the fine leg fence. This time it’s from Carey who swings hard at a full ball from Ferguson and collects four fortunate runs. They all count. Carey then clips a 150km/h delivery for two past square leg and bunts another full one past mid off for a single. Quality batting from the Australian gloveman. Green looks assured as well. Partnership up to 40. They’re even ahead on the worm-graph (is that what’s it called? You know what I mean). One more for New Zealand could change things.
19th over: Australia 77-5 (Carey 20, Green 23) KABOOM! That has exploded off Cam Green’s bat. He rocks onto the back foot and smashes Bracewell for a mighty maximum over square leg. That is a confident stroke. Two singles cap off a fruitful over for the Aussies who are fighting back well.
18th over: Australia 68-5 (Carey 19, Green 15) Extra zip from Ferguson rushes Green on the back foot and catches the inside edge. But it’s thick enough to take it away from the ‘keeper and it scuttles down to the fine leg boundary. Green starts and ends the over with a single and Carey collects one himself. They’re playing Ferguson well enough, which shouldn’t be a surprise given the pace battery in the Australian camp. This partnership is now worth 25. Building nicely.
17th over: Australia 62-5 (Carey 18, Green 10) Bracewell resumes after drinks and he’s giving it some loop to Carey, daring him to chase the game. And it needs chasing. One double-step looks a little ugly and nothing comes of. A reverse sweep gets him a single and another two – one for each batter – means that this over costs three runs. That required rate is now 5.18. You feel something has to give sooner or later.
16th over: Australia 59-5 (Carey 16, Green 8) Robo-Cop Lockie Ferguson and his black boots comes into the attack and he’s revving it up! Proper pace with one dug in short and causing the very tall Cam Green to rise even higher and bunt it back. Three singles – two for Green, one for Carey – means New Zealand keep control of the contest. Time for a drinks break.
15th over: Australia 56-5 (Carey 16, Green 6) Bracewell keeps spin from one end and it’s an eventful start for the moustachioed tweaker. Carey almost runs himself out by taking an age to get back the ‘keeper’s end after being sent back by Green, saved only by an ungainly dive. Carey also steals four down to third man courtesy of an outside edge from a forced back cut.
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14th over: Australia 51-5 (Carey 12, Green 5) That might be the end of Matt Henry who has been magnificent for seven consecutive overs. This latest one is as tight as the rest but goes for five thanks to a squirmed couple past cover off Green’s wafting bat. There are three singles as well, but that’s not the story. Matt Henry is a gem and deserves more credit than he often gets. Pass it on.
13th over: Australia 46-5 (Carey 11, Green 1) This is the ideal scenario for a spinner with the entire top order wiped away by his seaming mates. All Santner has to do is keep it tight from his end. He does so in this over. Carey nurdles a single through point and new man Cam Green is off the mark with a single into the off side.
WICKET! Stoinis b Henry 5 (Australia 44-5)
Jaffa! That is an absolute beauty from Matt Henry who thoroughly deserves that. His accuracy has kept Stoinis stuck on the crease and after a few balls moved away or held their line, this one jags back and clips the top of middle. A little extra kick off the deck as well turns this into a close to unplayable delivery for a batter more accustomed to facing the older nut. Excellent from New Zealand. They have dismantled the Australian top order.
12th over: Australia 44-5 (Carey 10, Green 0)
11th over: Australia 43-4 (Stoinis 5, Carey 9) Interesting. Spin into the game as Williamson chucks the ball to Mitch Santner. His left arm finger twirlers cost five runs up front – three off the bat and two leg-byes. Carey unfurls a sweep straight away and gets a single away to the leg side. The right-left combo will test Santner’s accuracy.
10th over: Australia 38-4 (Stoinis 4, Carey 7) A single apiece to start the over but Carey’s comes off a thick outside edge that could have gone to hand. Henry responds and almost takes Stoinis’s edge with a lifter from a back a length. A more confident punch off the back foot gives Stoinis another single down to a wide deep third.
9th over: Australia 34-4 (Stoinis 1, Carey 6) That’s how it’s done. Carey leans into an on-drive and gives it a little flourish with his wrists and it skips down the track for four. Great shot. Stoinis is off the mark at the top of the over with a swivel-pull down to fine leg. No wicket for Boult this time. You almost expect one every over now.
