Kane Williamson and team mates look on during the presentation to Australia as New Zealand lose the test match and the series on day 4 of the third cricket test match. Photo / Photosport
EDITORIAL:
New Zealand Cricket must be devastated by the national team's performances in their completed test series in Australia. If the administrators of the game are not as devastated as the fans, they should be.
The Black Caps embarked on a rare opportunity to play Australia in Australia — including
the celebrated Boxing Day test — rated No 2 in the world on their recent results. Many thousands of Kiwis crossed the ditch to support them. The MCG was like a home stadium in the stands though not, of course, on the hallowed turf.
At Melbourne, as at Perth, the New Zealanders were batting on pitches more lively than those here. They were facing a battery of fast bowlers about 10km/h quicker than most. But at Sydney, a wicket more favourable to spin, our batsmen fared no better.
We were not just white-washed, 3-0, in the series, we were barely competitive. All three tests, scheduled for five days, were won in four days and it might well have been three days if Australia had enforced follow-ons. Our batters could not survive a full day and our bowlers could not dislodge the Australians before they had run up winnable totals on their first innings. Batting and bowling, their figures were at least twice as good as ours. We looked out of our league.
