Cricket Australia XI openers share record stand against NZ

The tour match between New Zealand and a Cricket Australia XI has finished in farcical circumstances with officials abandoning the game due to the wicket being “unfit” for first-class cricket.

The stumps have been taken out of the ground at both ends of the wicket during the lunch interval on day two of the three day game.

“Once it became known Aaron and Cameron wouldn’t be playing for Victoria in this Shield round, the opportunity presented to call two experienced players into the CA XI squad”, said Pat Howard, Cricket Australia’s executive general manager (team performance).

“Preparation of the wicket was compromised by poor weather conditions in Sydney early this week”.

The CA XI amassed a record-breaking 1-503 inside 122 overs prior to lunch on day two, but when Ryan Carters was dismissed for 209 and his captain Ashton Turner declared, the two teams and the umpires walked off together, shaking hands and bidding farewell.

“I’d describe it as a jigsaw with half the pieces missing”.

Aaron Finch, left, and Ryan Carters plundered an opening stand of 503 in the tour match against the Black Caps.

He wasn’t about to point fingers but admitted there was “no doubt” New Zealand were disappointed at what CA had lined up for them as preparation for the first test starting in Brisbane next Thursday. Carters and Finch started the day on 376-0 and scored quickly throughout the first session on the second day. Their 503-run partnership was the highest for any wicket for all first-class cricket in Australia.

Finch and Carters cashed in against a second-string New Zealand bowling attack with Trent Boult rested and fellow paceman Tim Southee forced to leave the field after a few overs on day one after feeling sick.

But he put a positive face on what the events of the last two days had done to New Zealand’s preparations for what will be starkly different facilities at the Gabba next week.

All but one Black Caps player, wicket-keeper BJ Watling, bowled in the 121-over innings as Finch and Carters blazed away.