New Zealand Looking For a 3-0 Series Whitewash against Zimbabwe

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 3rd ODI, Napier

Firdose Moonda

February 8, 2012

Match facts
February 9, Napier
Start time 14:00 (01:00 GMT)

Big Picture
New Zealand have the opportunity to make a statement as loudly as was possible against an opposition that have been overawed, intimidated and just plain outplayed. Victory in Napier will give them their first whitewash in two years and their boldest statement in that time.

A whitewash against Zimbabwe will have to be measured in its context, and given the cowering nature of their opposition, that context is not very rich. Still, it has served as the best preparation they can get for the main course - South Africa, whom they play in just over a week's time.

New Zealand have used the series to integrate new players into the side. They settled their batting line-up and rotated their bowlers, to toy with combinations and look ready to launch their new unit into action against one of the best sides in the world.

Zimbabwe may be wishing they never left the comfort of Harare but they still have three matches - this ODI and two Twenty20s - to play before they head home. They have not allowed any of their good signs to show on the tour and have been prone to ill-discipline in all three departments. Most worryingly, their lapses in the field are an indicator of how low their confidence has dipped.

Energy and commitment in the field has always been a sign of strength for Zimbabwe and a way to measure how positive they were feeling. After numerous dropped catches - including letting all of New Zealand's top four off the hook in the second match - and misfields it's clear they are distressed by their poor showing.

The only thing they can do is stop it from getting any worse. That does not necessarily mean avoiding defeat but it simply means putting on a respectable showing. In the last match, their target was to bat 50 overs and they did it, they will have to see out the rest of the series with similarly small goals in mind and take satisfaction out of achieving those.

Form guide
New Zealand WWLWW (most recent first)
Zimbabwe LLWLL

In the spotlight
Tarun Nethula has been touted as a potential partner, or even replacement, to Daniel Vettori in the Test arena but John Wright made it clear that he would have to prove himself in the ODI side first. He went wicketless is his first outing, going for 55 runs in his 10 overs in Whangerai, and will want to show his ability to get among the wickets in a three-pronged spin attack in Napier.

The last time New Zealand had thumped Zimbabwe in two matches, in October last year, Malcolm Waller stepped up to make sure it didn't happen a third time. Waller scored a valiant 99 as Zimbabwe chased a record 329 in Bulawayo - their biggest morale booster since making their Test return. He is an aggressive allrounder who is not afraid to hit the ball hard and take the game to the opposition. With the situation Zimbabwe are in now, they will need someone with courage and confidence, two words that perfectly describe Waller.

Team news
Left-armer Michael Bates finally gets his nod in the final 12, with Tim Southee dropping out. Legspinner Tarun Nethula is likely to get a second match, which would mean Kyle Mills sits out. Nathan McCullum will be back in the starting XI in place of the injured Dean Brownlie, who has a fractured finger.

New Zealand: (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Rob Nicol, 3 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 4 Kane Williamson, 5 Tom Latham, 6 Nathan McCullum, 7 Andrew Ellis, 8 Jacob Oram, 9 Tarun Nethula 10 Doug Bracewell, 11 Michael Bates

After a second opening flop, Zimbabwe may want to tinker with the top two and bring in Tino Mawoyo and the expense of one of Stuart Matsikenyeri or Hamilton Masakadza. They are likely to go in with a similar bowling attack, the only probable change being Keegan Meth in for one of Elton Chigumbura or Prosper Utseya.

Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Stuart Matsikenyeri/Tino Mawoyo, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Regis Chakabva, 4 Brendan Taylor (capt), 5 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 6 Malcolm Waller, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Prosper Utseya, 9 Shingi Masakadza, 10 Ray Price, 11 Kyle Jarvis

Pitch and conditions
Described by locals as a "typical McLean Park belter", the strip is expected to be packed with runs. The weather is expected to be mostly sunny with a high of 24 degrees Celsius.

Stats and trivia

The last time New Zealand whitewashed a team was when they beat Bangladesh 3-0 in the 2009-10 season at home.
Tatenda Taibu will play his 150th ODI in Napier.

Quotes
"We started incredibly well the other day, so if we can get some partnerships at the top it puts us in a position where we can be a little bit more flexible and try to attack at certain times."
Brendon McCullum hints at Jacobs Oram getting another promotion up the order

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New Zealand Seal Series with Thumping Victory Over Zimbabwe in 2nd ODI

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI, Whangarei

The Report by Andrew Fernando

February 6, 2012

New Zealand 372 for 6 (Nicol 146, Guptill 77, Oram 59, Latham 48) beat Zimbabwe 231 for 8 (Chigumbura 63, Taibu 50, Oram 3-29) by 141 runs

New Zealand cruised to a 141-run victory after amassing 372 for 6 at Whangarei's Cobham Oval, and took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the ODI series. Their mammoth innings was grounded by Rob Nicol's 146, and launched by Jacob Oram's 28-ball 59, with Martin Guptill's 77 providing the early spark. Zimbabwe's thin hopes evaporated when three wickets fell in the first seven overs of their chase, and their innings meandered to 231 for 8 in 50 overs. Such was the magnitude of the drubbing, that in response to a New Zealand effort that featured 29 fours and 16 sixes, Zimbabwe managed only two fours until the 28th over of the chase.

Following a 131-run opening stand from Nicol and Guptill, Oram's belligerence propelled New Zealand's pace from brisk to frenetic, and flattened the opposition. Promoted five spots to No. 3 in a ploy to maintain the tempo, Oram responded with an innings whose violence was reminiscent of his early years. Having taken the batting Powerplay soon after his arrival, Oram unleashed an array of punishing strokes - some of which had been notably missing in recent times. The four towering strikes over long-on were brutal, as were the drives that singed the turf behind the bowler, but it was his inside-out loft over extra cover that stood out.

Nicol's steady progression to a second ODI hundred drew little attention as Guptill, then Oram, and for a short time Brendon McCullum, exploded at the other end. Nicol stayed at close to a run-a-ball throughout his innings, collecting 10 fours and six sixes himself as he set up a brutal finish to the innings.

Earlier, Zimbabwe were guilty of a dramatic slip in fielding standards, missing no fewer than five clear-cut chances after they had restricted New Zealand to 10 runs in the first five overs. Tatenda Taibu and Elton Chigumbura fluffed an early run out, where they could have dismissed either batsman with ease, before Oram was gifted a reprieve ten overs later. Two absolute sitters went down - off Brendon McCullum and Tom Latham - and Nicol also benefitted from a dropped chance.

Shingi Masakadza had combined well with Kyle Jarvis to prevent New Zealand from aggressing early. Guptill eventually unhinged the floodgates with two wristy legside flicks off Kyle Jarvis. Having meandered to 5 from 17 deliveries, Guptill looted 46 off his next 27 balls, to complete a fourth successive ODI half-century.

Two sixes - one straight, and another hooked over square leg - punctuated a volley of crisp boundaries as New Zealand flung off the chains suddenly and emphatically. Nicol took longer to warm to the attack than Guptill, but his gargantuan 118-metre hit into the neighbouring rugby stadium signalled his coming in the sixteenth over.

Ray Price bore the brunt of Oram's onslaught after Guptill's fall, conceding 40 off three overs in the middle of his spell. Shingi Masakadza was also dispatched for three successive boundaries, and Prosper Utseya launched into orbit despite Oram's top hand coming off the bat mid-stroke. Hamilton Masakadza created a chance, getting Oram to top edge one towards mid-on, but the opportunity was woefully and predictably bungled.

Oram was eventually caught at long-on when he mishit another one, and though Brendon McCullum and Kane Williamson kept the runs flowing, they both holed out while Nicol progressed untroubled. Another giant six into the rugby stand took him into the nineties, before two square boundaries brought him his second one-day hundred. In most other innings, Nicol's knock might have provided both the substance and the impetus for the team effort, but in comparison to his team-mates' savagery, his 115-ball ton was the anchor.

Nicol was joined by Latham as the final overs approached, and the pair continued New Zealand's incredible plunder. Eighty-six runs were scored in the last five overs, 25 of those from Kyle Jarvis' 48th. Six fours and eight sixes came in that phase as Andrew Ellis and Dean Brownlie partook in the flogging.

The bowlers aimed for the blockhole, but often missed their lengths by so much that the batsmen could have dispatched the ball in almost any direction. A last-ball six from Ellis was the fitting end to Zimbabwe's torture.

