Somerset
Cricketer Of The Year
Australian Test Series
New Zealand faced Australia in a highly competitive test match series immediately following the Bangladeshi encounters.
1st Test vs Australia
New Zealand chose a twelve man squad of Fulton, Vincent, Sinclair, Taylor, Flynn, Ryder, McCullum, Oram, Franklin, Vettori, Bond and O’Brien. Vettori was omitted as New Zealand played an all out pace attack, as did Australia.
The home side batted first and performed admirably. Sinclair and Oram top scored with 80s, while Vincent, Flynn and Franklin all passed 50. All of New Zealand’s top nine batsmen made it to 29 but none to three figures, resulting in the total of 480, rather than a total in excess of 500. Tait was expensive but threatening for the Australians. Strangely, Ponting relied on 25 overs worth of part-time bowling, including 20 overs on day one alone. Australia found batting just as easy. Hughes (94) and Katich (85) put on 190 for the first wicket but it was Ponting, who made 194, that provided the innings of most class. Clarke and Haddin also passed 50. Australia eventually declared on 630 with a 150 run lead, to the relief of the exhausted Kiwi bowlers.
By the end of day four, New Zealand was 2/60, trailing by 90 runs. With the pitch at its most inconsistent, Australia applied the pressure on the final day, and had it not been for Ryder (61) and Oram (53), Australia’s victory would’ve been a formality. Johnson and Lee were lethal. New Zealand was all out for 234 with an hour and a half to play in the final session, and Australia required just 85 to win. Australia almost succumbed to nerves in their chase, as Bond dismissed both openers and Ponting and Hussey ran themselves out. Oram grabbed Clarke and O’Brien bagged two more quick wickets and at 7/72, New Zealand sensed the possibility of an unlikely win. However, Phil Jacques, batting at number six, calmly saw his side home with an unbeaten 25 as Australia took the match by three wickets.
Australia win by 3 wickets and lead the series 1-0
2nd Test vs Australia
Franklin was terribly out of form and Tim Weston took his spot in the twelve man squad. That meant Vettori came into the starting XI, while Weston made his test debut by taking Ross Taylor’s spot and batting at number six, with Ryder and Flynn moving up a spot each.
Hughes again led Australia to a competitive total as Australia batted first. He made 86 before again falling just short of a century. Hussey and Jaques also scored classy 50s, while Clarke and Watson, playing instead of Brett Lee, made 40s before throwing their wickets away. New Zealand was satisfied to limit Australia to only 388 after their good start and owed that to O’Brien’s four wickets, Ryder’s two (of the dangerous Hughes and Jaques) and two to Bond. Australia then knocked New Zealand back early as Fulton and Vincent failed to make contributions. Like the first test, the other Kiwi batsmen made starts without going on to record a massive score. McCullum top scored with 74, while Weston, on debut, and Oram, made 50s. Flynn, ironically, was dismissed for 49. Johnson, Watson and Siddle were the pick of the Australian bowlers.
Leading by 63 runs, Hughes (85) and Ponting (71) advanced Australia to a strong position at 1/137, but they collapsed terribly and found themselves all out for 286. Only Jaques, who made 62, passed 20 of the remaining batsmen. Bond and Oram took three wickets, while Vettori and Ryder took two each. That left New Zealand needing 350 to win in four sessions, but rain ruined much of the final session on day four. Heading into the final day of the second test, the hosts required 323 with nine wickets in hand. That was reduced to 231 to win with seven wickets in hand at lunch, and 110 to win and five wickets down at tea. Unlike the first test, New Zealand’s batsmen played sensibly and made consistent inroads into their target. Daniel Flynn played his best test innings in his career and it was his unbeaten 119 that was instrumental in a sensational New Zealand victory. What really hinted to a New Zealand win was a Ponting over just before tea that went for 18 runs. McCullum (59) and Ryder (55) combined with Flynn for important partnerships. All of Australia’s four main bowlers took wickets but none could dislodge enough of the home side’s players to take the series.
New Zealand win by 4 wickets. Series tied at 1-1
3rd Test vs Australia
New Zealand made no changes to their squad of twelve, nor starting XI, for the deciding test.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand continued their impressive showing in the second test by posting a fantastic first innings total of 466. Tim Weston, playing just his second test, was the catalyst for their success, as he played brilliantly for his 111 runs. Flynn carried on his good form with 80, McCullum scored 64 and Fulton set the scene with 61. Ryder also scored 62, but he was forced to retire hurt following a horrific injury facing Mitchell Johnson, putting him out of action for the rest of the season. Siddle and Johnson were Australia’s best bowlers, and each took four wickets. Phil Hughes then brought Australia back into the game with an incredibly innings of 214. Without his contribution, Australia would’ve struggled to get close to New Zealand’s first innings, but instead they took a lead of 13 runs. Watson (74) and Haddin (54) were the only other tourists to make scores worth noting. Vettori and Bond were New Zealand’s best bowling options.
New Zealand then collapsed terribly. Fulton made 82 from 258 deliveries but he played a lone hand as New Zealand fell for just 188. Their only saving grace was that the innings took 93.5 overs. Weston’s 28 was the second highest score in the innings, and six single figure scores were made by New Zealand batsmen, not including Ryder, who was unable to bat. Siddle and Johnson led the way for Australia again. New Zealand was 175 runs ahead and Fulton’s stonewalling meant Australia had an hour and 20 minutes to score them in to take the series. They showed no interest in chasing the total and instead opted for batting practice.
