Date-stamped : 03 Dec93 - 11:03 NZ v Aus, T3, 3-7 Dec 93, 'Gabba, Brisbane, Match Report. ====> Day 1 NEW ZEALAND IN FOR A TORRID TIME New Zealand face another Test drubbing by Australia after a spec- tacular collapse in the third Test at Brisbane. The Kiwis smashed in last week's second Test won the toss and batted but lost six wickets between tea and stumps to finish on 208-9. Fast bowler Craig McDermott did most of the damage with 4-24 as New Zealand slumped from a respectable 167-3 to struggling to bat out the day. Contributed by goo-chie (jdw5@*.ukc.ac.uk) ====> Day 1 MORE A hot, humid, day today. New Zealand won the toss and batted on a perfect batting wicket. There was not the mottled effect of Hobart but the pitch was still a bit drier than usual for a first day. There was little in it for the quicks and the ball came on to the bat nicely. There was a little turn for anyone prepared to work the ball. Pocock soon went, the first of Healy's 5 catches today. He didn't get in line with one from McDermott. Young and Jones played really well and they were still together at lunch, looking in no trouble at all. Both are strong on the off side off the back foot, although Young is the more stylish. In this pre-lunch session, May was given a bowl. After lunch Warne came on but the breakthrough came, not for the first time in the series, from Mark Waugh. He has a very de- ceptive quick short one which has found Jones out in earlier games. But it was Young he got today with that same ploy. The short one was on the off stump, and Young got right under it, sking it to Healy. A good debut, he always LOOKED as though he had that ability to go on, but it wasn't to be. Shortly after- wards, Jones tried to hit Warne's flipper to leg off the back foot and was comprehensively bowled. These two were trying to up the tempo far too early and would have been better off waiting to play the shots they know they can. New Zealand should have been aiming for 500 on this track. Perhaps we need far fewer of these exhortations to be "positive." Today, Jones tried very hard to curb his uppish hooking and did quite well. Another good partnership between the new men, Greatbatch and Rutherford, was squandered by both going at once, just as Jones and Young had. McDermott got both, Rutherford to a very thick leading edge to Boon at short mid-wicket, and Greatbatch to yet another of those angling across him. McDermott's ball deviated away off the seam as well on this occasion. But Greatbatch has too many technical weaknesses. He also hits uppishly to square leg. A very stylish left-hander, he should always bat about 5. After that it was capitulation except for the usual fighting knock by Tony Blain who, once again, was batted far too low and was left with 9, 10, jack. The dismissals of Cairns and Morris- on, both given by the new man Parker, were dubious, but by then it didn't matter. Australia once again rammed home the lesson that the best way to deal with the tail is with spin. Too many teams let the tail off the hook by having to use tired new ball bowlers. With May and Warne getting 49 overs between them today, McDermott was able to be used as a shock bowler. Generally, Australia played good out-cricket and were well led. Border rotated his bowlers well, gave his spin attack plenty of work, and set his fields well to the weaknesses of the indivi- dual batsmen. In many ways this was an even worse NZ performance than Hobart - this time the conditions were absolutely plumb. Contributed by Geoff Bethell (srg3lib@*grace.cri.nz) ====> Day 1 MORE New Zealand blew a good start on the first day of the third test against Australia. Despite the early loss of Blair Pocck for a duck, the combination of Bryan Young and Andrew Jones took the score to 96 before both fell in quick time. Young out to a par- ticularly bad shot. Jones was deceived by a good flipper from Shane Warne that beat him, after he played back expecting another short ball. Ruther- ford and Greatbatch revelling in a new role which helps hit more attacking approach furthered the score to 167 before again both fell in quick order. Rutherford pushed a ball from McDermott to Boons left and he snapped the catch up. Greatbatch half heartedly played at a ball from McDer- mott and gave Healy his third catch. The dismissal of the last of the batsmen opened the way for the spinners to come on line again, Patel lasted only a short time before pushing forward to May and being caught by Boon. Chris Cairns pushed a bit forward and the ball bounced bck to Warne who took the catch, Cairns did not seem impressed with the decision. Danny Morrison was also unimpressed with his decision when he made his fourth consecutive duck taking him to 19 in his career peri- lously close to Chandresakar especaily given his likely career prospects. The ball moved swiftly passed past the bat into the gloves