Matt Henry of New Zealand reacts after being hit for six during the second ODI in Canberra. Photo /Getty
Matt Henry of New Zealand reacts after being hit for six during the second ODI in Canberra. Photo /Getty
Once again, point the finger at the bowlers, and by extension fielders, as New Zealand handed back the Chappell Hadlee Trophy with barely a whimper in Canberra last night.
It's been a dispiriting couple of games watching New Zealand perform significantly below par in two of the three facets of the game.
Blame could not be placed on the batsmen for failing to chase down either 324 for eight, or 378 for five that Australia have rattled up in Sydney and Canberra.
And the bowlers know they deserve a rocket.
"As a bowling group we're asking a bit too much, two games in a row," senior seamer Tim Southee admitted last night after their 116-run defeat at Manuka Oval.
"It's not the standard we set for ourselves and the boys are obviously hurting. It's not a standard we're happy with."
No catches were dropped yesterday but New Zealand's ground fielding sagged as Australia, chiefly through the late flurry from the likes of Mitch Marsh (70 not out off 46 balls), Travis Head (57 off 32), took their toll.
There were misfields as players rushed things, a couple of ordinary bits of boundary work and ragged throwing.
"Fielding is an attitude, something that each individual has to own and go about their business," Southee said.
"It's something we pride ourselves on. We've always been a very good fielding side but it is tough.
"The bowlers set the tone, but our fielding has been a little bit off the high standards we operate at. It's disappointing to be dishing up sub-standard bowling and fielding performances."
Yesterday was the first ODI in which two New Zealand bowlers, Trent Boult (one for 80 off 10 overs) and Matt Henry (none for 91 off his 10), have conceded more than 80 runs.
No one is pretending the likes of Steve Smith (72 off 76 balls) and man of the match David Warner (119 off 115) are easy to contain. But no one seemed clear on how to do it, other than spinner Mitchell Santner.
Pat Cummins of Australia fields near the boundary during game two of the One Day International series between Australia and New Zealand. Photo / Getty
He was the only bowler to gain a pass mark, bowling his 10 overs straight, when Warner and Smith were settling into their 145-run stand, which set up the carnage which followed.
Santner, with batsmen aiming to get at him, conceded just 47, and took a wicket and in the context of what followed, it was an impressive effort.
Contrast that with poor Henry. He arrived in this series with good ODI form and strong endorsement from his coach Mike Hesson.
In the two matches his figures combined are 20-0-163-2.
So what's left for New Zealand? The prospect of a third match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Friday with nothing tangible to play for, other than a significant lift in personal and collective performance.
It promises to be a couple of challenging days in Melbourne.
New Zealand will get a chance to regain the trophy when Australia return across the Tasman in February for another three-game series. That's cold comfort right now.
New Zealand's combined bowling figures for those who've played the first two Chappell Hadlee games: Mitchell Santner 19-0-87-1, RPO 4.5 Trent Boult 20-1-131-3, RPO 6.55 Colin de Grandhomme 15-0-101-1, RPO 6.7 Matt Henry 20-0-163-2, RPO 8.15 Jimmy Neesham 7-0-70-2, RPO 10.0 Also, one game: Tim Southee 10-0-63-2, RPO 6.3 Lockie Ferguson 9-0-73-1, RPO 8.11