Early in the chase, Hamilton Masakadza found Dean Brownlie at point with the first aggressive stroke he ventured, before Ellis took a terrific diving catch at third man to dismiss Stuart Matsikenyeri. When Brendan Taylor skied one to McCullum as he attempted to revive a flat-lining run rate, Zimbabwe seemed resigned to the loss. They hadn't even completed the mandatory Powerplay.

After Taylor's dismissal, Zimbabwe opted to spend time in the middle and find some form before the last ODI. Tatenda Taibu and Elton Chigumbura hit risk-free half-centuries to ensure Zimbabwe did not suffer their heaviest one-day defeat, nine days after stumbling to their worst Test loss.

Both men departed soon after passing 50, before tenacious lower order batting on a lifeless pitch helped the visitors bat out their quota - some consolation at the end of another difficult day.

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Wright Expects More From Young Middle Order

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 2nd ODI, Whangarei

Firdose Moonda

February 5, 2012

For a team that is regarded as shrewd and crafty, it seems unusual that New Zealand would construct their strategies on nothing more than basics. But, with one foot in the midst of a transition of sorts, it's the fundamentals of the game that New Zealand are focusing on - specifically the very building blocks of batting.

Their ODI against Zimbabwe in Dunedin began with two batsmen back in the changeroom with only four runs on the board. Injured captain Ross Taylor said that points to the first thing they want to work on. "Two new balls are something we need to get used to and we lost two early wickets," Taylor said. "But we still posted a good total of around 250 on what looked like a greenish wicket with a lot of bounce."

New Zealand's eventual score could have been much more, as they reached the 43rd over with four wickets in hand. Instead of pushing on, they splintered at the end and lost four wickets for 25 runs. The lower-order acceleration is the other aspect of their batting New Zealand want to improve.

"We want to get to 46 overs with four wickets in hand and then go from there. We had a lot of starts but we want players to go on," John Wright, New Zealand's coach said. "Where we get hurt in one-day cricket particularly is if we don't bat deep and if we don't use up our overs." New Zealand were bowled out nine balls short of a complete innings in the first match.

A relatively inexperienced middle order may be the cause. Dean Brownlie, Kane Williamson and Tom Latham, who played in place of Taylor, make up the current No. 4 to 6 in the line-up and Wright hopes that time in the middle will allow the trio to consolidate their domestic showings and create depth in New Zealand's squad.

"We've had some players perform really well in the one-day domestic competitions, without being rewarded with selection and the opportunity, previously," he said. "Hopefully we're gathering a little bit more competition within our team and that's always healthy."

New Zealand are being careful not to rate their wins against Zimbabwe, who are playing their first tour away from home since making their Test comeback last August, too highly. Instead they want to use the matches as an opportunity to experiment ahead of more challenging contests, such as the imminent one against South Africa. "We need to play well against Zimbabwe," Wright said. "We value our wins very highly. Then, if we can get some form going, we've got to try and knock off South Africa."

By the time South Africa reach New Zealand, Taylor hopes the new-look ODI squad will have taken on a more settled look, particularly in the batting department. "When you come in with a lot of youngsters, they are trying to find their way," he said. "On the whole it [the ODI in Dunedin] was a pass mark but we'll want to play a lot better."

Taylor was ruled out of the series after sustaining a calf injury in the one-off Test. He was forced to retire hurt on 122 in New Zealand's only innings and was on crutches in the immediate aftermath. He is now walking unassisted and said the "physio and trainer are happy with the progress I have made so far."

The New Zealand captain is on track to take the field for the series against South Africa and will travel with the team, bar the ODI in Napier, to keep an eye on proceedings. "It's always frustrating when you get an injury but it's a nice opportunity for someone else," Taylor said.

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New Zealand Crush Zimbabwe By 90 Runs in 1st ODI at Dunedin

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Dunedin

The Report by Andrew Fernando

February 3, 2012

New Zealand 248 (Guptill 70, Shingi Masakadza 4-46) beat Zimbabwe 158 (Taylor 58) by 90 runs

Brendan Taylor's 58 was the only resistance the New Zealand bowlers faced, as they bowled Zimbabwe out cheaply to secure a 90-run win in the first one-dayer in Dunedin. Pace and bounce were the visiting batsmen's bane once more, with the New Zealand seamers sharing four of the top seven scalps between them. But Zimbabwe's own bowlers had enjoyed those same conditions, having dismissed New Zealand for a spluttering 248 in the 49th over.

Taylor had spent two months playing in the HRV Cup prior to his side's arrival, and the experience clearly showed, as only he mastered the hosts' steady seam on a lively, green-tinged track. With three batsmen perishing in 6.1 overs, in what seemed a continuation of Zimbabwe's rolling collapse in Napier, Taylor counter-punched with a volley of calculated straight boundaries, while Tatenda Taibu groped his way past early jitters to help erect a 52-run partnership.

The pair first averted another top-order collapse before Taylor began hauling in a rapidly rising run-rate, with boundaries to the leg side and some hurried running. Taibu perished attempting aggression, but Taylor found the rope when he looked for it, hitting debutant Andrew Ellis for two successive leg-side boundaries to close in on a 25th ODI half-century, which he completed in 59 balls.

Zimbabwe's hopes of successive one-day wins over New Zealand effectively ended with Taylor, who holed out to long-off to leave his side at 97 for 5 in the 26th over. Taylor had hit Rob Nicol out of the University Oval off the previous delivery, but the bowler's bravery in flighting the ball once more brought him his first scalp, and all but secured the result.

Malcolm Waller had struck a match-winning unbeaten 99 in the sides' last encounter, in Bulawayo. But rarely seemed comfortable here, and though the tail added late runs and entertainment after his demise, New Zealand simply stayed patient to close out the Zimbabwe innings at 158.

Zimbabwe had repeatedly threatened to derail New Zealand in their innings, but managed only to contain them. The hosts' innings never found fluency following the loss of two early wickets, with regular blows thwarting hopes of a commanding total. But Zimbabwe never closed in for the kill, with inconsistent bowling allowing New Zealand's inexperienced batting order to lurch their side to an underwhelming, but competitive total in spurts.

Martin Guptill's 66-ball 70 at the top of the order was the only notable score for the hosts, as he and Kane Williamson rescued New Zealand who threatened a familiar collapse at 4 for 2. Opener Rob Nicol was undone by a Meth's outswinger on zero, before Brendon McCullum padded up to a Kyle Jarvis indipper three deliveries later, with the ball shown to be clipping the top of off stump on review.

Zimbabwe should have had Guptill soon after too, had they been more patient. Having been stifled by early movement, Guptill lashed out at Meth with a lofted drive over mid-on and Tatenda Taibu saw enough cause in the batsman's first boundary to move up to the stumps. He regretted his decision the very next delivery, when he spilt an edge he would have comfortably pouched in his regular position. A chance that would have restricted New Zealand further and perhaps changed the match's outlook.

Placement and sharp running was the hallmark of Guptill's association with Kane Williamson, as the pair put on 88 to rebuild, then consolidate after early losses. Both men eased runs through the leg side as the Zimbabwe seamers strayed straight too often - perhaps spurred by early success to look for big swing. Guptill's fifty came from 44 deliveries as he punctuated singles and twos with regular boundary blows, particularly to the off side.

None of his team-mates though, could convert starts into innings of substance. Five of New Zealand's middle-order batsmen failed to reach fifty having made more than 15 in not unfriendly conditions. Promising partnerships were crimped just as they sought to wrest the advantage, with an occasionally lively pitch and canny limited-overs bowling from Zimbabwe hauling the hosts back at regular intervals.

Shingi Masakadza bagged 4 for 46 from his 9.3 overs, while Elton Chigumbura was also effective through the middle overs, taking 2 for 46. Both bowlers bowled a consistent off stump line and found slight movement on occasion, as well as uncomfortable bounce and carry to prevent the hosts' batsmen from settling.

Nathan McCullum and Ellis put on 57 at almost a run a ball to reverse a wicket-induced mini stagnation towards the end of New Zealand's innings. But though Zimbabwe dismissed them and the tail without much ado, their batsmen failed once more and New Zealand take the early lead in the three-match series.

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New Zealand will Face Zimbabwe in 1st ODI Tomorrow at Dunedin

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 1st ODI, Dunedin

Firdose Moonda

February 2, 2012

Match facts
February 3, Dunedin
Start time 11:00 (22:00 GMT)

Big Picture
The last time these two sides played fifty-over cricket was against each other, in October last year. The first two matches were one-way traffic in favour of New Zealand before Zimbabwe chased down 329 in a thriller in Bulawayo, the highest target they have ever achieved, to earn a confidence-boosting victory.

