One look at the green deck on offer in Hobart convinced Australian selectors to keep a three-pronged pace attack for the second trans-Tasman Test.
Two days into the Hobart Test, they could be forgiven for kicking themselves.
Fate stepped in to ensure New Zealand used four quicks on the Bellerive green top - spinner Dan Vettori pulled out half an hour before the match with a hamstring strain.
Yet it has proven an accidental masterstroke after Chris Martin, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and the man who benefited from Vettori's last minute withdrawal - debutant Trent Boult - routed Australia for a record low 136 on Saturday.
On day three New Zealand will resume at 3 for 139 in its second dig with an overall lead of 153.
And with the flattening wicket no longer resembling the green monster that ensured two innings were over within 97 overs, Australia's bowlers will need to toil hard.
Martin - who celebrated his 37th birthday on Saturday with 3 for 46 - conceded an all-seam attack worked best on the changing Bellerive wicket.
"I think the advantage is definitely having seam up bowlers," he said.
"Taking Dan (Vettori) out of the equation was not something that was really going to happen (on purpose).
"But Trent (Boult) has taken his chance and enjoyed his first two days of Test cricket."
Indeed all Kiwi quicks were smiling - Martin, Bracewell (3 for 20), Boult (3 for 29) and Southee (1-32) all chimed in with key wickets as Australia was out for its lowest Test score on home soil against the Black Caps.
It was also its third lowest overall against New Zealand in 52 Tests.
One can only wonder how things could have turned out if Australia had given into temptation of playing a fourth seamer and handed allrounder Dan Christian his Test debut in Hobart.
But asked if Australia was one bowler short in Hobart, speedster Peter Siddle said: "Not at all.
"We only bowled 40-odd overs in the first innings - I think all the bowlers have plenty of overs in them."
AAP
Tags: cricket, sport, hobart-7000, tas, australia, new-zealand First posted December 11, 2011 07:23:30
No comments:
Post a Comment