8th over: Australia 29-4 (Stoinis 0, Carey 2) We said at the start that the only way Australia lose this is if they’re 20-odd for four. Well, that’s exactly what they are after Warner’s dismissal, caught on the boundary looking to whack Henry for another six. Two middle order bludgeoners are now tasked with a rebuilding job. Carey is into his work with a couple off his hips through the leg side. Will need a few more of those.
WICKET! Warner c Bracewell b Henry 20 (Australia 27-4)
Warner is gone and Australia are unravelling. It’s there to be hit and Warner jumps onto a trademark pull shot. He middles it but doesn’t get enough elevation and so picks out Bracewell on the fence who is stationed there just for that shot. He’ll feel unlucky and will argue that is what makes him such a force, but it does feel irresponsible in hindsight. Not that Henry will care. He’s on the board and Australia are in big, BIG trouble.
WICKET! Labuschagne lbw Boult 0 (Australia 27-3)
What is going on?! I’ll tell you what’s going on. The animated duck is huffing across my TV screen because Marnus Labuschagne is out for nought. It’s that man Boult again, moving it across the right hander, brining it back in, thwacking a pad. Ctrl+C. Ctrl+V. Marnus was in two minds, he went back to a ball he should have gone forward to and tangled himself in knots. Thought about a review but wisely turned it down. Just one single off the over to Warner means Boult has figures of 4-2-7-3. Australia in a hole.
7th over: Australia 27-3 (Warner 20, Stoinis 0)
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6th over: Australia 26-2 (Warner 19, Labuschagne 0) Warner, in typical fashion, ain’t going to lie down and take it. He lines up Henry’s second ball and pops him ease over the midwicket fence. The next ball Henry adjusts and Warner climbs into a cut shot that is well stopped at backward point and they scamper for a single. Labuschagne is happy to see out the rest of the set but that’s great intent from Warner. Perhaps he’s recognised that Henry can be got at while Boult causes chaos at the other end..
5th over: Australia 19-2 (Warner 12, Labuschagne 0) Simply delicious from Boult who threatens both edges. Earlier in the piece he got one to hold its line and almost kiss the outside edge of Smith’s blade. The next ball he catches the inside edge and claims one of the most valued wickets in the game. Marnus is the next man and he’s a little more watchful and he has to be. Boult is testing him around a third stump line while moving it late. Wonderful stuff from the Kiwi.
WICKET! Smith b Boult 2 (Australia 19-2)
Big moment and Boult has another one! He is lethal against the right hander when it’s tailing back and he has the big fish of Steve Smith. A full ball that invites the drive but Smith isn’t forward and is instead prodding away from his body while stuck in the crease. That creates a gap between bat and pad and the inside edge cannons back onto his furniture. New Zealand are in this. That target of 233 now looks a lot heftier than it did half an hour ago.
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4th over: Australia 20-1 (Warner 12, Smith 1) BANG! Warner creams a drive from one knee down the ground. Doesn’t time the leather of it but muscles it with force. Smith is off the mark with a squirted edge down to deep third. Good length from Henry. Smith doesn’t want to get forward it seems. Warner, though, is happy to do so, and also collects three with a lofted drive that takes the outside half of the bat and goes over point.
That is out! Strange review from the skipper.
DRS confirms it, the Australian captain has to go.
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 6, 2022
That's a big, big wicket for New Zealand #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/2K9bSD9S0u
3rd over: Australia 11-1 (Warner 5, Smith 0) Success for Boult who looks on it tonight. He was a little hard done by earlier in the over as Finch’s dab into the off side went from one to five as he was the beneficiary of over throws, but Boult would have his revenge. A single to Warner brought the right handed Finch back on strike and he fell to the obvious trap from Boult, bringing it back sharply into his pads to trap the Aussie skipper in front. Steve Smith is the next man in.
WICKET! Finch lbw Boult 5 (Australia 11-1)
That is delicious bowling from the veteran Kiwi. Left arm over, angled across the right-hander, late shape back in towards the stumps and it thwacks Finch’s front pad right in front. The batter reviews more in hope than expectation and New Zealand have that crucial breakthrough. Finch trudges back, conscious that he could have played that a little better, but fair play to Boult. Wonderful swing bowling.