Then, Zimbabwe used the result as motivation to run New Zealand close in the Test match that followed. Now, they will have to pick themselves up after a humiliating three-day Test defeat and prove that the Zimbabwe who challenged New Zealand in Bulawayo have not disappeared.

It will require an improvement of exponential proportions and an understanding of foreign conditions, which seems have eluded them so far. Zimbabwe have had time - time to digest what happened, forget it and prepare for a format in which they should be more comfortable competing in, if only because they have had more experience in it. These matches are their last shred of cricket until August, and to end their comeback summer strongly will be foremost in their mind.

New Zealand are without their captain, Ross Taylor, but have said all the right things about not releasing the brake or allowing Zimbabwe any wriggle room. Known better for being shrewd and crafty, rather than ruthless, New Zealand are looking to beef up their persona ahead of a bigger test against South Africa later this month.

Without going as far as calling this series a warm-up, New Zealand may use it for that purpose. They will put new faces on trial, innovate strategically and aim to develop a unit that they can call close to complete by the end of the series.

Form guide
New Zealand LWWLW (most recent first)
Zimbabwe WLLLL

In the spotlight
The battle between Brendon McCullum and Brendan Taylor is likely to be most intriguing as both will play the same roles for their sides. They will captain and also play a key role with the bat, most likely at No. 3. The two are similar in character as natural leaders and Taylor has started to build a reputation similar to McCullum's as a batsman. Although McCullum showed glimpses of his former self in the previous series the two contested, his highest score was 87 and he will want to improve on that. Taylor became the first Zimbabwe player to score back-to-back ODI centuries when he smacked consecutive hundreds against New Zealand in October. His aggressive 75 in the third match laid the platform for a historic win.

Team news
New Zealand have released legspinner Tarun Nethula and left-armer Michael Bates from their final squad of 12. Tom Latham is expected to make his ODI debut and is most likely to bat at No. 4. Andrew Ellis too, is expected to make the playing XI. The only question is between Kane Williamson and Dean Brownlie.

New Zealand: (probable) 1 Rob Nicol, 2 Martin Guptill, 3 Brendon McCullum (capt & wk), 4 Tom Latham, 5 Dean Brownlie/Kane Williamson, 6 Nathan McCullum, 7 Doug Bracewell, 8 Andrew Ellis, 9 Jacob Oram, 10 Kyle Mills, 11 Tim Southee

Zimbabwe will welcome back allrounders Elton Chigumbura and ODI specialist Prosper Utseya. Whether there is space for both in the final XI will depend on whether Keegan Meth plays and if Ray Price is fit, as Zimbabwe may chose to go in with only one spinner. With Vusi Sibanda not in the squad, Brendan Taylor could return to opening the batting, although he has had great success at No. 3, which may result in Regis Chakabva taking up the opening role.

Zimbabwe: (probable) 1 Regis Chakabva, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Brendan Taylor (capt), 4 Tatenda Taibu, 5 Forster Mutizwa, 6 Malcolm Waller, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Keegan Meth/Prosper Utseya, 9 Ray Price, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Brian Vitori

Pitch and conditions
In keeping with their new love of seamer's strips, New Zealand have prepared another pitch that is greener than usual. Brendon McCullum said it would be a field-first pitch. It's likely that batting will be tough and the spinners will have nothing more than a containing role to play. The weather is expected to be mild and windy with no rain.

Stats and trivia

If Ray Price plays, he will feature in his 100th ODI. He debuted 10 years ago.
University Oval, Dunedin, has only hosted one other ODI: New Zealand v Bangladesh in February 2010. The hosts won by five wickets.

Quotes
"It's a funny series in that the expectation is that we should win 3-nil. It's how we respond to pressure, and there will be pressure at some point."
New Zealand stand-in captain Brendon McCullum does not shy away from the favourites tag

"In Test cricket we are still learning, we haven't played too many games since we came back."
Elton Chigumbura says Zimbabwe are more experienced in the limited-overs formats of the game and hope to be more competitive

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We want to Make Winning a Habit - Southee

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, only Test, Napier

ESPNcricinfo staff

January 29, 2012

In Hobart last December, after winning a Test in Australia for the first time in 26 years, New Zealand celebrated their achievement in a new way. The players strolled out to the pitch in their whites, sang a team song, and settled down to enjoy a few drinks to mark the moment. They did it again in Napier after hammering Zimbabwe. Tim Southee said the acting-captain Brendon McCullum was the brains behind the celebration and that New Zealand wanted to make it an often-repeated ritual.

"It's a pledge which has been around a long time," Southee said. "Brendon McCullum has been driving it. It's something we will make a tradition as Test wins keep coming."

Of their four Tests this summer, New Zealand have won three, and Southee hoped victory would become a habit for this team. "It's a great thing to win Test matches. It's an amazing feeling and we are slowly making a bit of a habit of it. Hopefully we can have this group of guys together for a long time and keep that winning feeling."

In each of those victories, New Zealand displayed a different aspect of their recent development: strong temperament in tight game in Bulawayo, the ability to beat some of the best in Hobart and ruthlessness in Napier. The innings-and-301-run victory at McLean Park could have been more emphatic if most of the second day had not been washed out.

"If the rain hadn't come it could have been all over in two days or two and a half days," Southee said. "It was a dream day. Days like that are what you play Test cricket for. It was a great to have a win, and to win so convincingly and build on that game from Hobart."

Like they did at Bellerive Oval, New Zealand played four fast bowlers in Napier, on a pitch that assisted the quicks. Seventeen wickets fell to pace, eight of them to Chris Martin, as Zimbabwe were dismissed twice in a day. "We went with the four-seamer attack again. In the first innings everyone chipped in," Southee said. "But, in the second innings, it was just an outstanding individual performance by Chris. The way he bowled showed there's still a bit of kick in the old boy yet."

With Martin guiding the young bowlers such as Southee, Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell, Southee said New Zealand had a good balance. "The experience of the older guys and the excitement of the young guys mixed in is great. We are very excited about what the future holds."

The immediate future holds three ODIs and two Twenty20s against Zimbabwe before the series against South Africa, which Southee calls "the key of the summer," starting with three T20s and three ODIs. The glut of limited-overs cricket means New Zealand will have to make a speedy adjustment to the format, and Southee was confident they would. "It wasn't that long ago that we had a white ball in our hands and it shouldn't take too long to adapt back to that," he said. "It will just be a narrowing down of skills and practicing death and slower balls, change of pace and things like that."

New Zealand's first ODI against Zimbabwe is in Dunedin on February 3.

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New Zealand Bowl Out Zimbabwe Twice in a Day and win the Only Test

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Only Test, Napier, 3rd day

The Report by Andrew Fernando

January 28, 2012

New Zealand 495 for 7 dec (Taylor 122, Watling 102*) beat Zimbabwe 51 (Waller 23) and 143 (Chakabva 63, Martin 6-26) by an innings and 301 runs

Zimbabwe fans waking up to check on the cricket might wonder if they slept through the entire weekend, after a rolling Zimbabwe collapse spanning sixteen wickets and 43 overs brought the one-off Test in Napier hurtling to an early close. The innings-and-301-run defeat is their worst ever, eclipsing the loss they suffered to the same opposition in 2005 by seven runs. And though Regis Chakabva resisted valiantly with a 63 from 119 balls towards the end, it was little compensation for a catastrophic first innings in response to New Zealand's 495 for 7 declared.

Chris Martin finished with 8 for 31 for the day, bringing the top order to its knees in both innings before his team-mates smelled easy blood and continued the mauling. Sharp and disciplined, the New Zealand attack made the most of uncomfortable bounce and modest movement available, on a day where they only had to keep putting the ball just short of a length and await the bounty.

Zimbabwe had succumbed for 54 against South Africa on their last away Test tour six years ago, but they trumped even that ignominy at McLean Park, with a 51 all out in the first innings that lasted a shade under 29 overs. Tino Mawoyo and Forster Mutizwa were the first dominoes to fall, flailing wildly at Martin indippers that went on to disturb their stumps. Hamilton Masakadza, Brendan Taylor and Tatenda Taibu continued the spectacular surrender, pushing hard outside off stump to provide the slips with a supply of edges.

