It was a day of unlikely heroes. Glenn Phillps’ off-spin magic has brought New Zealand back in the game on an intriguing day of a Test match at Basin Reserve. The all-rounder claimed the first five wicket haul of his Test career as the Australians crumbled against the measured bowling of their opponents. Night-watchman Nathan Lyon added 41 valuable runs to the Australian total. In pursuit of an arduous 369 run target, New Zealand ended the day at the score of 111 runs for 3 wickets. The game is perfectly poised at the moment and we await for a thrilling Test cricket on day 4.
Team Lineups
The Test series between New Zealand and Australia is highly anticipated after New Zealand’s recent whitewash in the T20I series. The first match of the two-test series is scheduled to commence on February 29 at the iconic Basin Reserve in Wellington, promising an exciting five-day contest for cricket fans worldwide.
Australia, led by their regular captain Pat Cummins, have arrived with a formidable full-strength team. With the absence of David Warner, the experienced Steve Smith is set to open the innings alongside the talented Usman Khawaja.
The visitors are expected to showcase their depth with the inclusion of two all-rounders in Mitchell Marsh and Cameron Green. The pace attack will be spearheaded by the lethal duo of Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc, while the spin department will rely solely on the expertise of Nathan Lyon. They are playing with an unchanged side that was surprisingly beaten by the West Indies last month.
On the other hand, New Zealand will face a setback as Devon Conway will miss the series due to a thumb injury sustained during the T20I series against Australia. In his absence, Will Young will partner with Tom Latham at the top of the order.
The return of Henry Nicholls, who was absent in the previous Test series against South Africa, will provide a boost to the Kiwi batting lineup. Additionally, the inclusion of the promising all-rounder Rachin Ravindra, who overcame knee soreness that kept him out of the first two T20Is, adds depth to the New Zealand squad for the first Test.
The clash between these two cricketing powerhouses promises to be a thrilling encounter, with both teams fielding strong lineups and eager to make their mark in the Test arena. Fans can expect intense battles between bat and ball as the series unfolds, showcasing the competitive spirit and skill of players from both sides.
New Zealand
- Tom Latham 2. Will Young 3. Kane Williamson 4. Rachin Ravindra 5. Daryl Mitchell 6. Tom Blundell (WK) 7. Glenn Phillps 8. Scott Kuggeleijn 9. Matt Henry 10. Tim Southee (Cap.) 11. Will O’Rourke
Australia
1. Usman Khawaja 2. Steve Smith 3. Marnus Labuschagne 4. Cameron Green 5. Travis Head 6. Mitchell Marsh 7. Alex Carey (WK) 8. Mitchell Starc 9. Pat Cummins (Cap.) 10. Nathan Lyon 11. Josh Hazlewood
In scenic Wellington, New Zealand, enthusiasts can look forward to a riveting clash where both bat and ball are set to have their moments of glory. As the match kicks off, bowlers are poised to relish the substantial support from the pitch, with the new ball exhibiting remarkable swing and posing a formidable challenge for the batsmen. On the other hand, spinners may encounter difficulties in extracting substantial turn or bounce from the wicket, requiring them to adapt their strategies to make an impact. However, once batters find their rhythm and acclimatize to the conditions, the stage is set for them to accumulate runs with diligence and construct substantial innings that could potentially sway the course of the game.
Fixture
The historic Trans-Tasman rivalry between Australia and New Zealand is poised to reignite in a thrilling showdown as they gear up for the inaugural Test of the highly anticipated two-match series commencing on February 29th (Thursday), vying for the prestigious Chappell-Hadlee Trophy.
Australia is embarking on a momentous red-ball tour of their neighboring arch-rivals for the first time since the memorable encounters of February 2016. Back then, Australia asserted their dominance emphatically, clinching a commanding 2-0 triumph over the Kiwis.
The Aussies undeniably hold the upper hand over the Blackcaps in the traditional red-ball format, boasting a stellar record with 34 victories out of the 60 Tests contested, while New Zealand has mustered only eight wins, with 18 matches culminating in a stalemate.
Armed with the aura of reigning champions of the World Test Championship, Australia strides into the series brimming with confidence following their recent resounding success in the T20I series, where they outclassed New Zealand with a clinical 3-0 whitewash. Nonetheless, New Zealand draws inspiration from their commendable performance against a makeshift South African squad in the recent two-match Test series.
Offering a sneak peek into the battlefield, the Basin Reserve in Wellington unveils a pitch shrouded in a lush green cover for the impending contest. The verdant hue promises to favor the seamers from both camps, potentially posing a formidable challenge for the team tasked with setting the tone in the opening innings. Notably, the historic venue has witnessed outcomes in 43 out of the 67 Tests held within its precincts, with a remarkable 29 of those victories belonging to sides that opted to unleash their bowling arsenal first.
