"Massive decline.."- Twitter reacts to Steve Smith's poor show against New Zealand

Steve Smith registered yet another failure as an opener in Tets cricket as he was out for a three-ball-duck in the second innings of the first test in Wellington against New Zealand. Tim Southee castled him to send him back to the pavilion.

Australia who started their second innings with a lead of over 200 were jolted early as they lost Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne in quick succession. Both were dismissed for single digits much to the disappointment of the Aussie fans.

Smith was chosen as the next opener in Test cricket since the retirement of David Warner. He just has one fifty-plus score since opening the innings, Hs scores since being an opener read 12, 11*, 6, 31, and 0. The average went to 60 after the unbeaten 91 against the Windies but it will come down now since he has failed in the following knocks.

Earlier in the day, Cameron Green scored his career-best Test score and added a 116-run stand with Josh Hazlewood to take Australia from 179/9 to 383. The partnership is now among the highest tenth-wicket partnerships in Test cricket. Matt Henry took a fifer while William ORourke and Scott Kuggeleijn took two wickets each.

Also Read: AUS vs NZ Live Streaming In India– 1st Test: When and Where To Watch Australia vs New Zealand Live In India? 2024

Twitter Slams Steve Smith’s Continuous Failures As Test Opener

Today in the New Zealand vs Australia Test Match:

2nd session – Kane Williamson got out on duck.

3rd session – Steve Smith got out on duck.

– Two members of Fab 4 got out on ducks today…!!!! pic.twitter.com/bokiAbGBvR

— CricketMAN2 (@ImTanujSingh) March 1, 2024

Steve Smith’s scores as an opener in Test cricket 🫣 pic.twitter.com/a9vsTGCWcs

— Sport360° (@Sport360) March 1, 2024

Steve Smith’s last ten Test innings:
0, 31, 91*, 6, 11*, 12, 4*, 38, 50, 26

Marnus Labuschagne’s last ten Test innings:
2, 1, 5, 3, 1*, 10, 62*, 60, 4, 63

Trouble in paradise? #NZvAUSpic.twitter.com/6YyX3M2lRI

— 🏏Flashscore Cricket Commentators (@FlashCric) March 1, 2024

Steve Smith in Tests on different numbers (averages)

1 – 37.75
3 – 67.07
4 – 61.50
5 – 57.18
6 – 25.00
7 – 60.50
8 – 29.33
9 – 12.00 pic.twitter.com/uDmlAL8KXC

— Cricketopia (@CricketopiaCom) March 1, 2024

Duck for Steve Smith 🦆 pic.twitter.com/VnSLV8vFfh

— CricketGully (@thecricketgully) March 1, 2024

And to think Steve Smith has had a few lean months. Still unbelievable numbers.#NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/a4OHnAQ3eK

— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) March 1, 2024

Steve Smith Test average on September 2019 – 64.95

Steve Smith Test average on February 2024 – 57.53

Massive decline for the best Test batter of this generation. pic.twitter.com/ZznwPs0dyO

— Johns. (@CricCrazyJohns) March 1, 2024

Australia’s total proved to be a daunting one for the hosts as they were bowled out for just 179 in their second innings. Kane Williamson was out for a duck as he was run out due to a mix-up with Will Young. The batter who scored over 400 runs in the series against South Africa was out without scoring. This was just the first time he was run out in Test matches since 2012.

All the Australian bowlers got wickets with Nathan Lyon taking four and Josh Hazlewood two. Starc, Cummins and Mitchell Marsh took one wicket each. The two early blows for Australia now have pegged them on the back foot. The Aussies finished day two on 13/2 in 8 overs leading by 217 runs.

The two teams have played 60 Test matches before this one in the last with the Kiwis winning just eight matches while the Aussies 34. They even have a poor record at home against the Aussies winning just five games compared to Australia’s 14. What’s even striking is that they have not won a Test match at home against Australia since 1993 and not a Test match against them overall in the last 15 years.

Australia drew their last Test series against the Windies heading into this series while the Kiwis beat South Africa. They are leading the WTC points table with a PCT of 75.0. India are placed second with a PCT of 64.58 while Aussies third with 55.0. England are placed as low as eighth with a PCT of 19.44.

“For us, it was about understanding how we can put pressure back on them. We were in a bit of a pickle anyway. For us, to be able to come out and counterattack and get some momentum was good (his partnership with Blundell).

They did well and put on a massive partnership (last-wicket stand) which wasn’t ideal for us wanting to wrap up the tail. That’s what Test cricket is about. Unfortunately, we lost a few poles early on. The pitch is still doing a little bit” Glenn Philips said after the end of the day’s play in Wellington

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