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2nd over: Australia 5-0 (Warner 4, Finch 0) Matt Henry from the other end and it’s the first boundary of the innings. Just a punch from Warner as he steers a fullish ball past backward point. Lovely timing. A leg-bye off Finch’s thigh-pad means it’s five from the over.
Egg on my face. I said the openers would go hard early on given their long batting line-up. Clearly my coffee hasn’t worked on my brain just yet. It’s a stodgy pitch and as the commentators on the BT feed rightly state, the only way Australia lose this is if they’re 20-off for four. They might be more watchful up front. Still, it’s just one over. I could well be right…
1st over: Australia 0-0 (Warner 0, Finch 0) Trent Boult, playing his 97th ODI, is bang on from the word go. Lovely late shape from over the wicket to the left-hander Warner, taking the ball away from a fourth stump line. He’s got a slip in place so Warner is happy to let the first four balls go. The fifth and sixth deliveries are tighter to the stumps and the opener is solidly behind them. A maiden to start.
Here we go. Aaron Finch and David Warner are walking out the middle, swinging their bats around, looking fierce. They’ve got a long batting line-up behind them so will go hard early doors. The Kiwis are hopping about. They look keen as well. Boult has the new white orb in his mitts. This opening spell could determine the outcome.
Thanks Jim. What a stint from you! Howdy folks, wherever you around the world. I’m in London and it’s shaping up to be a pretty decent late Summer day. Australia are in a decent position themselves but as they say, we don’t know anything until both sides have batted.
New Zealand’s 232-9 doesn’t look too imposing but then again the Cairns surface has played a little stodgy. And no one loves a stodgy pitch like the Black Caps who strangle and squeeze better than the rest.
Should be a tasty chase. Whether you’re on your morning cuppa or your evening tipple I hope it’s a good one. Catch you in a few for the start of Australia’s chase.
Australia require 233 to win this first of three Trans-Tasman ODIs. I can sniff early wickets on the breeze. Or it could be my breakfast, which is calling. Here’s the mighty Dan Gallan to take you through the run chase, you are in good hands, promise. See you next time, goodbye.
New Zealand make 232-9 off 50 overs
A spluttering innings comes to an end. Trent Boult comes out to biff an ungainly four and creak the total past 230. His work with the ball under lights will be crucial to the outcome of this game. The Cairns wicket is a bit of a Donald Rumsfeld “unknown knowns and known unknowns” it’ll be interesting to see how it goes with the floodlights on and with some dew on the new kookaburra.
WICKET! Santner c Carey b Hazlewood 13
Santner gifts his wicket with a leg side strangle to Carey. “He’s dirty with himself'” God bless Straya.
49th over: New Zealand 223 -9
WICKET! Henry c Starc b Hazlewood 4 (New Zealand 220-8)
The bat twiddles in Henry’s hands as he attempts to smear Hazlewood but only manages to find the hands of Starc who clings on to a smart catch.
48th over: New Zealand 219-7 (Santner 11, Henry 4) Starc comes back at the death, two dots and a single precede Santner stepping away to leg and carving to the boundary. Eight runs in total from the over. Ian Smith chirps up on TV comms thaat he would take a total of 230. 12 balls to go…
WICKET! Neesham ct Carey b Hazlewood 16
A doomed scoop. Neesham tries to innovate but only manages to get a nick through to the Aus keeper Alex Carey. Just three runs and the one wicket off the over. Three more to go in the wicket and overs columns.
47th over: New Zealand 211-7 (Santner 6, Henry 1)
46th over: New Zealand 208-6 (Neesham 15, Santner 5) Neesham clonks Maxwell for a maximum over midwicket, New Zealand press the accelerator and get ten from the over.
45th over: New Zealand 198-6 (Neesham 8, Santner 2) Seven runs off Neesham’s over. Maxwell is going to bowl out for only the second time in his ODI career.