With the promise of moisture-laden conditions and the allure of fresh grass blades, the bowlers entrusted with embarking on this cricketing odyssey stand poised to exploit the early advantage offered by the Basin Reserve wicket, setting the stage for a compelling battle between bat and ball
| Venue | The third day of the first Test match between Australia and New Zealand was played at The Basin Reserve in Wellington, New Zealand. |
| Date | The third day started on Saturday, March 2, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. local time. |
Captaincy & Tactics
The Australian bowling attack, spearheaded by the wily Nathan Lyon, continued to hold the upper hand against a determined New Zealand fightback on the third day of the first Test at the Basin Reserve. Chasing a mammoth 369 for victory, the Kiwis found themselves in a precarious 111 for 3 at stumps, with much work to be done to pull off an improbable chase.
Lyon, the veteran off-spinner, proved to be a constant thorn in the New Zealand side. He cunningly outfoxed skipper Kane Williamson, who fell for 13 after his attempted inside edge ended up safely in the hands of Steven Smith at leg slip. This dismissal was particularly crucial as Williamson had been in dominant form against South Africa just prior to this series.
Earlier in the day, Lyon displayed his batting prowess as well, becoming the highest run-scorer in Test history without ever reaching a fifty. He top-scored for Australia in their second innings with a brisk 41 runs before falling to Matt Henry.
Despite a middle-order collapse that threatened to derail their control, Australia remained optimistic thanks largely to Lyon’s contributions. New Zealand, on the other hand, showed glimpses of resistance. Young spinner Glenn Phillips emerged as a surprising hero, becoming the first New Zealand spinner to claim a five-wicket haul at the Basin Reserve since 2008. His impactful spell of 5 for 45 restricted Australia to a below-par 164 runs.
However, the Kiwis’ chase got off to a shaky start as Tom Latham fell cheaply to Lyon, nicking off a short and wide delivery just before the tea break. Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, however, weathered the storm and stitched together a crucial 50-run partnership to keep their team’s hopes alive. Ravindra, in particular, impressed with his blend of cautious defense and audacious stroke-making, reaching his fifty off just 77 balls.
New Zealand still faces a mountain to climb. They need to rewrite the record books if they are to emerge victorious, as the highest successful chase at the Basin Reserve stands at 277 for 3, achieved by Pakistan in 2003. While their task appears daunting, the fighting spirit displayed by Ravindra and the bowling exploits of Phillips offer a glimmer of hope for a thrilling finale to the first Test.
Batting Analysis
Nathan Lyon showcased his masterful skills by outfoxing the renowned Kane Williamson and causing quite the menace on a sharply turning Basin Reserve surface. Australia maintained their dominant position for a potential first Test victory, despite a spirited fightback from New Zealand on day three.
In pursuit of a challenging target of 369 runs, New Zealand battled through tough conditions and finished the day at 111 for 3, with Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell forming a resilient unbeaten half-century partnership. Lyon emerged as the key threat for Australia, claiming 2 wickets for 27 runs in his 16-over spell.
Ravindra displayed a blend of solid defense and proactive shot-making, exemplified by a towering six off Travis Head’s offspin towards the end of the day’s play. His fifty, compiled off 77 balls, was achieved by dispatching a short delivery from Mitchell Starc to the leg-side boundary.
Despite facing some nerve-wracking moments, including a close lbw appeal from Lyon that Australia unsuccessfully reviewed, Ravindra held his ground, providing New Zealand with a glimmer of hope for a miraculous comeback. Mitchell, adapting his usual aggressive style, contributed an unbeaten 12 runs from 63 deliveries.
New Zealand faces a monumental task of rewriting the record books to secure a series lead, with the highest successful run chase at Basin Reserve standing at 277 for 3 by Pakistan in 2003.
The turning point in the match arrived when Australia lost 6 wickets for just 37 runs, with Glenn Phillips shining as he became the first New Zealand spinner since Jeetan Patel in 2008 to claim a five-wicket haul at home. Phillips finished with figures of 5 for 45 from 16 overs as Australia was bundled out for 164, marking their sixth lowest total against New Zealand in Test cricket.
New Zealand’s pursuit got off to a shaky start as opener Tom Latham fell to Lyon’s cunning delivery just before tea. Lyon, who caused problems for the batsmen from the onset, had a strong caught-behind appeal denied on Williamson’s first ball, which Australia unsuccessfully reviewed.
The captivating battle continued as Williamson, determined to bounce back after a rare duck in the first innings, took on Lyon’s challenge. Despite a couple of aggressive shots, Williamson eventually succumbed to Lyon’s clever tactics, edging a delivery to leg slip where Steven Smith completed the catch.
