New Zealand pacer Sears to debut against unchanged Australia
New Zealand pace bowler Ben Sears will make his test debut against an unchanged Australia in the second and final match in Christchurch as the Black Caps look to square the series 1-1.
Matt Henry Sport News
Nathan Lyon Spins Australia To Victory Over New Zealand In First Test
Nathan Lyon spun Australia to a 172-run win over New Zealand in the first Test on Sunday, taking six wickets as the hosts collapsed to 196 all out. The home side crumbled on the fourth morning in Wellington, losing their last seven wickets for 70 runs, with four of them falling to off-spinner Lyon. He finished with innings figures of 6-65 off 27 overs, giving him 10-108 for the match. The 36-year-old capitalised on spin-friendly Basin Reserve conditions and some meek batting from New Zealand, who began the day on 111-3 and needing 258 more runs to secure an unlikely victory.
Steve Smith: Is The 'Best Since Bradman' On Decline, A Look Into Numbers
Star Australian batter Steve Smith has not been having best of the times as an opening batter, as his downward slump continued during the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington. During the first Test, he was dismissed for 31 in 71 balls by Matt Henry and then later for a three-ball duck in the second inning by Kiwi skipper Tim Southee. This has added to Smith's lean run that started just during the start of the new ICC World Test Championship cycle.
New Zealand chase 258 for victory in first test against Australia
:New Zealand were 111 for three at the close of play on the third day of the first test against Australia at Wellington's Basin Reserve on Saturday, still 258 runs away from their daunting victory target of 369.
Nathan Lyon Scripts Unique Batting Record In 1st Test vs New Zealand
Australian spin veteran Nathan Lyon made a unique batting record during the first Test against New Zealand at Wellington, becoming the player with the most Test runs without scoring a single half-century. During the day two of the match, Lyon came out as a nightwatchman following the dismissals of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne and made 41 in 46 balls, with six fours. He scored his runs at a strike rate of over 89. Now in 128 Tests and 162 innings, Lyon has made 1,501 runs at an average of 12.72. His best score is 47.
Watch: Collision With Teammate Sees Kane Williamson Lose 12-Year Streak In 1st Test vs Australia
New Zealand are squaring off against Australia in the first Test of the two-match series in Wellington. Asked to bat first, Australia posted a whopping total of 383, despite struggling at 89/4. All-rounder Cameron Green was the main architect of Australia's innings as he remained unbeaten at 174. For the Kiwis, Matt Henry registered an impressive five-wicket haul. Apart from all this action, this match also grabbed everyone's attention due to the bizarre dismissal of Kane Williamson on Day 2.
Watch: Commentator In Splits As Cameron Green-Josh Hazlewood's Running Act Stuns New Zealand
Star all-rounder Cameron Green was involved in a hilarious incident on Day 2 of the ongoing first Test between New Zealand and Australia at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Friday. It happened in the third over of the morning session after Australia had resumed their innings at 279/9. New Zealand pacer Matt Henry bowled an in-swinger to Josh Hazlewood, who caressed the ball through midwicket. While Green and Hazlewood could've stolen two runs, the former sent the latter back even before he completed a single.
Australia Take Charge Of First Test After New Zealand Collapse
Australia seized control of the opening Test on Friday after a miserable day for hosts New Zealand left them 217 runs adrift in Wellington and with a mountain to climb to stay in the match. The visitors finished on 13-2 in their second innings with nightwatchman Nathan Lyon not out six and opener Usman Khawaja on five after Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne departed cheaply. Tim Southee bowled Smith with his third ball, then had the out-of-form Labuschagne caught behind by Tom Blundell.