of Healy, very difficult to tell. Doull provided McDermott with his fourth wicket when he edged through to Healy giving him his fifth catch. Blain again proved 8 was too low in the order for him as he looked basically at ease, more so than most above him. Contributed by Phil Shead (drinnen@deakin.edu.au) ==========>> Day 2 04 Dec 93 Very similar conditions to yesterday. New Zealand batted well against the new ball with Blain getting some useful runs. It wasn't until the 9th over of the day that Warne came on, and it took him only three balls to finish the innings off. de Groen tried to hit him out of the ground but succeeded only in skying it to Border at mid-on to accept his 150th catch in tests. After lunch, New Zealand were able to keep the scoring in reason- able check, first with Patel and Cairns, but particularly later with Doull and de Groen. The bowling was backed up with some ex- cellent ground fielding which was of a high quality all day. Un- fortunately, a couple of chances were put down again, both off Mark Waugh. One was before he'd scored, by Rutherford at 2nd slip off Doull just after the latter had got Taylor with a long hop. He was also put down at 52 by Jones - a screamer at gully - off Morrison. Doull was getting a little movement, and also got his length and direction right for once and was the pick of the bowlers. The Taylor wicket was the catalyst for this spell. He was well caught by Pocock at square leg. Doull was aided by de Groen who kept it tight at the other end. de Groen, again, was under-bowled but was more economical than anyone. Earlier, in the Patel spell, Slater was out in dubious fashion. He played at one outside the off stump, over-balanced slightly, and Blain, although he took the ball, couldn't quite coordinate his movements to effect the stumping. However, Patel appealed for a catch and Slater was given out by Parker. Slater was gen- erally overshadowed by Taylor today. Taylor batted really well for his 53 but just played a bad shot. In the final session, Australia was generally on top of an attack in which Morrison was below par. Patel bowled too many wide lol- lipops and was hammered through the off side field often. Doull, alas, suffered a recurrence of the rib injury which put him out of the middle part of the tour and had to go off well before the end of play. He may well not bowl again in the match. New Zealand did pick up Mark Waugh's wicket, late on. This was a high one- handed catch at slip by Greatbatch - and didn't Paddy let the press box know about it! But the day ended with Aus- tralia well on top. They will be looking for a lead of around 250 tomorrow. Boon, the great accumulator of runs, is still there on a chance- less 72. His great trade-mark, the flick over slips, was in evi- dence today a couple of times today as well as the usual cuts and drives. Contributed by Geoff Bethell (srlnser@lhn.gns.cri.nz) =======> MORE T3D2 Australia moved towards an impregnable position against New Zealand in the third and final Test on Saturday. With memories fresh of New Zealand's innings and 222-run humiliation in Hobart a week ago, Australia cruised to 241 for three at the close of the second day, overhauling the Kiwis' modest 233 to lead by eight runs. Australia, needing only to draw to retrieve the Trans-Tasman Trophy, looked poised to amass another massive in- nings lead when the third day gets underway on Sunday. David Boon was unconquered on 72 and captain Allan Border, playing his world record 150th test, was on five. Yet again the Kiwis looked impotent against the Australians, although their sloppy fielding again made their task even more onerous. Andrew Jones dropped both Mark Waugh, on 52, and Boon in the 30s while skipper Ken Rutherford grassed a chance at second slip before Waugh had scored in his flowing innings of 68. It was the 10th catch put down by the Kiwis in the series so far. Australia got away to another flying start, Michael Slater and Mark Taylor, playing on the home ground of their test claimant Matthew Hayden, put on 80 for the opening wicket before Slater fell to a catch behind to 'keeper Tony Blain off spinner Dipak Patel for 28. Taylor, conscious of reports that he may be the one to make way for the prolific-scoring Hayden in the coming one-day international series, scored his 22nd test half century with an attractive knock of 53. Mark Waugh was in full flow be- fore he fell to a magnificent right-handed catch by Mark Great- batch falling backwards at first slip off Chris Cairns for 68. Waugh and Boon combined in a belligerent 125-run partnership for the third wicket, with Boon, scoring his 27th test half cen- tury, to near 1,200 runs for the calendar year. Border, the greatest run-scorer in tests, was given a rousing reception by his home crowd as he came to the crease to bat in his 150th test. Earlier he accepted his 150th test