Pat Cummins’ astute decision to introduce Travis Head into the attack paid dividends as Head quickly dismissed opener Will Young, setting the stage for a gripping contest.
Lyon’s spin wizardry kept Australia’s confidence intact despite a middle-order collapse that momentarily loosened their grip on the match. New Zealand, eager for a notable Test victory over Australia, have shown moments of brilliance throughout the series opener.
Glenn Phillips emerged as a key figure for New Zealand, excelling with both bat and ball. His defiant 71 in the first innings and crucial wickets in Australia’s second innings highlighted his impact on the game. Notably, Phillips equaled his career-best bowling figures by picking up four wickets in an over, including the prized scalp of Mitchell Marsh for a golden duck.
Although Phillips missed out on a chance for a sixth wicket, his efforts, along with Matt Henry’s impressive bowling display, helped sustain New Zealand’s fightback in the match.
Bowling Analysis
New Zealand’s emerging batting prodigy, Rachin Ravindra, emerges as a pivotal figure in his team’s bid for a spectacular comeback victory, as Australia crumbled under the pressure of part-time spin on this crucial day, keeping the Black Caps firmly in contention in the Test match.
Facing a daunting target of 369 runs to secure their first Test win over Australia on home soil in over three decades, New Zealand found themselves in a precarious position at 3-59 after another frail batting display from their arch-rivals. However, a resilient fourth-wicket partnership worth 52 runs between Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell propelled them to 3-111 at stumps, infusing hope and optimism into the Kiwi camp.
Ravindra, an exciting left-handed batsman who showcased his potential with a magnificent maiden Test century against South Africa recently, demonstrated remarkable composure and skill in his innings against Australia. Despite a challenging start that included a first-innings duck and facing hostile fast bowling, the 24-year-old reached his half-century in style by dispatching Mitchell Starc to the boundary with an authoritative pull shot.
While the task at hand requires New Zealand to surpass their previous best fourth-innings total against Australia, they drew inspiration from Glenn Phillips’ unexpected heroics with the ball. Phillips’ superb figures of 5-45 marked the best bowling performance by a New Zealand spinner against Australia since Daniel Vettori in 2005, underlining the impact of his contribution to the team’s cause.
Despite the prevailing notion that pace bowlers tend to dominate at the Basin Reserve due to its grassy pitch conditions, spin played a significant role in the match, accounting for eight of the 11 wickets that fell on a surface conducive to bowlers. Nathan Lyon (2-27) and even Travis Head (1-10) capitalized on the conditions, extracting crucial breakthroughs for Australia.
Lyon’s ability to exploit bounce proved pivotal in dismissing key New Zealand batsmen like opener Tom Latham and the renowned Kane Williamson, who fell prey to Lyon’s crafty deliveries. Additionally, Phillips’ guileful flight and sharp spin troubled the Australian batsmen, unraveling their top and middle order in a dramatic collapse post-lunch.
The match narrative witnessed a captivating shift as Australia’s formidable batting lineup crumbled under Phillips’ part-time off-spin, with established names failing to counter his clever variations. Phillips’ unexpected five-wicket haul, coupled with Matt Henry’s lethal bowling display, showcased New Zealand’s determination to mount a fierce challenge against their formidable rivals.
Fielding Performance
New Zealand fielding has been a cause of concern since the T20 series. The hosts could have bowled the Australians out much earlier on day 3. Tim Southee dropped Cameron Green off his own bowling early in the day. On a record setting day at Basin Park, Glenn Phillips could have ended the day with six wickets. But Patrick Cummins was dropped twice in two overs to deny Phillps his sixth wicket. At first, it was Scott Kuggeleijn who failed to pouch the Aussie captain at long-on. An over later, substitute fielder Henry Nicholls missed an easy catch to give Cummins another reprieve. The ball eluded his cupping hands and trickled to the boundary.
Will Young enjoyed an exceptional day in the field by completing three catches. He pulled out a one-handed screamer to put an end to the first innings centurion Cameron Green. Before this, he also completed catches to send Mitch Marsh and Nathan Lyon back to the pavilion. Kiwi wicketkeeper Tom Blundell got two dismissals on the day. He completed the 12th stumping of his career when Usman Khawaja was caught short of his crease while attempting a big heave off Glenn Phillps.
Later in the day, Steve Smith became the 2nd highest catch taker in Test for Australia. The former captain now has 182 Test catches to his name, surpassing 181 catches of Mark Waugh. He pulled a stunning and outstanding reflex catch to send Will Young packing. Then he took another sharp catch to send Kane Williamson on his way as the Australians took control of the match at that point.
