Cricket: Warne ready to menace battle weary Black Caps

Shane Warne

Spin phenomenon Shane Warne is looming as the likely benefactor after New Zealand's rapidly-disintegrating tour of Australia burst clean apart at the seams yesterday.

Already staggering courtesy of Australia's first innings total of 575 for eight, the New Zealanders were chargrilled, rotisseried and hung out to dry yesterday after being dismissed in their first innings for an inadequate 251.

Spared the ignominy of following-on, they were nevertheless a shattered-looking combination as the Australians went to stumps last night at 57 without loss, an overall lead of 381 with two full days remaining.

Warne, the most successful bowler in test history, played a low-key role in New Zealand's first innings, taking a back-seat to the Australian pacemen and capturing just one wicket, that of tail-ender James Franklin.

However, with that one breakthrough he became the first bowler in test history to take 550 wickets, and seems almost certain to play a more influential role in the fourth innings, when the Adelaide Oval pitch is expected to keep lower, and provide more turn.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting opted against enforcing the follow-on, presumably to give his bowlers time to rest and recuperate, but there was no doubt that he was also determined to have New Zealand batting last on the wearing pitch.

Be that as it may, he is unlikely to have too many concerns after the visitors' batting line-up caved-in for the second time in succession, handing the Australians a match-winning edge, if not a summer-long advantage.

In mitigation, New Zealand were forced to reshuffle their batting order after Scott Styris went down with an ear infection yesterday morning, eventually coming out to bat in the final session at No 10.

But even allowing for that, none of the remaining batsmen were able to build the sort of innings that might have helped New Zealand towards the follow-on mark; and certainly none appeared capable of emulating opener Justin Langer's second-day heroics.

Langer, who was eventually chipped out for 215, became the 20th player in test history to score three double-centuries, reaching the milestone with a typical flourish when he lofted Paul Wiseman high over long-on for six.

Even after he departed there was little respite for the New Zealanders, who conceded unbeaten half-centuries to Adam Gilchrist and Warne before Ponting decided to close the innings with two wickets intact.

The only good points for New Zealand were the performances of spinners Wiseman and Daniel Vettori, the latter of whom ended with five for 152 - his fifth five-wicket bag against the Australians.

On the other hand, the lack of penetration in New Zealand's attack was once again highlighted, particularly the fact that none of the pace bowlers had any success, and even Australia's tail-enders looked reasonably comfortable.

But possibly the most damning statistic was that by the time Ponting declared on Saturday evening every Australian player apart from Michael Kasprowicz had managed to score at least 50 against New Zealand in just two innings.

The results must be a slap in the face for New Zealand coach John Bracewell, who has steadfastly refused to play Northern Districts fast-bowler Ian Butler, despite the strapping right-hander looking more dangerous than most.

As for the batting, New Zealand received a fighting contribution from Fleming and a similarly gritty effort from Nathan Astle, who posted his first half century in 10 innings and joined his skipper in a fourth-wicket stand worth 73.

But otherwise there was precious little resistance against an Australian attack that, for once, was not led by a peroxided leg-spinner wearing an earring.

But don't expect him to lie low for long.

The destroyers

Most test wickets

Shane Warne (Australia) 550

Muttiah Muralitharan (Sri Lanka) 532

Courtney Walsh (West Indies) 519