[quote author=Calypso link=topic=101590.msg666172#msg666172 date=1448717028] There have been some poor umpiring decisions this series going against New Zealand ... but this one today with Lyon really was a HOWLER !!! Reminds me of the Bucknor days !!
How can a system (DRS) that was designed to prevent 'howlers' manage to come up with this one??? :o
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What an absolute embarrassment. Nigel Llong saying "I can't definitely say he's hit this," despite hot spot clearly showing he did, and then taking a look for lbw on completely different shot might be the height of incompetence.
In case anyone missed it, Australia decided to employ team massage therapist Grant Baldwin as a substitute field due to Mitchell Starc's ankle injury. Baldwin hadn't stepped onto a cricket pitch since 2008 when he played for Victoria's second XI. Needless to say, it didn't go well. I did get a laugh out of the "you would think he would have soft hands," line from the commentators.
New Zealand set Australia 186 to win. Santner was the star of the show for New Zealand, anchoring the innings together, with Doug Bracewell chipping in an important 27 - a shame he ran out of partners. It will be interesting to see how many overs will be bowled after tea before the lights come on.
For Australia, Hazlewood was immense. With no Johnson and Starc unable to bowl due to his injury, Australia desperately needed someone to step up and Hazlewood answered the call finishing with career best figures of 6/70. I thought Mitch Marsh bowled well also. I have been more impressed with him with the ball than the bat so far in his Test career.
You would fancy Australia to get home from here, but the pink ball is talking and playing under the lights should help New Zealand generate a little more movement. As a neutral, I am rooting for Starc having to bat with 20 more runs needed.
New Zealand fought hard to the end although once Australia had maneuvered themselves to 75/3 it was always going to be an almost impossible task to win the game. You do have to wonder how this game may have played out if Lyon had been given out. That was a big moment in the game.
Some 123,736 people attended the three days of cricket at the Adelaide Oval. Those are some great numbers. Early reports also indicate that television numbers were also strong too. The only downside was that the game lasted just three days, but it was an action packed three days. Given the amount of grass left on the pitch, the groundsman seemed to have purposefully prepared a result wicket in order to boost the action.