44th over: New Zealand 191-6 (Neesham 4, Santner 0) Maxwell now has 4-42 from nine overs. Mitch Santner joins Neesham at the crease and you’d think New Zealand need to get at least another fifty off this final six overs. They’ll have Boult and co under lights with a dewy ball so they’ll always be in with a shout but at the moment are asking a lot of their bowlers to dig them out of a batting hole.
WICKET! Bracewell c Smith b Maxwell 7 (New Zealand 191-6)
New Zealand lose another and it is Maxwell again who induces a lofted drive from Bracewell that goes straight to a gleeful Steve Smith prowling in the covers. The Kiwis have lost 3 for 12 in 16 balls and this innings is wheezing to it’s conclusion.
43rd over: New Zealand 190-5 (Bracewell 7, Neesham 3) Well bowled Adam Zampa, he finishes with 1-38 off his ten overs, just three singles taken from his final over.
Wicket! Latham ct Zampa b Maxwell 43 (New Zealand 186-5)
Maxwell has two in the over! Latham doesn’t get hold of a sweep and is pouched by Zampa on the ‘45.
42nd over: New Zealand 187-5 (Bracewell 6, Neesham 1)
Amongst the wickets Michael Bracewell has arrived at the crease and looked dangerous, carting Maxwell for a brace and a four. He’s in form and can give it a biff. Jimmy Neesham joins him at the crease.
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Wicket! Mitchell ct Smith b Maxwell 26 (New Zealand 179-4)
A tame end for Mitchell who plinks a length ball to short mid-wicket.
41st over: New Zealand 179-3 (Latham 43, Mitchell 26) Into the final ten overs we go and Tom Latham plays a delicious reverse sweep to pick up four off Zampa. The spinner manages to get out of the over for just seven runs though, New Zealand haven’t had any big overs yet, even when they’ve picked up a boundary early on in the over.
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40th over: New Zealand 172-3 (Latham 38, Mitchell 24) Mitchell plonks Stoinis’ first ball down the ground for four. A much needed boundary as New Zealand are surely preparing for an assault in final ten overs? Pretty please?
39th over: New Zealand 165-3 (Latham 36, Mitchell 19) Zampa is allowed to just bowl, there’s nothing offered from the batters to disrupt him. Harrumph.
38th over: New Zealand 161-3 (Latham 35, Mitchell 16) Stoinis replaces Maxwell and four more singles are eked. New Zealand have seven men in the hutch and the looming prospect of Starc and Hazlewood bowling the death overs in a bit. Maybe time to pull the pin lads?
37th over: New Zealand 157-3 (Latham 33, Mitchell 14) Latham shows some intent to get things going by skipping down and hitting Zampa back over his head for four. There’s only a couple more added from the rest of the over though. I think that is the first boundary for five overs, they’ve been rarer than chicken molars in Cairns today.
36th over: New Zealand 151-3 (Latham 28, Mitchell 13) Five runs off Maxwell’s latest over. Fellow spinner Adam Zampa is going to come on at t’other end. Feels like New Zealand need to pick a bowler to dominate here, all of the Australian bowlers have been allowed to settle into their work.
35th over: New Zealand 146-3 (Latham 27, Mitchell 9) On we pootle, three off Hazlewood who is metronomic and threatening.
Loving these early season ODIs in northern Queensland, especially the late 1990s-early 2000s vibe to them in terms of tempo. Throwback to slightly simpler times in life #AusvNZ #AusvZIM
— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) September 6, 2022
Very much this. Is it the calm before the storm though?
34th over: New Zealand 143-3 (Latham 25, Mitchell 8) Just a couple off Maxwell, sixteen overs to go. New Zealand will need to go some to post something near to 250. It’ll be interesting to hear what their batters have to say about the nature of the wicket, it has looked pretty tricky to score off but the Kiwis have also been guilty of soaking up a load of dot balls.
33rd over: New Zealand 141-3 (Latham 24, Mitchell 7) Hazelwood is nagging once more, the Kiwis can only get singles off him and Latham very nearly hacks one onto his stumps off the final ball trying to force the issue.
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32nd over: New Zealand 137-3 (Latham 21, Mitchell 6) Mitchell is a powerful batter and has an aggressive mindset – sure enough he is straight down the wicket to loft Maxwell over mid on for four.