The visitors might have hoped to breach the follow-on target of 295, but not only did that seem a fanciful pipe dream at lunch, the rate of implosion suggested they wouldn't even manage 40. New Zealand's stand-in captain, Brendon McCullum, employed no fewer than seven catching men in addition to the keeper at one stage, to ensure each gift Zimbabwe bestowed could be happily accepted.

Malcolm Waller offered the only resistance, when he managed 23 before edging Tim Southee to the slips. At least he made a double figure score - something that evaded each of his team-mates, who between them recorded three ducks, two twos and three threes. After Waller's demise, the tail bowed as meekly as those who had gone before them at the top of the innings, who in turn padded up again for the second time in two hours.

They were all heading back to the changing room soon after though, as the Zimbabwe batting conveyor belt resumed either side of tea. Martin snared both Zimbabwe openers and captain Taylor, before two wickets to Doug Bracewell in the first over after the afternoon break reduced Zimbabwe to 12 for 5, with the day's running total at 63 for 15.

Chakabva and Graeme Cremer came together for the seventh wicket, with the total at 37 and their side facing the heaviest Test loss since 1938. But the pair finally found the application that had evaded Zimbabwe for 40 overs and prevented further infamy with a 63-run association. Both men were understandably reticent to begin with, but began to score runs off loose deliveries eventually, with Chakabva even venturing two cleanly struck boundaries off a Trent Boult over that eased the nerves. The pair survived the seamers, who had reaped 14 wickets between them in two sessions and had McCullum turning to his part-timers before Cremer abandoned judgement and his wicket, chipping a Kane Williamson full toss lamely to mid-off.

Chakabva continued his defiance in the company of a more aggressive minded Shingi Masakadza, completing a dogged first Test fifty from 82 deliveries to force New Zealand to call on the extra half hour to complete the win. When at one stage it seemed Zimbabwe would not eclipse BJ Watling's first innings 102 with both team totals combined, Zimbabwe's lower order restored a modicum of credibility, but fell short of the 151 that would have ensured Harare, 2005 would remain their worst loss.

The third morning had begun well enough for the visitors when Brian Vitori found late swing to dislodge Bracewell off the third ball of the day. But their start would have been yet brighter had Shingi Masakadza not overstepped two balls later. Watling was given out lbw to a delivery angling in to him, but was handed his first life upon review - one of many costly misses for Zimbabwe in the field.

Tim Southee, on orders to partner Watling for as long as possible rather than wield his characteristic long handle, ended up doing both. He battled out the first twenty minutes risk-free before two straight fours off Kyle Jarvis signaled intentions to propel New Zealand towards 500. Greed ended his enterprising innings at 44, as he looked to slam a third consecutive boundary off Cremer over midwicket only for Waller to swallow his mis-hit.

Boult saw Watling through to his ton, which didn't come without drama. He was dropped in the gully off Jarvis at 90, and at 94, was hurried-up by the dressing room who granted one more over to reach three figures before the declaration would come. A slog to midwicket off the next ball he faced brought him four, and he was almost run out attempting an ambitious two to get his century, with Watling only able to celebrate the milestone after the third umpire ruled him home by a whisker.

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Rain Washes Out Play Between New Zealand and Zimbabwe on Day 2 of Only Test

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Only Test, Napier, 2nd day

The Report by Andrew Fernando

January 27, 2012

New Zealand 392 for 5 (Watling 52*, Bracewell 11*) v Zimbabwe

Only 15.2 overs were bowled on the second day of the Test between New Zealand and Zimbabwe at McLean Park before light, but persistent, rain set in to make further play impossible. BJ Watling shone through the gloom of the curtailed morning session to consolidate his side's dominance with a bright fifty, his second in Tests. Watling finished unbeaten on 52, having helped his side advance to 392 for 5, with a large first-innings score becoming ever more critical following the loss of two and a half sessions of play.

New Zealand managed to waltz through unscathed on the scorecard, but sustained an injury to overnight centurion Ross Taylor, who retired hurt before being taken to hospital with a suspected calf tear. It may mean today's modest gain of 61 runs proves a potentially pyrrhic victory for the hosts, with South Africa, the home summer's main event, due in the country in two weeks.

Watling passed his first Test as wicketkeeper-batsman by producing the kind of innings the selectors signed him on for in his first dig in the new role. Watling began the morning with a pair of liquid drives through the off side, and rarely allowed a half-volley to go unpunished. With an abnormally docile Ross Taylor's sights seemingly set on long occupation on day two, it fell to Watling to provide the early impetus, and he responded with a brace of runs square of the wicket, even as his partner's start starved him of the strike.

As in the morning session on day one, Zimbabwe's bowlers were guilty of straying too often, particularly on the pads, and despite the already-slow outfield becoming ever more sluggish as drizzle set in, Watling's timing ensured wayward bowlers paid due penance.

The visitors also lacked intensity on the field, again much as they had for in the opening day, with Brendan Taylor positioning a solitary slip instead of pressing for early breakthroughs under some cloud cover. Ross Taylor was happy to allow the bowlers come to him, dealing in languid singles instead of militant strokeplay, with his counterpart seemingly content to leave enough gaps to allow him his leisurely approach.

Ross Taylor's plan to build patiently struck an abrupt roadblock when he pulled a calf, setting off for his 122nd run. Unable to summon a runner under the new rules, the New Zealand captain was forced to leave the field.

Zimbabwe's woes were then both epitomised and compounded by perhaps the worst drop in Tests so far in 2012. Doug Bracewell toed a sitter to Forster Mutizwa at cover, handing the debutant a chance not even worthy of being called catching practice. Mutizwa shelled the opportunity, and a few overs later, Watling edged through vacant first slip to reach his fifty before the rains came down.

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Ross Taylor Out From Zimbabwe Series Due to Calf Injury

Zimbabwe in New Zealand, 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff

January 27, 2012

Ross Taylor, the New Zealand captain, has been sidelined for three to four weeks after picking up a calf strain on the second morning of the only Test against Zimbabwe in Napier. Taylor will miss the rest of the Zimbabwe series and is hoping to be fit for the home one-dayers against South Africa in late February.

Taylor was injured attempting a single and was forced to retire hurt on 122 early on the second day. Only 15 overs of play was possible before rain intervened with New Zealand at a strong 392 for 5.

Paul Close, the New Zealand physio, said that Taylor would have further tests before starting a rehabilitation programme. "While it is early days, our target is to have Ross available for the one-day series against South Africa in late February," Close said.

Opener Brendon McCullum is expected to take over the captaincy from Taylor, although no official vice-captain has been named for the Zimbabwe series.

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Ross Taylor Ton puts New Zealand in Command on Day 1 against Zimbabwe

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Only Test, Napier, 1st day

The Report by Andrew Fernando

January 26, 2012

New Zealand 331 for 5 (Taylor 111*, McCullum 83) v Zimbabwe

Ross Taylor reached an unbeaten sixth Test hundred just before stumps on day one to put New Zealand in command in the Test against Zimbabwe in Napier. Having been inserted on an unusually green Mclean Park deck, New Zealand collected 331 largely trouble-free runs for the loss of five wickets, with half-centuries to Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill helping set up a strong total.

Ross Taylor will rarely make an easier ton, as the Zimbabwe bowlers struggled to put him under pressure throughout his composed stay. The seamers were already on the wane when he arrived at the crease at 131 for two, offering boundary balls with alarming regularity while legspinner Graeme Cremer battled to find his length throughout the day. While Ross Taylor was quick to punish the abundant bad deliveries, he also accumulated at will when his opposite Brendan Taylor employed defensive fields too early and for too long.

Ross Taylor reserved bursts of characteristic belligerence for genuinely bad bowling, like Cremer's over of long hops that disappeared for 17, choosing to build rather than blast, even as the Zimbabwe attack became more lackadaisical as the day wore on. He reached his hundred in 154 deliveries and finished the day on 111 not out, alongside New Zealand's latest wicketkeeper-batsman, BJ Watling, who was unbeaten on 15.

Two short patches of joy were all Zimbabwe gleaned from a day of toil in sun-beaten Napier, as they failed to convert New Zealand's stutters into definitive momentum shifts. Guptill and Kane Williamson fell in quick succession following an unflustered 124-run opening stand, but indifferent bowling and Brendan Taylor's reluctance to tighten the noose with close fielders allowed McCullum and Ross Taylor to continue building at their leisure.

