Day 1 Report

The game started a little late, and 85 overs were scheduled to be bowled as a result, in two elongated sessions. The wicket was do- ing plenty all day (both sideways and variable bounce) and both sides can feel satisfied with the day's play. New Zealand will need to bat well tomorrow. The day ended early for bad light. Slater and Boon (first ball) were out to the new ball bounce, each caught wide at slip or short leg. Mark Waugh might have got away with his lbw decision in New Zealand, but it would probably have hit middle and leg or leg. Danny Morrison has now learned to bowl close to the stumps a-la Hadlee. Border failed to get to the pitch of his cover drive and was caught at 2nd slip. Taylor's attempted cut ended up bottomed edged into his stumps. Steve Waugh got an absolute pearler from Patel. It drifted away to slip, and then turned in to him sharply caught at the wicket. For New Zealand, the bowling in the middle stages of the first session was a little wayward and they failed to put enough pressure on Australia.

In the final session the bowling was excellent, and Australia had to hang on without doing anything silly. One had the impression that panic was not far away. Towards the end of the session, Crowe took Patel off, but the quicks were tiring and this took the pressure off. When offered the light, Australia came off just when they had weathered the storm. All the bowlers did some good work at various stages of the day. The fielding was gen- erally of a high standard. No catches went down (as far as I know!). For Australia, they would feel that 250 was a good score on this pitch. They are almost there with only 6 down. Except for Boon, all got a start but never quite went on with it. Nevertheless, both Waughs played well, as did Mark Tay- lor. Healy, who battled it out well in the middle of the final ses- sion when Morrison, Watson, and Cairns were on top, and Reif- fel got some cheap runs at the end.

Day 2 Report

Australia played well today on a pitch which had flattened out a bit since yesterday, and on which the ball was coming nicely on to the bat for the front foot shots. There was still some side- ways movement, both swing and seam. Led by Healy they reduced New Zealand to something of a rudderless rabble. Reiffel made a maiden test 50, but a quick study of his run chart should ensure that he is held in check in future. Most of his runs are taken square on the offside off the back foot. He also often fails to get in line in back foot defence. He went caught in the gully - a typical Perth dismissal by all accounts.

Warne made a few and then played a nothing shot, being taken in a dolly catch at mid-on. McDermott was his usual self, and made a lusty 35. Healy doesn't look anything special, but is one of those players who makes the most of his ability. No big flourish, back-lift, or follow through, but still applies him- self with a good technique. His running between the wickets makes him an even faster scorer than he looks. His ton today was his 2nd in tests, apparently. Su'a finished off the innings with two-in-two. Both deliveries were left arm over-the- wicket inswingers, McDermott playing all round a yorker, and then McGrath going lbw first ball ``on the straighten-up.'' New Zealand fielded badly today, putting down a couple of ``regulation'' slip catches. The bowling was of a similar standard without much thought being put into what constitutes good line and length to individual batsmen.

New Zealand, particularly through Andrew Jones, played its way back into the match. A feature of the innings was the pleasing debuts of Glenn McGrath for Australia and Blair Pocock for New Zealand. McGrath bowled quite well, with fire, and took the first wick- et, that of Greatbatch, caught at the wicket - done by the new ball bounce and the angle across him. McGrath looks to be quick, but perhaps needs to fill out a bit if he is to last at this lev- el. Shades of Bruce Reid. Pocock showed good temperament, leaving everything alone out- side off and thereby putting the pressure back on the bowlers to be accurate. He played some good shots down the ground but was out to one of those typical pieces of Boon opportunism at short leg. Aus- tralia needed that wicket, and Pocock frustrated them for about 3 hours. The wicket came at a time when New Zealand were going well and looked in control. Jones was typical Jones scoring mostly off the back foot through the offside.

Towards the end of the day he looked in com- plete control. This would be his first test 50 for quite some time. A timely return to form. For Australia, Reiffel had no-ball problems and never did himself justice. Warne had 7 overs but only occasionally got one to turn. He couldn't land his top spinner on the spot and didn't try to bowl a googly. He might have gone for more, Jones mis- ing some wayward stuff well outside leg stump. Warne was a little un- lucky in that he didn't get many balls at the inexperienced Po- cock. The mainstays of the Australian attack were McGrath and McDermott. Although neither looked lethal, they kept the batsmen honest. New Zealand still have a way to go to get to the Australian total and will need to consolidate tomorrow. But they bat down to no. 8 and with application have the players to do the job. Crowe's knee may be a problem. Thanks to Geoff Bethell on r.s.c.

