NZ tour of Oz, Dec 12 - Jan 7

[mikesiva]

Labuschagne the run machine gets another ton.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Waggy gets Smith for 43. Big moment in the game.

[Arthur Crabtree]

And Wade goes cheaply. But only five overs left in the twilight. A couple more would be nice, including Labu.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Good day overall for the Aussies. Good chance NZ top order will have to go out in the twilight.

More of a game than Pakistan gave them though.

[yuppie]

Australia would want NZ to be fielding again in that heat, and then having 30 overs at them tomorrow underlights.

NZ needed more with the 2nd new ball. Bowler down, tomorrow could be a slog for them. Though one more wicket, and they are into the tail.

[mikesiva]

Australia 416 all out

Labuschagne 143
Head 56

Southee 4-93
Wagner 4-92

[GarlicJam]

Australia would want NZ to be fielding again in that heat, and then having 30 overs at them tomorrow underlights.

Exactly what happened Yuppie, well done. Except the lights really only come into play for the last hour of each day.

Aus had the Kiwis in a spot of bother at the start, with both opening bowlers removing one of the opening batters in their first over, 2/1.

Hazelwood felt a hamstring on his 8th delivery, and then went off for the rest of the day, probably gone for the test as well as Ferguson. Good thing for Aus that Starc looks in good touch.

This day/night test in Perth is a strange one for us in Aus, it will take some getting used to. I actually went to bed before close of play both days so far. I will put my Big Boy pants on for tonight's last session, to see if I can last it out.

The has been no noticeable extra swing/movement from the pink ball under the lights - at least while i was awake - maybe the high heat, and I assume dryness, factors in here.

[GarlicJam]

Here I am, it's 2pm on a Saturday (and the regular crowd has shuffled out), I've done my main task for the day (putting up the palings on the new front fence the neighbour and I have put up. (back half to come down and go up after Christmas) , the wide and the younger two girls have gone away overnight for traditional things they do.

Jess loves watching cricket, and send to prefer test cricket over the shorter versions. But, we have to wait a while nother two hours before the start of play.

[GarlicJam]

I did have put this on the Moan thread, I suppose.

[mikesiva]

New Zealand 166 all out

Taylor 80

Starc 5-52

[bigfluffylemon]

Well that was staggeringly disappointing from New Zealand. As I think we said when they were playing England, their best batting line-up possibly ever (minus Raval), and they fold for under 200 in both innings, and with Australia a bowler down too.

Australia having first use of the pitch then getting to bowl under lights was an advantage, but it still staggers me how Australia always seem to manage to take wickets at home when very few other bowling attacks manage to on the same surface. Outside of Warner, Labuschagne and Smith, the Australian batting line-up is very ordinary, and should be vulnerable, but they always seem to be able to rack up 400-500 at home.The discrepancy between home and away records of the likes of Warner, Labuschagne, Burns, Voges etc. is ridiculous - they clean up at home then can't buy a run overseas (OK, Labu did well in the Ashes).

I don't get it.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Labu has scored 1000 runs this calendar year. Smith is second on 873.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Burns fails yet again. A golden duck.

Disappointing for NZ that there's only one wicket though, given NZ won the toss and bowled.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Pattinson seems to be in for Hazlewood. Blundell and Boult for Raval and Ferguson.

[Arthur Crabtree]

Waggy gets Warner. So not so bad for NZ at lunch.