Australia Delivers The Expected Defeat Upon New Zealand

New Zealand’s chances of a victory would be greatly enhanced with strike bowlers Southee and Trent Boult taking the new ball on what is traditionally a pace friendly deck at the WACA.

Australia coach Darren Lehmann has been priming his fast bowlers to turn the blowtorch on New Zealand’s batsmen, a few of whom were fragile in the first test loss in Brisbane.

“With Brendon McCullum at the helm, New Zealand has vowed to play an aggressive brand of cricket”. It was a poor call from umpire Nigel Llong and a fuming McCullum realised New Zealand’s two decision reviews had been used up by Williamson and BJ Watling challenging their lbws, so he had to trudge off at a dire 243-7.

McCullum also added that he was confident Southee would be fit for Perth after he was troubled by a back injury in Brisbane as was all-rounder James Neesham.

Australia and New Zealand’s second Test, in Perth, is live on Sky Sports 2 from 2.30am on Friday morning. During the Gabba Test he opened up further about his post-Ashes ponderings, telling ABC Grandstand radio that he needed the time at home to confirm in his own mind that he wanted to go on.

“Australia has made no apologies that it will not try and replicate the Snow White Black Caps”.

Australia is nearly certain to retain the same attack in Perth, particularly as there is then more than a week’s break leading into the series-ending third Test under lights in Adelaide. Notably, he and fellow left-armer Mitchell Starc worked effectively together, especially when they rattled New Zealand’s batsmen during a five-over spell late on the second day. New Zealand, just briefly, could dare to dream of a world record chase.

Taylor’s struggles continued when he mistimed a pull shot on 26 and gloved a catch, in the day’s fifth over.

“Smith himself is walking a fine line this series because of the impeccable behaviour of the New Zealand side, a terrific bunch of blokes who could pass for the Methodist Minister’s XI”, cricket correspondent Robert Craddock wrote.

The New Zealanders need 362 runs for an unlikely victory on Monday, or need to bat through three sessions for a draw.

But while Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum is still there swinging, the tourists will have hope of batting out the day to save the match. He cleared the fence twice, including a booming hook off Johnson.

Nathan Lyon also claimed three wickets.

“He showed in that first innings he will pose a lot of questions, so hopefully he will play”.

Things went from bad to worse for the Black Caps when Doug Bracewell was dismissed first ball, plumb lbw to a full inswinger from Marsh.