3rd Test: Australia v New Zealand at SCG, Jan 3-7 2020

[Fufu Andronez]

The only good thing to come out of this summer’s series is Kath Loughnan.

You're nuts. The summer has belonged to Isa Guha.

 

[Hutty1986]

 

[Meth]

I have been utterly consumed by work and family over the last month and had little chance to watch or comment on cricket, but I thought I would front up to say congratulations Australia- a class above us and deserving winners. Between Smith and Labuschagne with the bat and Cummins, Starc and Lyon with the ball, you have a side which may challenge India for top spot soon enough.

 

[JJ]

Yep, it was a catastrophic series and performance for us - but the quality of Australia's performances was very high, and well worth watching... Cummins is an absolute beast, and Labuschange is in form that was head and shoulders above everyone else

 

[The Mad Hatter]

The injuries/illness and selections cruelled NZ. I'd been waiting for this series with anticipation but in the end, not much of a contest, sadly.

Australia have built a formidable team again. There are obvious doubts over Wade at 5. Someone who can get in the runs with a solid technique is needed. Burns would be the other on thin-ish ice but until someone like Renshaw can rediscover his mojo, he'll suffice.

It's back to the drawing board for NZ. I thought Boult Southee Wagner would make a better fist of it. The batting order needs to be settled too. A lot of honest toilers but need some X Factor.

Great to get some NZ Australia banter and rivalry going. Here's to a better tour next time.

 

[TheParraboy]

Not making excuses but valid reasons for the kiwis, EVERYTHING fell our way

- Two easy wins v Pakistan, more importantly getting used to the conditions (preparation)
- Mentally kiws threw everything in the 2 test series v Poms (and won it) on different conditions
- No preparation, warm up matches in Oz for the kiwis
- Winning the toss test 1 - forcing kiwis to field for two days in 35-40c heat (set the series up for us nicely)
- Losing the toss and graciously allowed to bat first 2nd test - see above point - though not as hot
- Kiwis crippling injuries for the 3rd test
- Starc. Cummins in career best form in terms of strike and consistency

Having said all that expected Williamson, Taylor and Watling all to perform a lot better, but given most of the above would have been difficult to do so

 

[Meth]

Not making excuses but valid reasons for the kiwis, EVERYTHING fell our way

- Two easy wins v Pakistan, more importantly getting used to the conditions (preparation)
- Mentally kiws threw everything in the 2 test series v Poms (and won it) on different conditions
- No preparation, warm up matches in Oz for the kiwis
- Winning the toss test 1 - forcing kiwis to field for two days in 35-40c heat (set the series up for us nicely)
- Losing the toss and graciously allowed to bat first 2nd test - see above point - though not as hot
- Kiwis crippling injuries for the 3rd test
- Starc. Cummins in career best form in terms of strike and consistency

Having said all that expected Williamson, Taylor and Watling all to perform a lot better, but given most of the above would have been difficult to do so

that’s very generous, but the bottom line is that one team showed up and the other team got shown up.

 

[JJ]

Not making excuses but valid reasons for the kiwis, EVERYTHING fell our way

- Two easy wins v Pakistan, more importantly getting used to the conditions (preparation)
- Mentally kiws threw everything in the 2 test series v Poms (and won it) on different conditions
- No preparation, warm up matches in Oz for the kiwis
- Winning the toss test 1 - forcing kiwis to field for two days in 35-40c heat (set the series up for us nicely)
- Losing the toss and graciously allowed to bat first 2nd test - see above point - though not as hot
- Kiwis crippling injuries for the 3rd test
- Starc. Cummins in career best form in terms of strike and consistency

Having said all that expected Williamson, Taylor and Watling all to perform a lot better, but given most of the above would have been difficult to do so

Some truth there but we should have been much better, it was embarrassing, will be interesting to see whether they bounce back against India.

Australia is far and away the hardest place to win, but those performances were shithouse