Steve Smith has urged his Australia teammates to not rest on their laurels following the ascent to the top of the Test rankings.
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Smith said to Reuters after the game, that that the challenge for his side is now to extend the gap at the top.
That left New Zealand 210-6, which became 210-7 when Tim Southee was caught by Smith to give Bird his third victim, only for a quickfire 118-run eighth-wicket stand between BJ Watling and Matt Henry to frustrate Australia.
“You guys have proven why you’re the No. 1 team in the world”, he said.
Steve Smith says he can take a leaf out of Brendon McCullum’s book as leader after falling foul of the ICC’s code of conduct in the second Test.
However, Smith also had to dispute suggestions that Australia, often controversial over their uncompromising play and habit of sledging, or insulting the opposition, were cricket’s bully boys.
“We were able to adapt to these conditions really well… hopefully we can do that when we play that next Test tour”.
“Martin still hasn’t quite nailed it at Test level but again we think he has some good qualities”, Hesson said.
“For us it’s about knowing where that line is and myself and Josh Hazlewood have crossed that line in this Test match and that’s not what we’re about”.
Brendon McCullum, the New Zealand captain, insisted the time was right to quit global cricket despite hitting one of his best innings just days earlier.
“Because they’ve got depth as we’ve seen in these two series”.
He added: “It’s not the ideal way to go out [with a defeat], but at the same time I have had a great time“.
Smith struck a brilliant 138 runs in the first innings and followed it up with a fiery innings of 53*, as his side needed a paltry 201 to win.
New Zealand finished the five Tests against Australia this summer with four losses and one draw, but Hesson said he felt that the battle had been somewhat closer than that scoreline suggested.
On the ICC Twenty20 global team rankings, India lead the field with South Africa occupying second position following its 2-0 win over England.
New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson, who was batting with Williamson at the time of the latest incident, said the big screen replays had not been that clear for the players.
Southee had bottled up Khawaja for eight consecutive deliveries before getting an edge with a ball angling away outside off stump which went to McCullum at first slip.
Australia had looked like achieving their victory target when they reached 169 for two at the scheduled lunch break before Joe Burns (65) was bowled by Trent Boult in the additional four overs offered by the umpires.
“We came here at the start of the series wanting to win 2-0 and we knew if we did that we would be number one in the world”.
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His consistency in Test cricket has been a notable fact, which in turn has helped his side to gain control in the format.
