Australia vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 2 preview: New year, old story – Kiwis up against the wall again

Australia finished Day 1 of the third Test of the Trans-Tasman Series, at Sydney, on 283/3. Marnus Labuschagne carried his form over to the new year; he will resume on 130 tomorrow. With him will be Matthew Wade (22). With the likes of Travis Head and Tim Paine to follow, Australia should be aiming for a total in excess of 500.

Given how they have bowled in this series, that should be enough for Australia to secure a big first-innings lead and push for another four-day win to secure the whitewash. Of course, stranger things have happened in cricket…

That Kane Williamson and Trent Boult will not be available for the Test had been known before. However, New Zealand surprised everyone by dropping Tim Southee, Henry Nicholls, and Mitchell Santner as well. The quintet was replaced by Jeet Raval, Matt Henry, Todd Astle, Glenn Phillips, and William Somerville.

The day began in what seems to be customary fashion now. David Warner (45) and Joe Burns (18) added 39 before Colin de Grandhomme (2/63) got one to move away from the latter late, took the edge, and almost ballooned to slip. Neil Wagner (1/48) then had Warner caught by de Grandhomme at leg gully.

Steven Smith (63) took his time to settle down, facing 38 dot balls before taking that single. Once there, however, he carved out a fifty, looking more and more assured as the day went on, easing into playing second fiddle for Labuschagne.

Smith eventually got to his fifty in the third session before edging an innocuous delivery from de Grandhomme to slip, bringing some respite to the tourists. The pair added 156 for the fourth wicket before Wade came out, cutting and pulling Wagner for four, six, four with panache in the dying moments of the day.

Labuschagne, on the other hand, extended his domination at the wicket with yet another faultless show at the crease. He chose his shots well, especially against spin, dominating Astle (0/49) and Somerville (0/52) both off the front foot and the back. His only six, over mid wicket, came off Somerville.

Key players

Marnus Labuschagne (Australia): The only man to score a thousand Test runs in 2019, Labuschagne continued his dominance by registering the first Test hundred of the new year as well. He is still out there, and looks hungry for more.

Colin de Grandhomme (New Zealand): De Grandhomme has been part of all three Australian dismissals on Day 1. His ability to pick up wickets will come handy on Day 2 – as may his batting later in the day.

Brief scores

Australia 283/3 (Marnus Labuschagne 130*, Steven Smith 63; Colin de Grandhomme 2/63) vs New Zealand.

Prediction

Australia to go past 500 and pick up a couple of wickets before stumps.