Australia’s Alex Carey and Pat Cummins celebrate as the leave the field after defeating New Zealand by three wickets on day four of the second cricket test between New Zealand and Australia in Christchurch, New Zealand, Monday, March 11, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

Australia have overtaken New Zealand to take the second spot in the World Test Championships ranking following the 2-0 series win over their Trans-Tasman rivals in Christchurch on March 11.

The win in the second Test helped Australia collect 12 points on their road to defending the World Test Championship mace.

Australia have improved their percentage points from 59.09 to 62.50 after 12 matches.

New Zealand have dropped from 60 percentage points to 50 to be third on the list. They have played six games.

India, who have won six of their nine matches, continue to lead the table 68.51.

One guy stood up: Cummins

Cummins lauded his team for its fearless attitude and particulary praised wicketkeeper Carey for his series-clinching effort, saying the story of the rubber was that one player who stood up when they needed.

A herculean effort from Alex Carey alongside Mitchell Marsh’s 80 and Pat Cummins’ late heroics helped Australia defeat New Zealand in the second Test and seal the series.

Australia had won the first Test by 172 runs in Wellington last month.

Carey finished on 98 not out while Cummins (32 not out) struck the winning runs off New Zealand debutant Ben Sears (4/90), whose double-wicket over to collect Mitchell Marsh and Starc, earlier looked to bring the Kiwis back into the match.

In the end, the 61-run partnership between Cummins and Carey sealed the deal for Australia.

“If the scoreboard is not moving, you always feel in the game (from the bowling side), but if they’re just chipping away at it seems like it’s all happening pretty quickly.

“So that was a goal today – just always be busy out there. Just keep the run rate ticking over, bit by bit getting closer,” Cummins was quoted as saying by ICC after the end of the match.

Cummins feels the 92-run first innings lead over New Zealand played a big role in Australia’s success in the keenly-contested clash.

“That day one moved really quickly. And then after that the pitch flattened out and it was a bit tougher going for the bowlers. But yeah, the first innings lead was always key.

“I think the story of this series was in key moments one guy stood up, and we didn’t necessarily play complete games but you know, someone stood up and made themselves a match-winner. (We) keep finding ways to win. It’s a pretty awesome squad,” hes said.

“Amazing win, bit by bit, the boys were fantastic today.”

Australia’s Alex Carey and Pat Cummins celebrate after defeating New Zealand by three wickets on day four of the second cricket test between New Zealand and Australia in Christchurch, New Zealand, Monday, March 11, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AP

An unbeaten 98 from Alex Carey dragged Australia to victory over New Zealand by three wickets in a thrilling second Test on March 11 to give the tourists a 2-0 sweep of the two-match series.

Carey and Mitchell Marsh have struggled for form but their formidable 140-run partnership rescued Australia at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch.

New Zealand’s wait for a first home Test victory over their neighbours in more than three decades goes on.

“Something we spoke about today was keeping that scoreboard running, 200, 190, 180 (to get),” said Australia captain Pat Cummins, hailing Carey for his superb innings.

“As a fielding side you do notice that, you do start feeling the pressure build up.

“It’s our strongest suit – we’re all really positive batters.”

Carey and Marsh produced a vital partnership when the tourists had their backs to the wall at 80-5 in their chase of 279.

New Zealand captain Tim Southee said that partnership was the “big moment” in the Test.

The hosts losing the upper hand was the story of the series.

“We’ve been able to make early in-roads in every innings, which is pleasing, but I guess on the back of that you want to be able to nail it down,” Southee said.

“But that’s what you get when you play the top side in the world. They bat deep.”

At 220-5, a nail-biting Test took another turn on Monday afternoon when Black Caps seamer Ben Sears claimed Marsh and Mitchell Starc in successive deliveries.

It left Australia needing a further 59 runs with three wickets remaining.

Skipper Cummins joined Carey to bring the tourists home.

“I kept to a really solid game plan and read the conditions and read the bowlers,” Carey said.

“I guess losing one wicket this morning was okay. We got through to lunch and then that’s when the game opened up a little bit and the partnership started to flow.”

The series sweep earned Australia valuable points in the World Test Championship standings.

New Zealand were left deflated after starting the fourth day with high hopes of a first home Test victory over their rivals in 31 years.

On the attack

When Australia resumed the day at 77-4, after a one-hour delay because of rain, Marsh was dropped on 28 by Rachin Ravindra in the second over. Travis Head was out on the next ball from Southee.

New Zealand were buoyant, aware that Marsh and Carey were struggling for form, with Marsh coming off back-to-back ducks.

Carey had compiled just 27 from his three previous innings in the series.

The Australian pair found their touch when it mattered most.

Rather than be cautious, they went on the attack at more than five an over in the morning session as batting conditions became easier with the ageing ball.

The breakthrough New Zealand desperately sought came after lunch when debutant Sears took his double.

Marsh, who made 80 off 102 deliveries, went lbw and Starc followed first ball, caught at square leg by Will Young.

The hat-trick ball however was wide of the mark and the new batsman Cummins edged it for four.

Carey had an anxious moment when given out lbw to Matt Henry on 19 but on review the ball tracker placed the ball outside leg stump.

He gave few other chances in a 123-ball innings which included 15 boundaries.

For New Zealand, Sears took 4-90 while Henry’s 2-94 gave him nine wickets for the Test.

Unfazed: Latham & Co. will believe they have the resources to deal with the upbeat Aussies.
| Photo Credit: MOORTHY RV

Australia is one of the best cricket teams for some reasons. Being the most successful team with five titles in the World Cup is just one of them.

Being persistent, competent and consistent are some more reasons. But, its resilient character stood out after the Aussies spent a night in the cellar of the points table and won thrice on the bounce.

On Saturday, Australia faces off with its trans-Tasman rival New Zealand at this picturesque setting of the HPCA Ground at the foothills of the Dhauladhar mountain ranges.

Crucial stage

These teams — softened up by India — clash at a crucial stage of the league. New Zealand remained among the top-four teams despite losing to India here while Australia made the grade after its resounding 309-run victory over the Netherlands earlier this week.

A second straight defeat could bring pressure on the Kiwis for the first time while another reverse will make Australia desperate. Since each team is eyeing at least six wins in the league to be almost sure of making the semifinals, the victorious team will move closer to qualification.

No doubt, the momentum is firmly with Australia. Riding on victories against Sri Lanka, Pakistan and the Netherlands, Australia has ticked most boxes.

David Warner, Mitchell Marsh, Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell are back in form and that should worry the Kiwis.

The pace trio of skipper Pat Cummins, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazelwood is slowly getting into the act, while Adam Zampa will be looking for a fourth four-wicket haul on the trot.

The Kiwis, despite the setback against India here, are not worried. The side has the resources to deal with the Australians in all departments.

Notwithstanding the injury to Ken Williamson, New Zealand carries the belief of upstaging Australia.

With the game scheduled to start at 10.30 a.m., the toss and the dew factor may not influence the result. That said, both teams are armed with good pacers.

Therefore, opting to field in the slightly nippy conditions in the early part of the first session appears a good option.