Match drawn. Series tied 1-1
New Zealand faced Australia in a highly competitive test match series immediately following the Bangladeshi encounters.
1st Test vs Australia
New Zealand chose a twelve man squad of Fulton, Vincent, Sinclair, Taylor, Flynn, Ryder, McCullum, Oram, Franklin, Vettori, Bond and O’Brien. Vettori was omitted as New Zealand played an all out pace attack, as did Australia.
The home side batted first and performed admirably. Sinclair and Oram top scored with 80s, while Vincent, Flynn and Franklin all passed 50. All of New Zealand’s top nine batsmen made it to 29 but none to three figures, resulting in the total of 480, rather than a total in excess of 500. Tait was expensive but threatening for the Australians. Strangely, Ponting relied on 25 overs worth of part-time bowling, including 20 overs on day one alone. Australia found batting just as easy. Hughes (94) and Katich (85) put on 190 for the first wicket but it was Ponting, who made 194, that provided the innings of most class. Clarke and Haddin also passed 50. Australia eventually declared on 630 with a 150 run lead, to the relief of the exhausted Kiwi bowlers.
By the end of day four, New Zealand was 2/60, trailing by 90 runs. With the pitch at its most inconsistent, Australia applied the pressure on the final day, and had it not been for Ryder (61) and Oram (53), Australia’s victory would’ve been a formality. Johnson and Lee were lethal. New Zealand was all out for 234 with an hour and a half to play in the final session, and Australia required just 85 to win. Australia almost succumbed to nerves in their chase, as Bond dismissed both openers and Ponting and Hussey ran themselves out. Oram grabbed Clarke and O’Brien bagged two more quick wickets and at 7/72, New Zealand sensed the possibility of an unlikely win. However, Phil Jacques, batting at number six, calmly saw his side home with an unbeaten 25 as Australia took the match by three wickets.
Australia win by 3 wickets and lead the series 1-0
2nd Test vs Australia
Franklin was terribly out of form and Tim Weston took his spot in the twelve man squad. That meant Vettori came into the starting XI, while Weston made his test debut by taking Ross Taylor’s spot and batting at number six, with Ryder and Flynn moving up a spot each.
Hughes again led Australia to a competitive total as Australia batted first. He made 86 before again falling just short of a century. Hussey and Jaques also scored classy 50s, while Clarke and Watson, playing instead of Brett Lee, made 40s before throwing their wickets away. New Zealand was satisfied to limit Australia to only 388 after their good start and owed that to O’Brien’s four wickets, Ryder’s two (of the dangerous Hughes and Jaques) and two to Bond. Australia then knocked New Zealand back early as Fulton and Vincent failed to make contributions. Like the first test, the other Kiwi batsmen made starts without going on to record a massive score. McCullum top scored with 74, while Weston, on debut, and Oram, made 50s. Flynn, ironically, was dismissed for 49. Johnson, Watson and Siddle were the pick of the Australian bowlers.
Leading by 63 runs, Hughes (85) and Ponting (71) advanced Australia to a strong position at 1/137, but they collapsed terribly and found themselves all out for 286. Only Jaques, who made 62, passed 20 of the remaining batsmen. Bond and Oram took three wickets, while Vettori and Ryder took two each. That left New Zealand needing 350 to win in four sessions, but rain ruined much of the final session on day four. Heading into the final day of the second test, the hosts required 323 with nine wickets in hand. That was reduced to 231 to win with seven wickets in hand at lunch, and 110 to win and five wickets down at tea. Unlike the first test, New Zealand’s batsmen played sensibly and made consistent inroads into their target. Daniel Flynn played his best test innings in his career and it was his unbeaten 119 that was instrumental in a sensational New Zealand victory. What really hinted to a New Zealand win was a Ponting over just before tea that went for 18 runs. McCullum (59) and Ryder (55) combined with Flynn for important partnerships. All of Australia’s four main bowlers took wickets but none could dislodge enough of the home side’s players to take the series.
New Zealand win by 4 wickets. Series tied at 1-1
3rd Test vs Australia
New Zealand made no changes to their squad of twelve, nor starting XI, for the deciding test.
After winning the toss and opting to bat first, New Zealand continued their impressive showing in the second test by posting a fantastic first innings total of 466. Tim Weston, playing just his second test, was the catalyst for their success, as he played brilliantly for his 111 runs. Flynn carried on his good form with 80, McCullum scored 64 and Fulton set the scene with 61. Ryder also scored 62, but he was forced to retire hurt following a horrific injury facing Mitchell Johnson, putting him out of action for the rest of the season. Siddle and Johnson were Australia’s best bowlers, and each took four wickets. Phil Hughes then brought Australia back into the game with an incredibly innings of 214. Without his contribution, Australia would’ve struggled to get close to New Zealand’s first innings, but instead they took a lead of 13 runs. Watson (74) and Haddin (54) were the only other tourists to make scores worth noting. Vettori and Bond were New Zealand’s best bowling options.
New Zealand then collapsed terribly. Fulton made 82 from 258 deliveries but he played a lone hand as New Zealand fell for just 188. Their only saving grace was that the innings took 93.5 overs. Weston’s 28 was the second highest score in the innings, and six single figure scores were made by New Zealand batsmen, not including Ryder, who was unable to bat. Siddle and Johnson led the way for Australia again. New Zealand was 175 runs ahead and Fulton’s stonewalling meant Australia had an hour and 20 minutes to score them in to take the series. They showed no interest in chasing the total and instead opted for batting practice.
Match drawn. Series tied 1-1
