A match that began with the pitch bringing the teams together on the firsttwo days ended by showing the gulf between them
Peter English at the Gabba23-Nov-2008
Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor appear to be the only New Zealand batsmen who can stand up to Australia’s attack © Getty Images
A match that began with the pitch bringing the teams together on the firsttwo days ended by showing the gulf between them. While Australia’s rankingis being seasonally adjusted after a decade of dominance, New Zealand’sspot at seventh, one ahead of West Indies, accurately reflects theirposition in the game.The visiting bowlers are bright and lively on favourable surfaces but asthe series heads to Adelaide for the second game their opening has closed.In the moist conditions at the Gabba they shocked the home batsmen,dropping them for 214 in the first innings and 6 for 131 at stumps on thesecond day. As the pitch dried out New Zealand’s hopes quickly evaporatedand the 149-run defeat was confirmed before lunch on the fourth morning.With their under-qualified batting order, they will do well not to finishthe two-game series with another loss in Adelaide.Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder appear to be the only ones who can stand up toAustralia’s improving bowling attack. The openers Jamie How and AaronRedmond combined for 27 runs in the game, which immediately exposed themore talented middle and once it departed there was no room for arecovery. With such slim resources, New Zealand need to manage them wellif they are to compete, but there is unlikely to be much change.The defensive Daniel Flynn contributed in both innings, but is not someonewho can alter the plans of the attack, while Grant Elliott’s selection asa specialist batsman at No. 7 is a strange option. Brendon McCullum, aplayer capable of changing a game, should slip back a spot or two from No.5 to gain the most from his powers, but it is not something Daniel Vettoriwill consider for long before Friday.”Probably mid-series it might be a tough one to change, but certainly it’ssomething you always have to reinvestigate,” Vettori said. “When you makechanges you want them to work and we had an initial period when Brendonbatted really well in England, but he hasn’t had good results since then.”Starting the day at 6 for 143, the tourists were dismissed in 48 minutesas Australia won their first game since beating West Indies in July. Thefeeling was of relief following the troubles of India, but it was not aperformance that could eliminate the growing doubts over their long-termpath.”By no means are we getting carried away with the win,” Ricky Pontingsaid. “It’s been a good win, but we’ve still identified that there aresome areas we need to improve.”Australia did well to recover so strongly after losing the toss on achallenging surface, but they have their own form issues with the bat,starting with Matthew Hayden. He will go to Adelaide to play his 100thTest and it will help determine how long he stays with the side. Australiastill need his strength at the top of the order, but there is an urgencyto know whether his powers faded fully following his winter spentrehabilitating from an Achilles injury.Ponting is not in doubt over the value of his team-mate and expects him tobe in England for the 2009 Ashes. Hayden scored 8 and 0 at the Gabba, butPonting was pleased to turn up to the ground on the third day and seeHayden had been batting for an hour in the nets. “Skills-wise andhunger-wise, Matthew Hayden is definitely our best opener and will beuntil he wants to finish,” Ponting said.Shane Watson has been dropped from the squad and the offspinner Jason Krejza should come into the side for the second Test while the wicketkeeper Brad Haddin will also come underincreasing scrutiny following another subdued performance. Despite the individual questions, Ponting was content to register some success to boost the team morale.”It will be great for us,” Ponting said. “For a lot of the younger guyscoming back from a long, hard tour of India and probably having theirconfidence knocked around a little bit. And even some of the more seniorguys … But we can’t get carried away with this result. If we didn’t takewickets with the new ball last night we could have had a real tough gameon our hands.”