McCullum's dismissal after tea and Dean Brownlie's grope at an away-seamer shortly after provided Zimbabwe with another window in which to probe for the initiative. But the seam attack wilted once more, and Ross Taylor combined New Zealand's resident collapse-thwarter, Daniel Vettori, to restore the hosts' dominance, and kick scoring back into gear.

Vettori was eventually dismissed for a busy 38, dragged out of his crease by a Cremer googly for just long enough for Tatenda Taibu to jerk off the bails, but Ross Taylor and Watling were virtually untested as they helped their side through to the close, blunting the worst of the second new ball to have New Zealand eyeing 500.

Playing their first away Test since the Centurion in March 2005, Zimbabwe's seamers failed to exploit favourable early conditions, before the notoriously placid McLean Park surface returned to the familiar. Kyle Jarvis beat McCullum's outside edge repeatedly in his first two overs of the day, but two wallops over cover and a glance to fine leg ignited McCullum's innings as Guptill eased into the match with a spate of purring strokes into the on-side. Guptill was the more fluent of the pair as they transferred their domestic Twenty20 form into the first morning of the Test, motoring to 52 in 9.4 overs, before easing off somewhat after the first hour.

Swing was neither prodigious, nor the pace unsettling from Jarvis and new-ball partner Brian Vitori, who at times went searching for ambitious outswing on leg-stump only to be picked through the on-side methodically by Guptill in particular. Debutant Shingi Masakadza's introduction into the attack helped haul in a New Zealand run rate that at times touched 5.5 runs an over, as Masakadza persevered outside off stump, nibbling the odd delivery away from the right-handers.

McCullum and Guptill both reached their fifties soon after lunch, with the latter content with well-placed twos and threes while McCullum punctured the ring with more intent. But Masakadza was soon rewarded for with Guptill's scalp - albeit against the run of play - and Zimbabwe soon surged towards equality when McCullum abandoned thoughts of a single, and an unwitting Williamson, who had almost reached the non-striker's end before realising McCullum had headed back to his crease after initially setting off.

McCullum was dismissed in sight of a century, following a period of consolidation alongside Ross Taylor, and Brownlie made no use of a reprieve in the slips off Jarvis, surrendering to Masakadza in the following over. But Ross Taylor, with assistance from Vettori and Watling, completed a successful first day of New Zealand's home summer, and will aim to transform his side's first innings total from commanding to colossal on day two.

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Zimbabwe and New Zealand will Face Each Other in Only Test Tomorrow

New Zealand v Zimbabwe, 1st Test, Napier

The Preview by Firdose Moonda

January 25, 2012

Match Facts
January 26-30, Napier
Start time 10:30 (21:30 GMT on January 25)

Big Picture
Two higher profile series leave this one-off Test to play out in the shadows but it promises to be a test of character for both sides. New Zealand and Zimbabwe played one of the Tests of the year in 2011, in Bulawayo, which ended in a thrilling 34-run win for the visitors. Zimbabwe have not played any Test cricket since then and will still be buoyed by how close they came. New Zealand, however, have a bigger cloud to float on - victory over Australia in Hobart.

The Zimbabwe series is a curtain raiser to South Africa's arrival in New Zealand later in the summer and the hosts will want to use what is effectively a warm-up tour to fine-tune their plans. They have question marks over who the best wicketkeeper in the country is, how many allrounders to play and which of their four quick bowlers will edge ahead if they have to pick between them. One Test may not be enough to clarify all of these issues but it will go some way to guiding New Zealand in the immediate future.

Zimbabwe have a far more daunting mission to accomplish. For the first time since making their Test comeback in August last year, they will play away from the comfort of Harare or Bulawayo. While still finding their feet in the longest form of the game, they will also have to quickly assess and understand the ground beneath it as they adapt to foreign conditions. Their captain, Brendan Taylor, has already spent time in New Zealand playing in the HRV Cup and his insights will be valuable.

Under Alan Butcher, Zimbabwe have formed a close-knit and increasingly confident unit but this match will test those bonds and other aspects of their game. The result matters less for them than the manner in which it is achieved and how they perform in this match will provide a good yardstick for measuring Zimbabwe's progress.

Form Guide
New Zealand WLWDL (most recent first)
Zimbabwe LLW (Zimbabwe's results only reflect matches they have played since making their Test comeback in August 2010)

Players to watch …
After just three Test matches in which he has scored three fifties, Dean Brownlie has already earned a promotion up the order. He will bat at No. 5 and will act as the fifth seamer in an attack that will contain four quicks and the spotlight will fall on whether he can convert a start. Like most of their squad, Zimbabwe's new-ball pair of Kyle Jarvis and Brian Vitori will experience Test cricket on foreign spoil for the first time. On a pitch in Harare that offered only early assistance for the quicks, the pair took 10 wickets between them and will be able to push themselves on a surface offering more assistance.

Team news
On a seamer-friendly pitch, New Zealand are set to play four quicks with Daniel Vettori coming in at No. 6. That means Brownlie will be promoted a place and Kane Williamson gets an opportunity at No. 3 in Jesse Ryder's absence. The most debated topic in New Zealand over the past week is the wicketkeeper's spot which will be taken by BJ Watling, over Kruger van Wyk. Sam Wells, the allrounder who was included in the New Zealand squad at the eleventh hour, is reportedly unlikely to play.

New Zealand: (probable) 1 Martin Guptill, 2 Brendon McCullum, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Ross Taylor (capt), 5 Dean Brownlie, 6 Daniel Vettori, 7 BJ Watling (wk), 8 Doug Bracewell, 9 Tim Southee, 10 Trent Boult, 11 Chris Martin

Zimbabwe are without two of their most experienced players. Vusi Sibanda was left out of the touring party after being declared ineligible for the national team following a grade cricket stint and Chris Mpofu suffered a lower back injury. Hamilton Masakadza partnered Tino Mawoyo at the top in the tour match, and will do so again in Test. Forster Mutizwa will bat at No. 3 and Regis Chakabva will bat at No. 6. Zimbabwe will play three allrounders, Malcolm Waller, Graeme Cremer and Shingi Masakadza. Keegan Meth was struck during training and is on crutches. Cremer gets the nod ahead of veteran Ray Price who was ruled out with a groin injury.

Zimbabwe: 1 Tino Mawoyo, 2 Hamilton Masakadza, 3 Forster Mutizwa, 4 Brendan Taylor (capt), 5 Tatenda Taibu (wk), 6 Regis Chakabva, 7 Malcolm Waller, 8 Graeme Cremer, 9 Shingi Masakadza, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Brian Vitori

Pitch and Conditions
Talk in New Zealand is that the hosts have ordered a green top as they look to pick from where they left off in Hobart. Although Napier has traditionally been a batsmen's pitch, with the last match between New Zealand and Pakistan playing out to a high-scoring draw in 2009. A wetter summer than normal should provide for bowler-friendly conditions. Napier is expected to be mild and sunny with the only possibility of rain forecast for the second afternoon.

Stats and Trivia

New Zealand have never won a Test match in Napier. Of the nine matches played there, seven have been draws with only England and Sri Lanka registering Test wins at McLean Park.

New Zealand and Zimbabwe have played against each other 14 times, with New Zealand winning eight and six draws. Three of the victories were by more than an innings.
Zimbabwe have only won two Tests away from home - in Peshawar against Pakistan in 1998 and in Chittagong against Bangladesh in 2001.

Quotes
"People say it's easy to change up from Twenty20 to Test cricket. But I disagree. It is a lot harder than you think. It's more a mindset change than technique."
Ross Taylor said his players may find it tricky to make the shift from the HRV Cup to Test cricket

"We showed that New Zealand can be beaten. I hope we can take the confidence we gained from that match forward."
Zimbabwe coach Alan Butcher thinks the team will take heart from their 34-run loss to New Zealand in Bulawayo last year

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Sam Wells Added in New Zealand Test Squad against Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe in New Zealand 2011-12

ESPNcricinfo staff

January 23, 2012

Sam Wells, the 27-year-old Otago allrounder, has been added to the New Zealand squad for the one-off Test against Zimbabwe after impressing in the warm-up match in Gisborne. Wells, a left-hand batsman and right-arm medium-pace bowler, made his first-class debut in 2007 and has played 21 first-class games, in which he averages 38.10 with the bat, with two centuries.

In this season's Plunket Shield, he was the leading run-getter for Otago, but was not even in the top 15 in the overall list. He took just two wickets in the season, and has a first-class bowling average of 34.27. He was given an opportunity to play for a New Zealand XI side against the touring Zimbabweans, scored 65 in the first innings, helping to take the team out of a sticky situation, and grabbed a wicket with the ball.