Key Performances
New Zealand found themselves in a challenging position and facing an uphill battle as they pursued the demanding victory target set by Australia on the third day of the initial Test at Wellington’s Basin Reserve on Saturday. By the conclusion of the day’s play, New Zealand was situated at 111 for three, still trailing by 258 runs from their set goal of 369.
The spinner Glenn Phillips showcased a standout performance for New Zealand, achieving an impressive five-wicket haul (5-45) which marked his premier achievement in the realm of first-class cricket. His stellar bowling display aided New Zealand in limiting Australia to a total of 164 in their second innings, as the visiting team lost their final six wickets for a mere 37 runs.
Despite New Zealand’s commendable bowling effort, they encountered challenges during their own batting innings. Opening batsmen Tom Latham and Will Young were dismissed early, while skipper Kane Williamson departed cheaply after scoring only nine runs, falling prey to the spinner Nathan Lyon.
Rachin Ravindra emerged as a bright spot for New Zealand, accumulating an unbeaten 56 runs by the conclusion of the day’s play. He received support from Daryl Mitchell, who remained unbeaten on 12 runs, as the duo forged a sturdy partnership worth 52 runs.
As New Zealand confronts a formidable chase, their highest successful fourth-innings pursuit stands at 324, accomplished against Pakistan in Christchurch back in 1994. Nevertheless, the team might draw inspiration from their most successful run chase at Basin Reserve, which tallied 285 runs against Sri Lanka a year before.
On the contrary, Australia will rely on off-spinner Nathan Lyon to play a pivotal role in securing victory in the two-match series. Lyon’s comprehensive contributions, including a significant 41 runs with the bat, have been pivotal in Australia’s dominance thus far.
Despite a resilient showing from Cameron Green in the opening innings, Australia’s batting faced struggles in the second innings, with Phillips causing chaos by securing the crucial wickets of Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey, and Green.
As the match progresses into the fourth day, both teams are gearing up for a critical session of play, with New Zealand eyeing a remarkable comeback and Australia aiming for a decisive victory to take the lead in the series.
Turning Point
The turning point of the day came in the first ball of the twelfth over in the New Zealand second innings. Will Young was at the crease with Kane Williamson as his partner. The New Zealanders were looking to rebuild after the loss of the misfiring Tom Latham early in the innings. They needed their talisman Kane Willamson to get a big score to reach the huge target. Williamson was lacking in confidence after he was unluckily run-out in the first innings due to a mix-up with Will Young.
Nathan Lyon was creating an angle by delivering the ball from a wider part of the crease. He pitched the first ball of his third over around the leg stump line. Williamson tried to prod the ball towards the leg side. He only managed to get an outside edge to the ball. Patrick Cummins set the trap up by installing a leg slip. His decision was justified as Steve Smith took a fine low catch to dismiss Williamson. Despite the relatively assured presence of Ravindra with the bat, the absence of Williamson on the fourth day could prove to be the difference.
Day Result
New Zealand needs 258 more runs to win the first Test match of the series. The hosts have seven wickets in hand to achieve the target of 369 runs. Rachin Ravindra is still at the crease at the score of 56 runs.
Brief Scorecard
| Australia First Innings: 383/10 (115.1 overs) | New Zealand First Innings: 179/10 (43.1 overs) | Australia Second Innings: 164/10 ( 51.1 overs) | New Zealand Second Innings:111/3 (41 overs) |
| Cameron Green 174* (215) | Glenn Phillips 71 (70) | Nathan Lyon 41 (46) | Rachin Ravindra 56* (94) |
| Mitchell Marsh 40 (39) | Matt Henry 42 (34) | Cameron Green 34 (80) | Will Young 15 (52) |
| Matt Henry 5/70 (30.1 overs) | Nathan Lyon 4/43 (8.1 overs) | Glenn Phillips 5/45 (4 overs) | Nathan Lyon 2/27 (16 overs) |
| Scott Kuggeleijn 2/75 (20 overs) | Josh Hazlewood 2/55 (12 overs) | Matt Henry 3/36 ( 12 overs) | Travis Head 1/10 ( 4 overs) |
Day Highlights
Full Highlights | Australia Vs NEW ZEALAND TEST 1 DAY-3 Match Highlights |AUS Vs NZ DAY-3 Highlights
Day Wrap-Up
After a brilliant bowling performance in the second innings, the Kiwis are firmly back in the game. Glenn Phillps was surprisingly the pick of Kiwi bowlers with a five wicket haul in his 16 over spell. The Kiwis restricted their neighbours to a second innings score of 164 with the target set at 369. Rachin Ravindra was batting with confidence at 56 with the hosts still needing 258 runs to win the first Test match of the series.