Day 3 Report

The wicket has settled down well now and, whilst there is still a little swing and seam, it has enough pace to give the good batsman a fair go. Not quite the classic ``belter'' but a good pitch nevertheless. It doesn't look likely to deteriorate on the final day. New Zealand has done well today, almost reaching the Australian total. Australia did well in the first two sessions, chipping people out on a pitch which was really in favour of the batsmen. In the final session, Blain and Cairns took toll of a tiring attack, and there was little Australia could do about it. This puts Australia in the vulnerable spot. There are no second chances after a third innings failure, whilst the side batting fourth in this situation should be able to get the draw at worst.

However, Australia is unlikely to collapse on this track and a draw is inevitable. Didn't see much of the first hour, but Jones and Crowe survived it without too many alarms. It was only when Reiffel and Warne were brought on that things started to happen. Warne had a lengthy spell round the wicket bowling into the foot- marks. He was teasing Jones and Crowe by inviting them to sweep against the spin. This they were more than willing to do, but Warne had no success. Incidently, to all the doubters, Warne *de- finitely bowled at least one googly* today which he got to turn. Eventually, Crowe, opening the face, chased a ball from Reiffel just outside off which moved away off the seam. Sadly for Crowe, this was a TEST not a ODI and Taylor was in at 1st slip. With the new ball just about due, this was the best possible time for Aus- tralia to get Crowe. So it proved. McDermott got Rutherford who played a poor shot outside the off stump, playing well away from his body at an outswinger. McDermott's 200th test wicket. Ruth- erford developed into a good player last year. It is to be hoped (from an NZ point of view) that his progress is maintained in this series. All this time, Jones went along in his usual style. Footwork seemingly all over the place. Jumping in the air. Punching his defensive shots to leg. Crashing the ball off the back foot through the covers with monotonous regularity, particularly off McGrath and McDermott. Except, strangely enough, when Mark Waugh came on for his second spell.

He played and missed his favourite shot three times in the first over. In the second the inevitable happened and he edged one to Healy. Whether it was the change of pace, Waugh's skill and variety, or just tiredness, who knows. But Jones made 143, yet another ``big'' century, and set the foundation for the whole innings. Mark Waugh, in many respects, was the best bowler of the day and it wasn't just Jones who had problems with his variety.

At this stage Border was rotating his bowlers well and both Waughs were posing problems - Steve with his little outswingers. Patel looked good as he always does and, just as typically, got out when set - yet another gully victim, this time off Reiffel. Reiffel deserved the wicket for his per- formance today, but not with that particular delivery. That was it for Australia. Even a 55 minute break for rain couldn't shift Cairns and Blain. To- wards the end of the day, Border was bowling the two Macs into the ground when he might have used other op- tions. Cairns was severe on the straight drive and the pull, whilst Blain was more circumspect but just as effective. He scored mainly with straight hits and with glides though the gully area. Their partnership is now 98. It won't happen, but an early declaration tomorrow would be interesting.

Day 4 Report

This was one of those days when nothing went right for one of the teams. There was also a bit of controversy with the umpiring, but McQuillan and Hare have generally performed well in this game. So much so that they didn't rate a mention in the first three days. NZ felt that Taylor was out plumb lbw to Morrison early on in the Australian innings, but the real problem was a ``catch'' from Tay- lor off Patel shortly afterwards.

NZ were sure he was out, er- roneously I thought, and there was a bit of petulance from some- one who should have known better, and a general pressuring of the umpire. Jones hurled the ball into the turf in disgust. That may cost him. New Zealand also suffered two injuries to bowlers, leaving them with a three man attack. NZ scored 29 runs in 19.1 overs today for the loss of three wickets and a couple of injuries. Blain and Cairns brought up their 100 stand (102 in all) but everything else for NZ was bad news. Warne and McDermott did most of the bowling today and Blain was first to go, lbw to McDermott. That decision was a bit like Mark Waugh's in the Australian innings - he might have got away with it in NZ, but he can have no real complaints. Then Warne got his first wicket in the test.

