New Zealand v Australia Second Test Report Card, Day Three

Featuring new spells and the rush of retention

New Spells
Grade: A-

After Pat Cummins dismissed Tom Latham early on the third day, Rachin Ravindra and Glenn Phillips proceeded to put on a century partnership that extended the lead to close to 200.

Cummins tried everything to break the pair, including asking Marnus Labuschagne to bowl some ropey medium pace.

Eventually, however, Cummins was struck by a notion. The previous century partnership between Kane Williamson and Latham had been broken by Cummins on the first ball of a new spell. Perhaps he should bowl another first ball of a new spell?

And so he did, having Ravindra caught behind. Then Cameron Green bowled the first ball of a new spell and had Tom Blundell caught by a diving Labuschagne. Nathan Lyon bowled the first ball of a new spell and dismissed Phillips.

Sure, there were a smattering of other wickets from deliveries that weren’t the first ball of new spells. But they were clearly just coincidences.

This was the future. This was how it was done. From now on, all Australia would ever bowl was first balls of new spells.

BAD AI IMAGE OF: The first ball of a new spell