Wells' inclusion takes the squad up to 13 members, with seven batsmen available. John Wright, the Nez Zealand coach, said Wells had been added to give the squad some balance.

"Sam is a talented allrounder and we are confident if the opportunity arises he will perform well at international level for New Zealand," Wright said. "He has impressed during the three-day match in Gisborne with the bat and his skills with the ball will give good balance to the side."

The Test against Zimbabwe begins January 26 in Napier.

New Zealand Test Squad: Ross Taylor (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, Kruger van Wyk (wk), BJ Watling (wk), Kane Williamson, Sam Wells

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Young Dropped For Zimbabwe Test

New Zealand news

ESPNcricinfo staff

January 16, 2012

New Zealand's selectors have dropped the wicketkeeper Reece Young from the side that defeated Australia in Hobart for the one-off Test to be played against Zimbabwe in Napier from January 26.

Young was jettisoned after failing to make an impression with the bat in Australia, though his glove work was sound under pressure in the visitors' narrow win over Australia at Bellerive Oval.

In his place are BJ Watling and Kruger van Wyk, both batsmen who can keep wicket, with the coach John Wright still to decide which will don the gloves against Zimbabwe. Jesse Ryder is the only other change from the Hobart XI, as he continues his recovery from a calf tear.

"There's a lot of competition for the wicketkeeping spot in the country at the moment," Wright said. "It's tough on Reece, his keeping has been good and he knows that if he goes back to domestic cricket and scores runs he will remain in the frame.

"BJ will get a chance to prove himself with the gloves in the three-day game and Kruger will open the batting. A decision on who will take the gloves in the Test will be made closer to the start of the match."

A New Zealand XI was also named to play the Zimbabweans in a three-day warm-up match in Gisborne. Both Watling and Van Wyk have been included, alongside the experience of Ross Taylor, Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin.

"The team for the warm-up match is mix of experienced Test players and bright prospects," the national selection manager Kim Littlejohn said. "The match will give some of our key players some valuable preparation ahead of the Test match in Napier as well as provide an opportunity for promising players to show what they can do at a different level."

New Zealand Test squad: Ross Taylor (capt), Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Dean Brownlie, Martin Guptill, Chris Martin, Brendon McCullum, Tim Southee, Daniel Vettori, Kruger van Wyk (wk), BJ Watling (wk), Kane Williamson

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Bracewell Has Done Some Special Things - Wright

New Zealand in Australia 2011-12

Brydon Coverdale

December 14, 2011

The New Zealand coach John Wright has challenged Doug Bracewell to keep aiming high after he bowled his side to victory over Australia in Hobart. Wright believes Bracewell can become a consistent world-class player following his strong performance at Bellerive Oval, which came after another match-winning effort against Zimbabwe last month.

In his third Test, Bracewell collected match figures of 9 for 60, including three important middle-order breakthroughs in the space of nine deliveries as he curved the ball in the air and accounted for Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey. On debut, Bracewell had taken five wickets in Bulawayo to rescue New Zealand when it appeared Zimbabwe would achieve their chase of 366.

"A lot of credit goes to Doug Bracewell and Timmy Southee, particularly Doug," Wright said after arriving home in New Zealand following the Hobart victory. "He's done some special things. We've been here before. We were in a similar situation against Zimbabwe going in to the last session of the game and Doug stood up in that match and he's done it again.

"He could be [something special], but there's a few like that in this team. There's a few young players who haven't had much experience, they'll take some time. I think our Test team will take some time. He's one of a number that, you look at him and think he should be wanting to be world-ranked, not just a good player for New Zealand but he should be a world-class player."

Wright has the distinction of being the only man with a direct involvement in all three of New Zealand's Test wins in Australia, having opened the batting in their victories at the Gabba and the WACA in 1985. He instilled a fighting mentality into his side and it was apparent in the way they played on the final day in Hobart that they never felt out of the game, even when Australia's chase was on track early.

"I've always enjoyed victories over Australia," Wright said. "I've had some battles with them as a player and then with India we had some great tussles. It's nice to go back there again. You always know that they're just like any other opposition: if you get them under pressure they can succumb to that."

The success in Hobart means that under the leadership of Wright and the captain Ross Taylor, New Zealand have won two of their past three Tests, having previously had only two wins from 21 matches before the Zimbabwe trip. A one-off Test against Zimbabwe at home in late January gives them a strong chance to keep that form going, but Wright talked down the idea of New Zealand being on the cusp of a special era.

"It's a bit early to tell," he said. "People tend to get a little bit carried away with victory. We'll let the dust settle. We'll pick our best side and try to get another win against Zimbabwe. Then we've got South Africa coming, who are very formidable opponents. Let's hope we can show some of the fighting qualities that people saw."

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Doug Bracewell inspires New Zealand To First Test win in Australia After 26 Years To Level The series 1-1

Second Test, day Four: New Zealand (150 & 226) Beat Australia (136 & 233) by Seven (7) Runs

Great Turnaround: Doug Bracewell Celebrates with New Zealand Team-Mates after His side Beat Rivals Australia to Level series by 1-1

By Paul Bolton

6:05PM GMT 12 Dec 2011

Seamer Doug Bracewell bowled New Zealand to a dramatic seven-run win over Australia in the second Test in Hobart. It was their first Test win on Australian soil for 26 years.

Bracewell’s uncle John, now Gloucestershire’s director of cricket, was playing the last time the Black Caps won a Test in Australia, in 1985.

The 21-year-old rookie took six for 40 in the second innings and finished with overall figures of nine for 60 in only his third Test to trigger a mid-innings collapse.

Australia appeared to be cruising to a target of 241 when they reached 159 for three but Bracewell snared Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey at no cost in eight balls to undermine the innings.

It was not enough to secure Bracewell the man-of-the-match award, voted on by television viewers in Australia, which went to Australia opener David Warner who carried his bat for 123, his maiden Test century.

But Bracewell’s performance helped to knock rugby off the back pages back in New Zealand.

“I’ve had over 50 text messages on my phone, I think it’s pretty big,” New Zealand captain Ross Taylor said. “Rugby is our No 1 sport but any sport against Australia and winning in Australia the New Zealand public enjoys.”

Bracewell completed New Zealand’s triumph, only their first win in 19 Tests on Australian soil, by taking the last three wickets including Nathan Lyon who helped Warner add 34 runs in a last-wicket stand.

Australia’s narrow defeat followed a similarly tense conclusion to the recent series in South Africa, where teenager Pat Cummins saw them over the line for a two-wicket win in Johannesburg to tie the series.

Australia captain Clarke said: “We see the other side of Joburg. We were on the winning side in South Africa, today we just missed out.”

Clarke hinted at a change at the top of the order and insisted that Worcestershire-bound opener Phil Hughes “needs to find some runs”. The Australian batsman was signed as Worcestershire’s overseas player for the second half of next season.

Hughes, 23, will arrive at New Road in the first week of June and is scheduled to stay with the county until the end of the season.

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Bracewell six seals Nail-Biting win For New Zealand in Hobart Test

Australia v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Hobart, 4th day

The Report by Daniel Brettig

December 12, 2011

New Zealand 150 (Brownlie 56, Pattinson 5-51) and 226 (Taylor 56, Lyon 3-25) beat Australia 136 (Bracewell 3-20, Boult 3-29) and 233 (Warner 123*, Bracewell 6-40) by seven runs

An extraordinary spell from Doug Bracewell and horrific batting disintegration by Australia handed New Zealand a dramatic and momentous seven-run Test victory in Hobart, their first on these shores since 1985.

The hosts' chase of 241 had been guided expertly by David Warner, but Bracewell's removal of Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke and Michael Hussey, all on 159, left Australia a nervous 5 for 173 at lunch, and on resumption the remaining five went down for a mere 60. In all it was a collapse of 8 for 74, Warner left marooned on 123 when the last man, Nathan Lyon, was bowled by Bracewell.

Bracewell's display, characterised by swing, bounce and sharp variation, confirmed his pre-series billing by the New Zealand captain Ross Taylor as a cricketer of enormous potential. It also branded Australia as a team of profound vulnerability with the bat, a problem made doubly vexing by the fact the top seven is populated as much by experience as callow youth. Clarke will take precious little consolation from the retention of the Trans-Tasman Trophy.