catch to clean up the New Zea- land innings when he caught tailender Richard De Groen at deep mid-on for one to give leg-spinner Shane Warne his fourth wicket of the innings. Pugnacious Tony Blain splurged 25 more runs to New Zealand's overnight total of 208 for nine, frustrating the Australian bowlers for half an hour before his last wicket partner De Groen holed out. Blain, although batting down the order, finished un- conquered on 42, only nine short of his highest test score. Warne finished with 4-66 and Craig McDermott had the impressive figures of 4-39 off 23 overs. Contributed by vasa (vasa@sun.com) --------- Day 3 05 Dec 1993 ----------- Same again really. New Zealand hung on for grim death against a good batting line up on a good batting pitch. The New Zealand ground fielding held up well all day, and the only chance missed was a stumping off Patel's bowling to Steve Waugh. This was one of the few that turned all day. The bowling was dull and unin- spired for the most part but Doull got one to move away off the pitch to Boon who edged it to Blain. Border was out to a lofted on drive to deep long on, while Healy was called through for a quick one by Steve Waugh that was never on. The bowler, de Groen, hit the stumps after fielding Waugh's drive in his follow through. There was a certain inevitability about today's play - the pitch was playing too well for New Zealand's type of attack to break through. de Groen and Morrison were steady, but the latter was not penetrative today. Cairns and Patel were nowhere near tight enough. Doull has the makings of a good bowler, but one has the feeling that, at his pace, he'd be better off trying to build on his ability to get wickets by trying to do it as an into the wind bowler. He came back well today, getting through 22 overs, after he went off injured yesterday. Word is though that he will not stay for the one-day series. Didn't see much of Border's innings - we had a car race on TV all day today - but by all accounts it was just a typical Border knock with most of the runs coming with cross-batted shots on both sides of the wicket. It was very popular, of course, at the decision after the South Africa series. Steve Waugh had to battle through some atrocious light, and the threat of a deluge, at the end to post his century. At the very end, he and Warne almost, but not quite, broke New Zealand's spirit. They held up right un- til the end - but only just. New Zealand cannot, now, win this game. They must look to bat for 5 sessions at least. On this pitch that is quite possible but Warne and May are a different kettle of fish from Patel. Warne at least will certainly get turn. It is becoming depressing writing match reports in these circumstances, but there is every chance the New Zealand batting will hold up tomorrow. Contributed by Geoff.Bethell (srlnser@lhn.gns.cri.nz) ====> Day 3 MORE Allan Border, already Test cricket's leading runmaker, over- took Sir Gary Sobers in the century scorers rankings on Sunday to put Australia in command against New Zealand in the third Test. The Australian skipper's 27th Test century complemented by Steve Waugh's sixth hundred piled on more agony for New Zealand. At the end of a hot day in the field, the Kiwis saw all hope of re- taining the Trans Tasman Trophy evaporate as Australia stormed to a 300-run lead at the end of day three. At the close Australia were on 533 for six with Steve Waugh defiant with an unbeaten 113 and leg-spinner Shane Warne in support with a swashbuckling 37. Border hit 105 and with Waugh ensured there would be no possi- bility of a New Zealand victory. The Australian skipper, playing in his 150th test and leading his country for the 87th time, made his runs in 275 minutes with 15 fours before an adoring 'Gabba' ground home crowd. To the chants of "Border, Border", the 38- year-old left-hander, the greatest run-scorer in test cricket with 10,876 runs, moved to third behind Sunil Gavaskar and Sir Donald Bradman on the all-time list of test century-makers. His innings ended when he holed out to Dipak Patel at long-on off Richard De Groen shortly after tea. Border signalled his inten- tion to declare overnight and give his bowlers, particularly spin twins Tim May and Warne, two days to dismiss the Kiwis and take the series 2-0 to retrieve the Trans Tasman Trophy after a break of four years. New Zealand cricket plunged to an all-time low when they crashed to an ignominious innings and 222-run defeat to Australia in last week's second Hobart test to put Australia in the box seat to take the series. Waugh, who received a painful crack on an unprotected left elbow in fending off a rearing delivery from Simon Doull, faced 223 balls and cracked 12 boundaries in his in- nings. Waugh had a life on 44 when wicketkeeper Tony Blain missed a difficult stumping chance off spinner Dipak Patel. Such was the