Hobart Test, Day 2, Lunch
Friday, November 23, 2001

New Zealand will be really grateful for an early lunch - anything to give them a chance to regroup. They simply haven't learnt any lessons from yesterday's play, or from the first Test for that matter. And the way Brett Lee came out to bat, looking watchful and solid, suggests that Australia aren't satisfied yet.

This Test is really similar to the last game at Brisbane – on both occasions Australia got off to a flyer, wobbled a bit, then went on the attack again – and they've already beaten the 486 they got up there. A total of 600 may be ambitious, but that's what they will be looking at. A good session at them tonight, and New Zealand would then have to bat really well over two innings to save the game.

Shane Warne was looking good for a maiden Test century, and he'll be gutted to have missed out. He's got two 86s to his name already, and both of those were scored in similar situations, with runs on the board and the pressure off. It was fill-your-boots time out there, but New Zealand did come up with something of a tactic against him – they cramped him for room outside off stump, and forced him to overhit the ball. Nathan Astle was only on for two overs but his line was consistent. It's just a pity the other bowlers couldn't follow his lead.

Ricky Ponting has been solid again today. The New Zealanders did at least bowl a fuller length to him this morning, but they were forever straying onto his pads instead. Vettori has got to keep his composure and bowl a tight off-stump line, to force Ponting to aim through the covers, where he's not so comfortable. The quicks likewise need to aim outside off, get him hitting on the up. They can't afford to feed Ponting's pulls and cuts, while his on-driving has cleaned up anything too straight.

The weather forecast isn't great. It's still very grey outside, but it appears to be brightening up where the rain has come from, so I shouldn't think there will be too much of a delay.

Ian Healy made a record 395 dismissals in 119 Tests for Australia. His comments will be appearing on Wisden.com at the end of every session in the series. He was talking to Andrew Miller.

More Ian Healy
Day 1, Close: NZ bowled 111 runs too badly

Day 1, Tea: Beaten by boredom
Day 1, Lunch: Listless and emotionless

© Wisden CricInfo Ltd