Phillip Hughes had been dismissed without addition to his overnight score, yet again caught by Martin Guptill off the bowling of Chris Martin, and Usman Khawaja was again out for a useful but not sufficiently consequential tally. Ponting and Warner took Australia to within 82 with eight wickets in hand, before tumult ensued.

Hughes and Warner resumed in morning sunshine, aware that morning session had been the most difficult in which to bat during this match. Martin shared this knowledge, and he swiftly made use of it by finding another delivery that seamed across Hughes to be snapped up by Guptill in the slips. Hughes had been out in that manner in each of his four innings for the series, and he walked off knowing he could not expect to be retained for the Boxing Day Test.

By contrast Warner did not let the bowlers settle, punching through the offside with rare power, though it was an edge over the slips cordon off the bowling of Bracewell that delivered his first Test half-century.

Khawaja provided sound support for a time, but Warner twinged his back when diving for a run-out and was visibly inconvenienced. Perhaps trying to take more responsibility for scoring, Khawaja drove loosely at a wide delivery from Trent Boult and was held by Ross Taylor, who did brilliantly to hold his poise as Guptill dived across him from second slip.

Ponting emerged for what may well be his final Test innings in Hobart, and played himself in with a handful of crisp shots. Warner was regaining some freedom of movement at the other end, and lunch emerged into view with the hosts in apparent control.

However Bracewell had been moving the ball consistently, and varying his pace with intelligence. Ponting was undone by a delivery that stopped on him as he tried a signature back-foot drive, and lobbed gently off the toe of his bat to cover. The crowd offered a generous ovation, but it was not acknowledged, Ponting lost in his own thoughts and frustrations at letting New Zealand back into the contest.

Bracewell had troubled Clarke all series, shaping the ball both ways from his muscular body action, and he now prised out Australia's captain with an away swinger that Taylor claimed at the second attempt. His next ball also swung, beating Hussey's bat to strike the pad in front of middle and leg. A not out verdict was referred by Taylor, and within moments Bracewell was on a hat-trick.

Warner top-edged a hook off Martin then drove with conviction to move well into the 90s, and after Brad Haddin survived Bracewell's hat-trick ball the teams walked off for lunch. When they returned, Warner was swiftly into three figures, laughing and punching the air in recognition of a richly-deserved century.

Tim Southee found some delectable outswing in the afternoon, and Haddin edged perilously wide of the slips. Taylor reinforced the cordon and next ball Haddin duly chased another, snicking straight to New Zealand's captain. Peter Siddle did likewise, and for the first time all day the visitors were favoured to win.

Bracewell was bending the ball with similar venom, and two balls after James Pattinson survived a review for lbw when he did not offer a shot, a delivery angled across was snapped up by Guptill in the cordon.

Mitchell Starc was too late and too crooked to keep out his second ball, another swerving demon from Bracewell, and all of a sudden Warner had only Lyon for company. A few solid blows brought the target within 25 runs, but then Southee and New Zealand had a moment in which they felt victory was theirs.

A full delivery swung down the line and struck Lyon in front, quickly drawing a raised finger from the umpire Nigel Llong. Lyon's last-ditch referral looked exactly that, but the ball tracker improbably revealed the ball had pitched a millimetre outside leg stump. To widespread disbelief, the chase resumed.

Next over and the 'keeper Reece Young encouraged the referral of another lbw appeal against Lyon, only to find that Bracewell's in-dipper was arcing down the legside, and the No. 11 then unveiled a princely flick through straight midwicket to demonstrate his composure. Warner took a single, Bracewell bustled in again, and found one more tearing delivery to crash through Lyon's defence.

As New Zealand celebrated, Lyon sank to the ground, disbelieving that the match had been lost. Bad as he felt, it was the batsmen other than Warner who had greatest cause to feel poorly.

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Ross Taylor Termed Hobart victory as Christmas Present

Australia v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Hobart, 4th day

Brydon Coverdale at the Bellerive Oval

December 12, 2011

New Zealand sides defeat Australia at rugby. Or netball. They don't beat Australia in Test cricket. And they definitely don't do it on Australian soil. At least, that was the way New Zealand were viewed until a quiet Monday afternoon in Hobart, when Doug Bracewell curled the ball through Australia's middle and lower order. A seven-run win ended 18 years of hidings and draws.

Before this day, New Zealand had only won in Australia when Richard Hadlee was at his peak. They hadn't even managed it in New Zealand since March 1993. To put that in perspective, Bracewell, Kane Williamson, Tim Southee and Trent Boult had not yet started school. The New Zealand captain who ended the drought, Ross Taylor, was eight years old.

"When did we win?" Taylor said after the Hobart victory. "Oh, 1993. Can I remember it? Vaguely. Not well."

A generation of young New Zealand players and fans now know what it's like to beat Australia. It can be done. And after Taylor's team stayed with Australia for two days in the first Test in Brisbane, only to lose their way as the match wore on, he had one simple message for his men. Show some ticker and never give up. As a result, Taylor has the enviable record of two wins from three Tests in charge.

"I'm not a very good speaker, as you can tell by now, but the only thing I try to instil in the players is fight and be proud in playing for your country," Taylor said. "We didn't show much fight in Brisbane but we showed a lot of guts and determination out there today. That was for the New Zealand public, an early Christmas present.

"[I have] over 50 text messages on my phone - I think that's pretty big. Rugby is our No.1 sport but any sport against Australia, winning in Australia, the New Zealand public enjoys. The New Zealand public knows that the New Zealand cricket team, when playing against Australia, is always the underdogs, but they don't like it when we don't show much fight. That's what we didn't do in Brisbane. We showed a lot of ticker today."

They needed it. On the second afternoon, when Taylor and Kane Williamson were batting with discipline, New Zealand deserved to be favourites. By the fourth morning, when David Warner was on his way to a century with a composed Usman Khawaja also in the middle, Australia were 119 runs from victory with nine wickets in hand.

"We believed in ourselves, that we could win this match," Taylor said. "We knew we had to fight. We knew we had to play a lot better than we did in Brisbane. We talked a lot about the way we bowled in Zimbabwe [during the Bulawayo Test] in the last session; about just fighting, taking our catches and bowling in the right areas, and we'll get reward. That's what happened."

Not that it was smooth sailing, even when Bracewell and Tim Southee started to torment the Australian batsmen with hooping swing. With 42 runs still required, Warner was joined by the No. 11, Nathan Lyon, and the pair nearly steered Australia home.

New Zealand thought they had won when Lyon was given out lbw but Australia's review indicated the ball had pitched outside the leg stump, even though the right-armer Southee was coming over the wicket. To the naked eye, it was hard to believe the Eagle-Eye verdict, as the ball appeared to strike Lyon in line. It nearly cost New Zealand the game.

"It's a G-rated programme isn't it?" Taylor said when asked about how he felt at the time of the reviews. "There were a lot of things going through my mind. There must be something wrong with my eyes. For me personally, some of them which I thought were not out were out and vice-versa. But at the end of the day, we won the match. The emotions going through? My goal was to show a calmness, but inside I was churning.

"They fought the whole way. We would have won by 40 runs out there against some teams. But the way Lyon and Warner played, I nearly had a heart attack. Warner was outstanding. To come in in only his second match and control the game the way he did … we'll be on the wrong side of a few hidings so I can't feel too sorry for him, but he deserves a lot of credit for the way he batted."

As it turned out, Warner was Man of the Match, ahead of the more deserving Bracewell. The award was voted for by the Australian public, watching the telecast. But it's the New Zealand public who will have the last laugh. For the first time in a generation, they can celebrate a Test victory over Australia.

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New Zealand Hold Edge After Australian Turn Over

Australia v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Hobart, 2nd day

The Report by Daniel Brettig

December 10, 2011

Stumps New Zealand 3 for 139 (Taylor 42*, Williamson 34*) and 150 lead Australia 136 (Siddle 36, Bracewell 3-20, Boult 3-29, Martin 3-46) by 153 runs

New Zealand find themselves in an unexpectedly commanding position following an eventful second day of the second Test, in which Australia's batsmen failed utterly to cope with a difficult though not unplayable Hobart pitch.

The visitors battled to 3 for 139 and a lead of 153 by the close, after their seam attack had rumbled Australia out for 136 in reply to what had been thought an inadequate 150. Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson played with fierce resolve and positive intent, though New Zealand's captain should have been out for 14 when he skewered Michael Hussey to gully. Phillip Hughes, enduring a most unfortunate match, could not hold on.