single-mindedness of the Australians to reach their tar- get that Waugh and Warne twice declined invitations from the match umpires to end play early because of deteriorating light and rain. The third day's play also featured the first time a player was given out in Australia to a television replay when wicketkeeper Ian Healy was given run out for 15 by the off-field third umpire. After a short delay two red lights flashed to signal that Healy was out of his ground and he was given out. Earlier, Australia's ultra-consistent David Boon looked poised for his 19th Test hun- dred before he was caught behind by Tony Blain off Simon Doull for 89. The Kiwis bowled a total of 168 overs with medium pacer Richard De Groen the pick at 1-84 off 39 overs, although Simon Doull captured 2-105 off 33 overs. Contributed by vasa (Vasanthan.Dasan@*Sun.COM) ====> Day 3 MORE Border century piles on agony (by Geoffrey Dean in Brisbane) The Queensland crowd applauded Allan Border all the way to the middle on Saturday evening, and all the way back yesterday after he had made 105 in 41/2 hours. They sensed it might be his last Test innings at the Gabba, but the authority with which he com- piled his 27th Test hundred and his statements last week about delaying his retirement suggest he will continue against England here next year. "We were expected by the cricketing public to bury New Zealand," said Border afterwards, and this is precisely what his team have done in this third Test. The gap between the two sides is now an embarrassment in the absence of Martin Crowe, and only rain can save New Zealand, 300 behind on a dry, crusty pitch already taking turn. Border's performance was a microcosm of the Australian innings - relentless, remorseless, occasionally contemptuous and always commanding. Made welcome by the flattest of pitches and even friendlier bowling, perhaps his greatest enemy was the energy-sapping 90 per cent humidity, allied to 30C heat. Steve Waugh, who was 50 balls slower to his sixth Test hundred (reached in 235 deliveries) tired more visibly, handi- capped also by a blow to the wrist and atrocious light in the final session. The pair came together 25 minutes after the start yesterday when David Boon (89 from 201 balls) edged a leg-cutter. They were not parted until after tea, the stand worth 159 in 56 overs. (Thanks: The Daily Telegraph) Contributed by Vicky (VIGNESWA@*umass.edu) ====> Day 4, 06 Dec 93 New Zealand were left praying for rain despite a defiant half century from opener Bryan Young on the fourth day against Aus- tralia. He struck only two fours in his 53 made in 140 minutes at the crease before being bowled round his legs by spinner Shane Warne. The Kiwis were 158-5 at close of play with skipper Ken Rutherford hoping that the predicted rain will enable them to hang on for a draw. Steve Waugh earlier scored 147 and Warne made a career best 74 in Australia's 607-6 declared. Contributed by goo-chie (jdw5@*.ukc.ac.uk) ====> Day 4 MORE Australia ground New Zealand into the dust for a further 15 overs today. Two notable milestones were achieved. Firstly, Shane Warne made his best ever 1st class score. He has quite a bit of batting ability and, apparently, started out in club cricket as a specialist batsman. On the other side of the ledger, five New Zealand bowlers conceded in excess of 100 runs. This has only happened once before in test cricket (apparently). The purpose of Border batting on was not obvious. With rain and bad light about it surely must have made sense to pull out overnight. However, psychologically, it got New Zealand back into "no hope" mode once again, so this may help explain Border's decision. In the rest of the day, Australia have managed to knock off New Zealand's top order save for Ken Rutherford. They went off for rain and bad light with about 1 hour to go - that hour itself being an add-on for a previous stoppage. New Zealand again got to 80 with only one wicket down, but then lost three quick wickets. A final wicket just before the close left them 5-158, an awful long way behind. Chief destoyers of this innings were McDermott and Warne. Craig McDermott got Pocock in absolutely indentical fashion to the 1st innings - not quite getting in line with one just outside the off stump. Healy took a very good one low down to his right. Later, McDermott rubbed his hands with glee when Mark Greatbatch came to the wicket. Border brought him on, and it was no surprise when he clainmed the wicket. Unusually it was an lbw but Great- batch was playing a similar shot to those going across him which he nicks to the keeper. This one straightened, and Greatbatch was playing down the wrong line, OUTSIDE it this time. In between times, Shane Warne had a good spell and claimed two wickets as well. Jones hit a long-hop straight to Border at mid- wicket, while Young became the latest incredulous