Aust in control, Voges in record books

Adam Voges is averaging over 100 in Test cricket, having put Australia in complete control of the first trans-Tasman Test with an unbeaten knock of 176.

Australian bowler Josh Hazlewood.

Josh Hazlewood doesn't expect wickets will come easily in the rest of the trans-Tasman Test. (AAP)

Arise Sir Voges, slayer of the Kiwis.

Adam Voges achieved the unthinkable on Saturday, lifting his overall Test average to 100.33 with an unbeaten 176 that put Australia in complete control of the first trans-Tasman Test.

The tourists were 6-463 at stumps on day two of the clash in Wellington, holding a 280-run lead and all the aces.

Voges all but batted New Zealand out of the two-Test series opener with the help of Usman Khawaja, who scored 140.

Voges received a standing ovation from the Basin Reserve crowd, having inched past Don Bradman's iconic average of 99.94.

The number will fall if he is dismissed - although that hasn't happened in Test cricket since November.

"I already have (nicknamed him Don). He's got an average higher than Don at the moment," Khawaja said.

"I might have to call him Sir Voges.

"He's making hundreds and big hundreds, which is important for the team.

"The way he's been batting lately it honestly feels like he's not going to get out sometimes. "

That was true on day two but the same can't be said of the final over on day one.

Voges was on seven when he shouldered arms and was clean bowled by Doug Bracewell, only for umpire Richard Illingworth to incorrectly signal no-ball.

Replays confirmed Bracewell had part of his foot behind the line.

"The umpire had his arm out I was like happy days ... it's an illegal delivery," Khawaja recalled.

"I didn't realise the controversy that was to follow."

New Zealand bowling coach Dimitri Mascarenhas conceded the howler sapped the energy of his side.

"I'm pretty sure it did overnight. That was yesterday's news and today we just had to get on with it and knock him over again," Mascarenhas said.

"A tough one to take but we've just got to get on with it.

"It's pretty amazing; he's in a rich vein of form and he's just not getting out at the moment."

Voges, who started the Test with an average of 85.66, rewrote the record books on several fronts.

Doug Walters and Greg Chappell are the only Australians to have produced a higher Test score in New Zealand.

It's also now been 551 runs since Voges was out in Test cricket.

The 36-year-old, coming off unbeaten digs of 269 and 106 against West Indies, bettered Sachin Tendulkar's world record of 497 runs between dismissals.

"It was almost faultless," Khawaja said.

"He batted very sensibly, patiently at the start. A lot of good shots went straight to fielders, he didn't get frustrated with it."

NZ needed quick wickets on day two but came up with none in the morning session, when Khawaja scored freely to extend a recovery that was sorely needed at 2-5 on day one.

Trent Boult took the second new ball and removed Khawaja and Mitch Marsh in the space of three deliveries to raise NZ's spirits after lunch.

Khawaja was trapped lbw by an inswinger, while Boult shocked himself by plucking a spectacular one-handed catch to dismiss Marsh for a duck.

Local hopes of a fightback proved misplaced.

Voges put on a 96-run stand with Peter Nevill, while Peter Siddle finished 29 not out.


Share

3 min read

Published

Updated

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Download our apps
SBS News
SBS Audio
SBS On Demand

Listen to our podcasts
An overview of the day's top stories from SBS News
Interviews and feature reports from SBS News
Your daily ten minute finance and business news wrap with SBS Finance Editor Ricardo Gonçalves.
A daily five minute news wrap for English learners and people with disability
Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS
SBS World News

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service
Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world