31st over: New Zealand 130-3 (Latham 19, Mitchell 1) Josh Hazlewood comes back after drinks and the breakthrough, he pounds in from over the wicket. Darryl ‘Moose’ Mitchell is the new batter and he gets off the mark with a tuck off his pads.
WICKET! Williamson ct Warner b Maxwell 45 (New Zealand 127-3)
Williamson’s slightly turgid innings comes to an end as he sweeps Maxwell to Warner on the mid-wicket boundary. A tame dismissal in the end, New Zealand still have plenty to do to post a competitive score.
30th over: New Zealand 127-3 (Latham 17, Mitchell 0)
29th over: New Zealand 122-2 (Williamson 44, Latham 13) Three from Cam Green, Maxwell is coming back on for a twirl. He did this earlier:
Balletic #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/kJvuKdUFTT
— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) September 6, 2022
28th over: New Zealand 118-2 (Williamson 42, Latham 11) Tom Latham gets in on the six hitting act, timing a leg side ball away over midwicket for six more. Starc is miffed and responds with some quick and fiery short stuff. That’ll teach ya Tom.
This made me chuckle. There’s some truth in too.
My favourite part of the Fox Cricket commentary is when the senior commentators start reminiscing about their old matches and the newer commentators have to determine when they can safely interrupt and steer the talk back to the current match. It's compelling theatre. #AUSvNZ
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) September 6, 2022
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27th over: New Zealand 109-2 (Williamson 41, Latham 5) Eleven off the over! The Kiwis needed that, it was all getting a bit stagnant and passive. Cam Green comes back into the attack and Williamson greets him with a nonchalant flick off his pads for SIX. Pure class that from a thus far becalmed Williamson. More intent shown as Kane skips down the track and drives Green away for four straight down the ground. He moves into the forties (from 63 balls) and New Zealand finally bring up their team ton.
26th over: New Zealand 98-2 (Williamson 29, Latham 5) Mitch Starc is miserly once more, just a single from his over. New Zealand’s batting looks a bit one paced, they dropped Finn Allen for this game too who could have perhaps provided a bit more impetus with the blade.
25th over: New Zealand 97-2 (Williamson 29, Latham 5) Zampa has bowled well here, he has 1-18 from six overs so far. We’re halfway through the overs and the Kiwis are yet to rack up three figures. It feels a bit like watching an ODI from a bygone era, but that’s NOT A CRITICISM.
24th over: New Zealand 95-2 (Williamson 28, Latham 4) Honours still about even in this game with that wicket. Williamson is joined by Tom Latham. Finch brings back Starc to bring about a bit of pace to proceedings.
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WICKET! Conway lbw b Zampa 46 (New Zealand 91-2)
Gone! Zampa gets one to straighten and hits Conway low on the pad as the left-hander goes down on his haunches to sweep. The batter reviews… but it is in vain – the DRS sends him on his way with three reds and New Zealand lose both a review and their second wicket.
23rd over: New Zealand 92-2 (Williamson 25, Latham 1)
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22nd over: New Zealand 88-1 (Conway 44, Williamson 27) Stoinis sends down a another frugal set of six, he’s yet to be hit for a boundary, he reeled off four overs for just 14 runs so far.
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21st over: New Zealand 84-1 (Conway 42, Williamson 25) Conway crunches a full ball from Zampa back over the bowler’s freshly shorn head for four. Three flicked and nudged singles bring seven off the over.
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20th over: New Zealand 77-1 (Conway 36, Williamson 24) New Zealand continue to slowly build a platform. Williamson unfurls a drive off Stoinis to pick up two. His strike rate is below fifty but he’ll move the gears the longer he stays out there.
19th over: New Zealand 73-1 (Conway 35, Williamson 21) Zampa whirls away and New Zealand add three to the total.
Is there anybody alive out there?! Do drop me a line if you are tuning in.
18th over: New Zealand 70-1 (Conway 34, Williamson 20) Williamson and Conway’s cogs are whirring as they try to fathom what might make a competitive total on this pitch. Conway is acting as the aggressor and Kane the accumulator. Four runs eked from Stoinis. A glide to point from the cap’n and two meaty punches from his opener.