victim of the one outside leg stump which hits the stumps out of the rough. Poor Bryan Young just couldn't believe his wicket went down directly. But this was Young's debut game, and he played confidently in both innings. It could be that he is one of those players, perhaps not of the highest class, but who have that vital tem- perament that can handle the test game. Let's hope so, because New Zealand needs someone reliable at the top of the order in the absence of John Wright. Contrast him with Blair Pocock. Pocock is a very nervous player who may struggle to believe in himself at this level. He desperately needs a BIG innings to put him on the right road. However, he is young and may yet make it. Rutherford also played very well for his 40 not out. His speciality is the late cut. He scores lots of runs with it and it seldom gets him out. Rutherford gets a disparaging press because of his test average in the 20s, but it has not been an even ef- fort; he has done much better since about his 15th test, and VERY much better this last two years. Tomorrow, weather permitting and we shouldn't want that to deprive Australia of a deserved win, Australia should be able to complete another victory. New Zealand's lower order will have to perform a miracle to get out of this. Contributed by Geoff Bethell (srg3lib@*grace.cri.nz) ====> Day 5, 7 Dec 93 Australias bowled NZ out for 278 on the last day to win the Test by an Innings and 96 runs and the series by a 2-0 margin. Warne took 8 wickets in the match to grab both the Man of the Match and Man of the Series honours. About 80 minutes of play was lost in the morning session due to rain. Australian skipper Alan Border acknowledged that this may be his last Test match in Brisbane. In his 150th Test match he was anxious to perform well and was aided by a 'beautiful batting track'. Shane Warne finished a fantastic year in which he captured 71 Test wickets. Contributed by The Management (help@cricinfo.com) ====> Day 5 MORE After a late start, Australia completed their win well before afternoon tea. From the New Zealand pont of view there was a bit of fight from Ken Rutherford, who made a good 86 before being caught in the deep, - not for the first time - hooking, off McGrath. Later in the innings, there was a 35 stand between Morrison and Doull which included some lofted hits off all bowlers. Morrison's 20 was his highest in tests, and it followed four consecutive ducks. There were a few light-hearted moments today. The old ball bent quite a bit in the hands of Glenn McGrath. This was a bit of a surprise, since he hadn't shown any ability to swing the ball at any other stage of the series. His inswingers, in particular, were prodigious. The away swingers were less pronounced, but in each case, the swing was a reverse swing. One on occasion, Craig McDermott fielded the ball, examined it, and then just about cracked up :-) Shane Warne nearly had the temerity to require the umpires to check the ball for shape. McGrath would NOT have been amused. Then there was Dipak Patel. He tried playing Shane Warne with his pads when far better players than he have tried and failed miserably. On one occasion the ball ballooned up in the air off his front pad, Patel had no idea where it was, and it descended from the heavens missing his leg bail by about 2 inches. A couple of balls later, Patel was bowled BETWEEN his legs. Unbelievable. Other batsmen dismissed that I haven't given details of: Blain, who tried hard again today but played Warne with his pads too much, got one from McGrath that came back slightly. He got an inside edge on to his stumps. Doull was facing a round-the-wicket delivery from Warne. He tried to play on the on side, but got an outsdie edge and was caught at slip. This must have caught Taylor off guard, so it was a good catch. Finally de Groen, joining in the fun started by Morrison and Doull, hit a good one to the mid-wicket boundary but was out soon afterwards chopping May on to his wicket. That was the coup de grace and the win for Australia. There is little point in dwelling on the reasons for victory and defeat. There is enough posted on RSC already for you all to have few doubts. New Zealand were competitive for the first three days of the series, and after that were completely stuffed. So, after WSC, Australia go into a series with South Africa. South Africa are a similar side to NZ. The batting is brittle, and there is not too much variety in attack. One would have to fancy Australia, especially if Warne maintains his form and fitness. New Zealand have a home series with Pakistan, followed by a one- off test against India ... in APRIL! New Zealand should do better at home, especially with Crowe to come back, but Waqar Younis and Wasim Akram had a field day in the test earlier this year. So - we'll see. Contributed by Geoff Bethell (srg3lib@*grace.cri.nz)