The classy left-hander was riding high after posting centuries in consecutive Tests against NZ. He notched his first century since Pakistan one year and 12 innings ago, with a back cut off Lyon, moving ahead of Williamson on the all-time New Zealand list after he’d drawn level with Taylor and John Wright with No 12.
Advertisement
One blow for Australia on the day was seeing batsman Usman Khawaja limp off with what looked like a repeat of his hamstring injury.
In his next over, Starc went on to break the 160 kmph barrier with crushing yorker to Taylor.
Unbeaten on 235 at day’s end, Taylor will hope to take New Zealand into the lead and a position to pressure Australia – certainly Williamson and McMillan are hoping he can.
The ageing WACA Ground was the scene of an embarrassing delay in play on the third day of the second Test between Australia and New Zealand in Perth on Sunday.
Warner had helped Australia notch an opening day WACA record on Friday and posted the best Test haul in a single day by an Australian on home soil.
Khawaja had scored two centuries in as many tests against New Zealand.
After narrowly surviving a decision review on 78, he reached triple figures with his 12th boundary, having faced 118 balls.
It’s always a nice feeling as a bowler to have the wind at your back, and to have it coming over the shoulder that you bowl with is better still because you can really build a few momentum and have everything going for you. “We talked about making them hit our good balls rather than giving them the release we were yesterday”.
Left-handed Warner has scored 676 runs against the Kiwis at a formidable average of 169, and has 638 runs at 127.60 at the WACA in four Tests.
“Just clocked 160.4km did Mitch starc.serious wheels”, was ex-South African batsman Herschelle Gibbs’ reaction on Twitter.
The Australian team physiotherapist, David Beakley further revealed that Khawaja will also miss the first Test match against West Indies in Hobart in December.
Williamson and Taylor were both highly successful in picking off more or less every bad ball the Australians bowled, an efficiency that allowed them to dictate terms all day and prevent the hosts from gaining momentum.
Advertisement
Khawaja also appeared to have a life on 36 when he looked to have been caught behind by BJ Watling off the bowling of Mark Craig, but umpire Nigel Llong turned down that appeal too.