17th over: New Zealand 66-1 (Conway 31, Williamson 18) Green drops short and Conway latches onto it, rocking back and pulling away powerfully for four.
Dawn breaks here in London. It most definitely doesn’t feel like a new one…
16th over: New Zealand 59-1 (Conway 24, Williamson 16) Marcus Stoinis comes into the attack with his muscular medium pace and keeps things tight with just two singles off his first over.
Oh by the way, here’s that epic Maxwell catch to get rid of Guptill. How many times you gonna hit replay? I’m double figures already.
ICYMI: Glenn Maxwell has a rare habit of making the extremely difficult look very, very easy #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/vw8AisJ3zy
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 6, 2022
15th over: New Zealand 57-1 (Conway 24, Williamson 16) A couple of singles off Green and it is time for a drink. I’m going to scurry to the kitchen, tip-toe past the sleeping (praise be!) toddler and make a coffee.
14th over: New Zealand 55-1 (Conway 24, Williamson 15) A flurry of boundaries sees nineteen runs off the last two overs. Conway goes aerial once more to bunt Maxwell over mid-on for four. The batter then gets a sharp nick off an attempted glide that hits keeper Alex Carey on the forearm, sharp chance but a chance all the same. Williamson deftly sweeps the final ball from Maxwell for four. An intriguing battle this.
13th over: New Zealand 46-1 (Conway 18, Williamson 12) The shackles are loosened - Conway plays the loftiest of lofty cover drives off Green that swirls away for a SIX! The ball plooping just over the rope. Conway is a dangerous shot-maker, he’s been tied down so far but after getting used to the pace of the pitch he looks dangerous all of a sudden.
12th over: New Zealand 36-1 (Conway 10, Williamson 10) Maxwell continues and New Zealand pick off four singles. We’re going to have another bowling change from the other end, man mountain Cam Green is coming on to send down his towering seamers. It’s stodgy stuff so far, New Zealand are looking to hang in and accumulate.
11th over: New Zealand 32-1 (Conway 7, Williamson 8) The commentators think the pitch is a tricky one to score on, the hive-mind reckon 24o is a good score in Cairns. It’s quite slow going at the moment, Zampa gets in and out of his over cheaply, just three from it.
50 dot balls in that powerplay #AUSvNZ
— Andrew McGlashan (@andymcg_cricket) September 6, 2022
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10th over: New Zealand 29-1 (Conway 7, Williamson 8) Spin from both ends as Glenn Maxwell gets the nod from the other end. Finch opting to take pace off, I wonder if he’s trying to sneak in a few quick overs here whilst New Zealand are tied down? Powerplay done – New Zealand have made a slow start – just 29 on the board for the loss of Guptill.
9th over: New Zealand 27-1 (Conway 6, Williamson 7) Adam Zampa is getting an early twirl. Aaron Finch showing plenty of faith in his young spinner to give him the ball in the powerplay. Zampa, de-mulleted since the last time I saw him bowl, starts perkily, giving the ball a rip and plenty of flight. Just a single off it.
8th over: New Zealand 26-1 (Conway 6, Williamson 6) Conway fences at a back of a length ball from Hazlewood. The bowler is delayed going up for an appeal but the keeper and slips seem convinced?! Given not out on the field but Finch sends it upstairs. Our snicko says – uh-err. NOT OUT. Fresh air between bat and ball and Australia lose a review.
Too soon? #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/OSHpsGv4sf
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) September 6, 2022
7th over: New Zealand 24-1 (Conway 6, Williamson 6) Starc pitches up again and Williamson flays a drive that flies just over the diving Steve Smith in the slips. That would have been another remarkable grab but Williamson picks up four.
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6th over: New Zealand 15-1 (Conway 6, Williamson 0) The Kiwi skipper is the new batter. Australia reeled off 18 dot balls in the lead up to Guptill’s wicket. Quality seam bowling. Devon Conway plays a beautiful straight drive for four off Hazlewood to offer a counterpunch. Skilful, absorbing cricket.
