Hobart Test, Lunch, Day 3
Saturday, November 24, 2001

It hasn't been pretty from New Zealand, but so far it has been fairly effective. It's all a game of patience out there. Richardson and Sinclair are digging in, and making Australia come to them. If the bowlers stick to their game-plan, and put the ball on the spot time and time again, success will come. But if they get frustrated by this approach, and try to mix it up too much, that will only play into the hands of the batsmen.

Matthew Bell's innings was a strange one. He gritted it out, sure, but all he does at the top of the order is give the bowlers confidence. Blunting the new ball is one thing, but allowing maiden after maiden only puts pressure on yourself and your team-mates. He did at least had his defence sorted out in this innings, which is an improvement on Brisbane, and he was starting to do a job for New Zealand when he got out to Warnie. The ball was there to be hit, but he got a bottom edge onto the pad and Gilchrist took an easy catch. Very unlucky.

Mark Richardson has been impressive – he's well organised, and he's kept the mental approach going so far. The weather's clearing now, the pitch is drying up and conditions are getting ever better for batting – it's probably about 50:50 between bat and ball at the moment. Mathew Sinclair has a reputation as a shotmaker, although his record against Australia is very poor. If he toughs it out then today could be the day to improve that.

It's all a matter of who keeps their composure for the longest. New Zealand know their task is to bat for three days, so they are in no hurry. The Australians have to keep the ball on a good length, and make the impact balls count. If they must bowl short balls, they have to get them high enough to cause real discomfort.

Glenn McGrath looked to have a spring back in his step. He's standing taller at the crease, and all the signs are there, though I still think he could do more with the ball, especially when moving it away from the right-hander. That, no doubt, will improve as the innings goes on.

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.

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