Australia seal series in Adelaide

Australia won the third and final test against New Zealand by three wickets late on day three at the Adelaide Oval on Sunday, sealing the series 2-0. The game lived up, and lived up handsomely as McCullum as well as his opposite number thought that it was indeed a great concept.

Three quick New Zealand wickets set up a tense chase but Marsh’s 49 and strong partnerships with Adam Voges (28) and younger sibling Mitchell (28) – the brothers batting together for the first time in Tests – gave Australia command.

“The land of the long white cloud could taste a series-drawing victory in the inaugural day-night test, and a long dark cloud will linger over the pink ball showpiece after Nigel Llong’s farcical DRS howler on day two ultimately proved decisive in Australia’s extraordinary comeback”.

He also said he had watched the series between Australia and New Zealand, and had identified some deficiencies in the new-look Aussie line-up.

Shaun Marsh lost his own wicket when he dabbled at Trent Boult and was snapped up by Ross Taylor at first slip.

Australia coach Darren Lehhmann said Victorian quick James Pattinson will be summoned into the squad for the first Test against the West Indies starting in Hobart on December 10.

The hosts required another 26 runs when Kane Williamson held a skied catch to dismiss Mitch Marsh.

The 25-year-old came in to bat in the second innings of the Adelaide Test when Australia needed two more runs to win with three wickets in hand. “With 120,000 people turning up over three days – people are voting with their feet”.

Hazlewood struck with the ninth ball of the day to remove BJ Watling for seven, the wicketkeeper edging to Smith in the slips, and the paceman had his fifth victim of the innings when Mark Craig nicked behind for 15.

Network Nine’s head of sport Steve Crawley was thrilled at the ratings and said that the concept of day-night Test cricket is here to stay. Steven Smith got a similar ball from Boult and was out LBW for 14, while David Warner innings was cut short for a 37-ball 35 when he edged Bracewell to Tim Southee.

Mitchell Starc will continue to delay ankle surgery while resting his busted right foot in the hope of touring New Zealand early next year.

Starc was unable to run properly between the wickets and was seen wearing crutches soon after the Australians scraped through to win by three wickets.

The 123,736 crowd figure also broke a record for non-Ashes Test matches at the ground.