It was closer than perhaps expected and threw up a range of questionable actions – the third Test in Adelaide. Thereafter it was all Australia; their bowlers managed to restrict New Zealand to a chaseable total, and barring the hiccups in the start and the end, their batsmen chased down the total as well.
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The victory in the inaugural day/night Test seals a 2-0 win for Australia in the three-match series.
Tim Southee of New Zealand reacts during day three of the Third Test match between Australia and New Zealand at Adelaide Oval on November 29, 2015 in Adelaide, Australia.
“Obviously it was tough to lose somebody of the calibre of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc has been bowling exceptionally well”, Australian captain Steve Smith told reporters post-match.
“The whole Test was a great innovation, it was a great spectacle, and to get 120,000 people through the gates in three days is absolutely incredible”, said Australia’s Smith.
Smith never appeared settled, his edge off Boult just failed to carry to wicketkeeper B.J. Watling on one, he was dropped at mid-wicket by Mitch Santner on two, and he squeezed an inside edge between his legs to get a boundary off Boult on eight.
Full marks must also be given to Mitchell Starc who came out to bat despite hobbling out of the park on Saturday.
The 31-year-old from Victoria went into the match on 198 test wickets and put in his usual wholehearted effort to clinch the two he needed on Friday to pass the milestone, which he dedicated to his ill grandmother.
The injury did not prevent Starc from batting, although eyebrows were raised when he limped out to join Peter Siddle at the crease ahead of Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon. “Have they left the ground or something?”
The day-night concept has support from a collection of cricket administrators and broadcasters keen to restore global interest in the traditional five-day format at a time when Twenty20, the shortest version of cricket which usually is played in prime time TV slots, is growing in popularity.
“There’s no point putting a time stamp on it until the bone heals”, Starc, who arrived at a news conference on crutches, said Monday. “The damage is done”.
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“Apart from (being run-out), I thought he actually looked pretty good in the first innings”, Lehmann said of Marsh’s first-innings knock of 2 from 12 balls. He limped on the field and backed up patiently as Siddle whittled down the runs required, half skipping, half running through for the last two runs required.
