In the event that Neil Wagner made a comeback for New Zealand in the second Test match, Pat Cummins stated that Australia would be ready.
Will O’Rourke, a New Zealand pace bowler, is a doubt for the second and final Test, which begins in Christchurch on Friday, after leaving the field on day three with a tight hamstring. Captain Tim Southee said he would not rule out a surprise recall for veteran speed bowler Neil Wagner, who retired last week. The 37-year-old was named to New Zealand’s squad, but he announced his retirement in tears after being left out of the first Test, capping a 64-Test, 260-wicket career.
Although Southee has only been playing white ball cricket recently, he ruled out bringing up Trent Boult. However, when questioned about Wagner, he was less emphatic. “Obviously the Test match has only just finished so we’ll see how Will scrubs up and we’ll go from there,” Southee explained. Should Wagner come back, Pat Cummins stated that Australia would be ready. Regarding the short-ball expert, he remarked, “It’d be the world’s shortest retirement.” “It’d be good to see his high energy.”
After his side defeated New Zealand by 172 runs in the opening Test, Cummins praised Nathan Lyon and Cameron Green, two teammates, for game-winning efforts on Sunday.
Taking six wickets as New Zealand collapsed to 196 all out in the morning session of the fourth day in Wellington, Lyon spun the visitors to victory.
The off-spinner Lyon claimed four of New Zealand’s final seven wickets before lunch for 70 runs. Lyon finished with statistics of 6-65 off 27 overs and 10-108 for the match.
After starting the day on 111-3 and needing an implausible 258 more runs to win, the 36-year-old took advantage of the spin-friendly Basin Reserve conditions and some poor batting from New Zealand.
After Australia was sent to bat, Green’s career-high unbeaten 174 on the first day helped them overcome 89–4 to reach 383 and establish a commanding 204-run advantage in the first innings.
Southee praised the 27-year-old, saying, “Glenn’s still new to Test cricket and new to bowling, and he’s doing a great job.”
At Christchurch’s Hagley Oval, Southee and batsman Kane Williamson will play their 100th Test match.
In the seventh over of the last morning, Lyon took the crucial wicket of Rachin Ravindra for 59, starting the last morning’s surrender.
When Ravindra failed to hold down a cut shot and was caught at point by Cameron Green, he had only added three points to his score for the night.
In the same over, Travis Head caught Tom Blundell close in without scoring, and shortly after, Glenn Phillips was trapped leg before for one by Lyon, exposing the tail.
Before he could handle a short ball from Green and was caught by wicketkeeper Alex Carey, Scott Kuggeleijn hit 26 from 28 balls. Matt Henry perished for 14, trapped at slip by Steve Smith off Josh Hazlewood.
Before Daryl Mitchell was the final wicket to fall, for 38, bowled and caught by Hazlewood, Southee became Lyon’s sixth victim.