This time he landed his top spinner right on the dot and beat Cairns for pace off the pitch. Morrison and Su'a pottered around a bit longer until McGrath, brought on at the end, got Morrison lbw with a dipping full toss that hit him in line on the top of the pad. That one was unques- tionably out. Watson came in but pulled his hamstring when Su'a called him through for a quick single. They made it, but that 419th run was a fateful one. Watson will probably not play again on the tour. Unbelievable. This was cruel. With Watson's hamstring and Cairns' bruised heel NZ was down to a three man attack. Morrison bowled absolute- ly beautifully with no luck at all. He has lifted his game to another level and must surely soon start to accumulate bags of wickets. Away swing from close to the stumps is a classic formula for success. He bowled particularly well to the right handed Slater. Patel, who opened with him, bowled his best deliveries to the left handed Taylor. Crowe dropped a catch at slip and then there was the catch that wasn't (it was off Taylor's arm). After the first hour, the openers settled in and began to score all round the wicket.

A major problem for Crowe was that the other fit bowler, Murphy Su'a, was not very accurate. This meant he had to give Morrison more overs than he would have wished, and also had to resort to Pocock with his slow mediums. Patel got Slater for 99, caught at the wicket down the leg side off a ball that turned quite appreciably. Slater wasn't too happy - this game can be horrible at times. Nevertheless, NZ needed that wicket. When he went, the deluge of runs dried up just a fraction, and Australia hasn't yet got past the 200 lead mark. Prospects for tomorrow: After today, I'm loathe to predict any- thing anymore. It should be a draw because Australia ``won't'' have enough runs to risk a declaration too early on this track which has flattened out totally. They'll probably pull out in the hope of giving NZ a fright in the 4th innings to gain a psycho- logical advantage for the next game.

Day 5 Report

Australia were able to skip along at 5 per over for 21 overs this morning with Taylor getting a big not out ton. Didn't see the play, but Patel bowled unchanged with Morrison and Su'a sharing the other end. The declaration, before lunch, was a bold one leaving New Zealand 303 to win. Australia had immediate success with Greatbatch out to the first ball of the innings, caught down the leg side. The ball swung in a fraction, but that is always an unlucky way to go. Jones carried on where he left off in the first innings and had good support from Pocock, although the latter did not play quite so well in this 2nd knock. They were relatively untroubled until Warne came on with Jones' ``bete noir,'' Mark Waugh. Waugh troubled the batsmen again in this innings and he picked up the wicket of Jones for the second time in the match, this time lbw with Jones misreading the line just a shade. He was caught on the crease to a ball that hit him on the line of off stump. At 85, Pocock finally edged one to Healy. He played at too many in this region today and eventually paid the penalty. McGrath's delivery, stretching a point, may have moved away a little, but the batsman failed to get his foot to the ball.

Nevertheless a good debut game. There were no further disasters for New Zealand to tea, with Crowe and Rutherford prepared to hit the occasional bad one through the field. Crowe's knee was signi- ficantly worse today and was restricting not only his running but also his footwork. Warne was pinning his faith in the footmarks outside the right handers' leg stump and conducted a round the wicket attack. But the batsmen just played him with their pads. After tea, Warne was not required by Border until quite late in the piece and the only other wicket to fall was that of Ruth- erford. He was adjudged lbw to Steve Waugh, right on the front foot, after looking in very good touch today. After that, Crowe and Patel just batted on until the game was called off half an hour ear- ly. Both sides can claim credit from the match. Australia fin- ished on top but conceded a 1st innings lead. New Zealand's 1st innings lead was in some measure due to the toss and the condi- tions on the first day. New Zealand had the worst of the luck, but also one very bad day. The main thing was that both sides were shown to be competitive. However, the New Zealand injuries will weaken the side substantially - both batting and bowling.

It is rumoured that Richard de Groen (fast medium) and Chris Harris (well known) will be joining the team with Crowe returning home. Rutherford will take over as captain. This will weaken the batting of course but will create specialist batting opportunities for nos 6-8 in the test side.

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