Cricket: Australians thank us for 'kick in backside'

SYDNEY - The New Zealand team, despite being hurt by poor umpiring, gave Australia a much-needed wake-up call on a tense final day of a drawn series, Australian newspapers said yesterday.

A "D-minus" performance by Zimbabwean umpire "Fingerless" Ian Robinson in the third test in Perth soured an electrifying finish, the Daily Telegraph said.

"A shattered New Zealand cricket team left for home feeling crucified after their charge at transtasman glory turned to dust."

The Telegraph said a "kick in the backside" might just be what Australia needed heading into a three-test series against South Africa.

Former Somerset skipper Peter Roebuck said not even a blistering assault by Adam Gilchrist, who scored a hard-hitting, unbeaten 83 as Australia chased a record 440 for victory, could save the home side's blushes.

"New Zealand will feel that the match should not have reached the final over," he wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald.

"Denied by an umpire hard of hearing, let down by a pitch that refused to crack and thwarted by some diligent batting, New Zealand strove mightily against the odds in an attempt to take the required wickets."

Roebuck said New Zealand had seldom fielded 11 players of test class.

"Now they have a respectable team and a couple of capable reserves at home."

The Australian said the home side might have dominated the rain-ruined first and second tests, but the reality was they could not bowl New Zealand out once in the series.

Their middle order was inconsistent and their leading bowlers, Glenn McGrath (five wickets at 65.4) and Shane Warne (six at 71.67), finished with poor averages.

Meanwhile, New Zealand fought at every turn and refused to be bullied by the Australians or their imposing record, dominating the third test almost from the outset, the paper said.

Australian skipper Steve Waugh said his country had a new-found respect for New Zealand.

"We knew the series was going to be tough and fair against these guys."

He and his New Zealand counterpart, Stephen Fleming, were strong believers in attacking cricket.

"We're pretty good mates and I respect him as a cricketer and a person. He plays it fair and tough, and he's a quality cricketer and a real good fellow," Waugh said.

Fleming's positive captaincy has come in for praise from leading Australian commentators.

"It's nice to hear, I've really enjoyed the challenge of it, it's been exhilarating," Fleming said.

"Doing my time at Middlesex this year really whet my appetite to do well here and I think I have."

To critics who believed he left his second-innings declaration too late and was not as generous as Waugh's in Brisbane, Fleming said the fact that Australia came within sight of victory showed he was right to lean on the side of caution.

- NZPA