Hussey's slow medium accounted for Jesse Ryder via a superlative legside stumping by Brad Haddin, but it was the last of 12 wickets on day two as New Zealand reached a vantage point from which they can glimpse a first Test victory in Australia since 1985.

Led by Chris Martin's unstinting bounce, movement and accuracy, all the visitors' bowlers had moments to enjoy in the morning as Australia briefly stared at the possibility of being bowled out for less than 100 for the fourth time in 18 months, and the third in the space of a year. Peter Siddle and James Pattinson produced the most substantial partnership of the innings from the depths of 7 for 75, but could not prevent New Zealand from gaining an unexpected first innings lead of 14.

Usman Khawaja and Michael Clarke fought hardest among the batsmen, who were all found woefully deficient against the moving ball. Following Martin's example, Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell each found a hint of deviation either way to exploit Australian vulnerability. Boult pouched three wickets on debut and impressed with his subtle swing and sustained line.

Resuming at 1 for 12, Khawaja and David Warner played and missed often amid pushing a few runs, and New Zealand were given the early impression they were well and truly in the contest. This notion was confirmed when Warner walked into a drive at Martin and edged succinctly to first slip.

Ricky Ponting walked to the middle in a Hobart Test for the first time since his double century against Pakistan in 2010, intent on another score of heft. One or two crisp connections suggested he was in good touch, but he was soon made to look as foolish by Southee as Graham Gooch used to be at the hands of Terry Alderman.

Expecting Southee's stock outswinger, Ponting shaped to leave, but realised too late that the ball was whirring in at middle stump. A panicked swipe of the bat across his front pad was far too late to avoid an lbw so plumb the Ponting was walking well in advance of the umpire Nigel Llong's raised finger.

Khawaja had fought the kind of vigil endured by Brendon McCullum on day one, his bat probing at thin air as often as it struck the ball. Eventually the accumulation of pressure told, Martin extracting the edge he had long threatened to find to dismiss Khawaja for the first single figure score of his young Test career.

Michaels Hussey and Clarke had been Australia's most reliable duo in recent Tests, and for 23 runs they offered promise of a resurgence. But Daniel Vettori's hamstring strain had afforded the visitors a fourth seamer, and Boult responded to Hussey's commanding pull stroke by having the batsman pouched behind when trying to leave the next ball.

Not one for obstinate defence, Haddin drove impulsively to wide mid-off, another stroke he will wish to forget following the ugly smear against South Africa in Cape Town. Clarke's resistance, by far the most prolonged and effective of any member of the top six, was ended when he allowed a Bracewell delivery to pluck out off stump - redemption for the bowler after a similar dismissal of Clarke in Brisbane was overruled by a no-ball.

Siddle and Pattinson had taken the new ball together on day one, but they would not have expected to be accompanying each other to lunch on the second, still a long way short of New Zealand's humble tally. Through a combination of shrewd shots and straighter bats than many of the full-time batsmen had managed, they added 56.

Eventually Siddle let his guard down and edged Bracewell to third slip. Pattinson immediately flashed at Boult and fell victim to a sharp snaffle by Williamson in the gully, before Starc was lbw on referral to the third umpire Aleem Dar.

Neither Pattinson nor Siddle bowled well in the 10 overs to tea, and Clarke swung them to opposite ends on resumption with immediate effect. For the third time in as many innings Pattinson found a corking delivery to touch McCullum's outside edge, and next over Martin Guptill admonished himself fiercely for flirting at Siddle when he could have left well alone.

Ryder did not suggest permanence at any stage but reached 16 before he wandered out of his crease in trying to flick Hussey away, and Haddin capitalised. Ryder exchanged words with Ponting before his departure, but Australia's fire would be doused by Taylor and Williamson.

Taylor has endured a difficult time on this tour, and he played in a self-denying manner reminiscent of Dean Brownlie to build a stand. Williamson showed a sound back-foot game and a greater range of strokes than he had managed in three fretful innings previously.

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Vettori out Till New Year Due To Hamstring Injury

New Zealand news

Brydon Coverdale at the Bellerive Oval

December 9, 2011

Daniel Vettori could miss nearly a month due to the injury to his left hamstring that ruled him out of the second Test against Australia in Hobart. Vettori arrived at Bellerive Oval with tightness in the muscle and aggravated the problem during New Zealand's warm-up, forcing him out of the side and allowing fast bowler Trent Boult to make his debut.

Fortunately for New Zealand, their next international appointment is not until the end of January, when they take on Zimbabwe in a one-off Test. That means he should only miss out on Twenty20 cricket, with both New Zealand's HRV Cup and Australia's Big Bash League - Vettori has signed with the Brisbane Heat - to be played in late December and early January.

"Unfortunately Dan sustained a recurrence of his left hamstring injury that's been problematic for him over the last few years," the New Zealand physio Paul Close said. "We expect him to be rehabbing the injury and back to full fitness within three to four weeks. We are confident he will be back to play some HRV Cup cricket at some stage in the new year."

The loss of Vettori was a major blow for New Zealand in Hobart, after he again proved himself one of their most reliable batsmen in the first Test at the Gabba. He also sent down 37 overs and collected two wickets, keeping things tight in Australia's first innings, and in his absence New Zealand might need to find extra overs of part-time spin from Kane Williamson and Martin Guptill.

"He started to warm up and realised that it wasn't good enough and decided to pull the pin," the batsman Dean Brownlie said after play. "With it seaming, hopefully our four seamers can do the job. Hopefully it doesn't prove any price [cost] really."

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Mental Toughness will be Key For New Zealand Batsmen - Taylor

Australia v New Zealand, 2nd Test, Hobart

Brydon Coverdale in Hobart

December 8, 2011

The Bellerive pitch was so green it almost had branches growing off it on Thursday, so it was only appropriate that Ross Taylor was keen to talk about leaves. Specifically, he was frustrated at New Zealand's lack of them at the Gabba.

Of the 20 wickets New Zealand lost in Brisbane, 17 were caught. Of the three that weren't, Daniel Vettori was run out and Ross Taylor played on to a wide ball from James Pattinson. The only man who could claim to have fallen to a ball that threatened his stumps was Chris Martin, the worst batsman in Test cricket, who was bowled by Nathan Lyon in the first innings.

The Australians bowled well, especially the debutant fast man James Pattinson, who swung the ball away at pace, but the high rate of dismissals to wider balls was a damning indictment on New Zealand's batsmen. Where was their Test match tenacity? Where was their willingness to respect the good balls and put away the bad?

It is a matter of mental toughness and wise judgment. It has been a major focus of their training over the past four days.

"As a batting unit we need to be able to leave outside the off stump and let them bowl at us because a lot of the deliveries the Australians did bowl weren't even hitting the stumps when they got us out, me included," Taylor said. "We play a lot of cricket now and the mental side of the game is the biggest part we need to [improve]."

There won't be any changes to the batting order in Hobart, but further failures over the next week will give the selectors, John Wright and Kim Littlejohn, some questions to answer. There is a month and a half before New Zealand's next Test, a one-off game against Zimbabwe in Napier, but looming in March is a much tougher three-Test series against South Africa.

Since Wright took over as coach, New Zealand have played four Tests. In that time, their only centurions have been Daniel Vettori and Martin Guptill, while Brendon McCullum has averaged 27.12 as an opener, Jesse Ryder hasn't scored a half-century and averages 13.50, and the captain, Taylor, has four fifties but no centuries.

Taylor was especially disappointed with his efforts in Brisbane. After his needless drive at a wide Pattinson ball in the first innings, he tickled a catch behind first ball in the second, to register his first duck in a Test career of 59 innings, the equal third-longest such stretch by any player in Test history.

"Any captain would want to lead from the front and I'm no different," Taylor said. "A poor shot just before lunch in the first innings and a nervous poke in the second innings - it's disappointing to get out those ways but you've got to try and put those to the side. You never like getting out but you've just got to get out there, front up and get through the first 20 or 30 balls. Hopefully it will get a lot easier from there."

Not that Taylor can expect batting to be easy over the first couple of days in Hobart. The New Zealanders were greeted on Thursday by a hessian-covered pitch with green edges poking out, and whichever captain wins the toss on Friday morning will have a difficult decision to make.

"The overhead conditions are the biggest part I think," Taylor said. "Here in Tassie this year and the past couple of years it's probably played a lot lower and slower, talking to their players and the groundsman. It's been pretty hard on day three, three and a half in a four-day game so a Test match day five will be even tougher. We have to see what overhead conditions come but I wouldn't rule out doing either [batting or fielding]."

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