WICKET! Guptill ct Maxwell b Starc 6 (New Zealand 10-1)
WHAT A CATCH. Glenn Maxwell pouches a scintillating diving catch at backward point. Think Ben Stokes off Stuart Broad in the 2015 Ashes at Trent Bridge! Guptill slices a length ball on the drive and it flies off his blade to Maxwell’s left hand side. Maxwell launches himself goalkeeper stylee to pluck the ball out of the air as it went past him at high speed. Ooof, get that on the replay.
5th over: New Zealand 10-1 (Conway 1, Williamson 0)
4th over: New Zealand 9-0 (Guptill 6, Conway 1) Conway gets off the mark with a clip to square leg. it’s the only run off the over though as Australia turn up the pressure cooker. Kerry O’Keefe and Ian Smith have some good natured joshing about the famous Trevor Chappell underarm incident, that didn’t take long!
Oh go on then:
3rd over: New Zealand 8-0 (Guptill 6, Conway 1) Starc has found his length, six balls on a handkerchief and it is a maiden.
2nd over: New Zealand 8-0 (Guptill 6, Conway 0) Josh Hazlewood starts with a wide but he’s then on the button and the tall seamer joins six dots. The sun is now starting to break through in Cairns (the sky is resolutely ink black looking out of my window in south London)
The cameraman zooms in on Kane Williamson as he rocks his head back to squirt some eye drops into the old peepers. Bit early for that sort of thing over here. Trent Boult, freshly free of NZ contract, is also beaming away in the dug out – cap on backwards, looking incredibly teenage.
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1st over: New Zealand 7-0 (Guptill 6, Conway 0) Swing straight away as Starc sends down a hooping full toss first ball that Guptill leans on, driving in the gap to pick up a couple. He then flicks a leg side ball away to the very short fine leg fence to pick up four.
Oooh drama! Guptill is given out off the final ball but REVIEWS straight away. The umpire and the Australian’s think he’s tickled this to the keeper. NOT OUT! Bat hit pad. The players exchange a few words, all good stuff. Plenty happening in the first over.
It’s a cloudy, blustery day in Cairns. Mitchell Starc has the new white nut in his hand and Guptill and Conway are marking their guards. Ian Smith is on the call on the TV. Righto – PLAY!
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So Ashton Agar has made way for Marnus Labuschagne in a batting bolstering move for the Aussies. New Zealand have left out veteran seamer Tim Southee and also Finn Allen has been discarded in favour of Devon Conway at the top of the order.
Here are the teams:
Australia: Aaron Finch (c), David Warner, Steven Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Marcus Stoinis, Alex Carey (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Cameron Green, Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood.
New Zealand: Martin Guptill, Devon Conway, Kane Willaimson (c), Tom Latham (wk), Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, James Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult.
Australia win the toss and will bowl
Aaron Finch calls the coin correctly, so his day has started well at the very least. He says he’s unsure about the conditions in Cairns, quite refreshing from the Australian skipper. I’ll post the teams now…
Preamble
Welcome back Mr Chappell-Hadlee, we’ve been expecting you.
It is fair to say a lot has happened since Australia and New Zealand’s men last went toe-to-toe on a cricket field, the two sides met at the SCG in early 2020 in an eerie game that had the spectre of the pandemic looming large all around it. Sure enough the world closed down almost immediately after and that, up to now, has been that.
But now we’re back with a mouth-watering contest in store. Kane Williamson’s New Zealand are looking to notch up their first win on green and gold soil in 13 (THIRTEEN) years whilst Australia have issues of their own. Namely the form of their captain, Aaron Finch, whose paltry returns of late have seen question marks over his place in the side start to swirl, the recent loss to Zimbabwe adding a big can of fuel to the fire.
Both sides have named pretty much full strength squads and we should be in for an intriguing three games in Cairns, who if my early morning research is correct, hasn’t hosted an international fixture since 2004. The waiting is nearly over, the toss is just around the corner, time for a quick boil of the kettle (insert UK politics joke here) and we’ll be underway.
Jim here with the call first up, as ever do get in touch if you are out there, your thoughts and theories are most welcome.
The game begins (under lights in Aus) at 2:20pm local time and 4:20pm NZST. It’s a dark and stormy 5am here in the UK (insert UK politics joke here).
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