New Zealand vs. Australia: Winners and Losers from 2nd Test
After clinching a 2-0 Test series sweep over New Zealand, Australia find themselves on top of the world again.
A seven-wicket win in Christchurch, New Zealand, means Steve Smith's side now take over from India at the summit of the Test rankings, as confirmed by the International Cricket Council on Twitter.
The result means outgoing Black Caps skipper Brendon McCullum didn't quite get a winning finale to his international career.
The retiring batsman did make a splash, however, as he set a new record for the fastest Test century during Day 1.
His knock of 145 from 79 deliveries helped the Kiwis to 370 all out, although Australia built a first-innings lead of 135 thanks to hundreds from Joe Burns and Smith.
After bowling out their opponents for 335 second time around, the tourists easily knocked off a target of 201. They secured the win during the afternoon session on Day 5.
Here, Bleacher Report picks out the winners and losers from the game at the Hagley Oval.
Winner: Joe Burns
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Joe Burns was named man of the match after hitting his first Test century on foreign soil.
The opening batsman—who twice reached three-figure scores on home turf during the Australian summer—made 170 to underpin the touring side's first-innings total of 505 all out.
The 26-year-old also added a steady 65 in Australia's successful run chase, making up for a duck in his only knock in the opening Test, played in Wellington.
Despite his success, Burns is taking nothing for granted.
He said at the post-match presentation ceremony, per ESPN Cricinfo: "I think I have cemented my place, but being an opening batter challenges come every series. You can't be complacent."
Loser: Tim Southee
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New Zealand's Tim Southee had a series to forget against Australia on home soil.
The seamer picked up just one wicket in the match in Christchurch, adding to his disappointing haul of two in the previous game.
He finished up with a bowling average of 67.33, even worse than his mark of 60.50 in the three-match series between the trans-Tasman rivals at the end of 2015.
Southee also found himself thrust up to No. 8 in the batting order for the hosts. The promotion failed to pay off, however, as he contributed all of five runs from his two knocks.
The bowler now gets the chance to rest up before the ICC World Twenty20 in March. The Black Caps will need one of their prominent players to be on better form if they are to do anything in the tournament in India.
Winner: Neil Wagner
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Recalled to New Zealand's XI in Christchurch, Neil Wagner was the one home bowler who troubled Australia's batsmen on a pitch that flattened out after the first morning.
Using a barrage of bouncers, the left-arm paceman picked up career-best Test figures of six for 106.
Time after time, touring batsmen fell into a well-set trap. In their desire to take on the short stuff coming their way, Australian players only kept on picking out fielders with hook and pull shots.
Wagner picked up another wicket in the second innings—he finished as the Kiwis' leading wicket-taker in the series, despite not featuring in the opening Test.
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Loser: Josh Hazlewood
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Josh Hazlewood played second fiddle to fellow seamers Jackson Bird and James Pattinson at the Hagley Oval.
However, Hazlewood isn't included as a loser because of his bowling exploits (he finished the series with an acceptable haul of nine wickets at an average of 34.11).
No, the 25-year-old is in the bad books for his reaction to a decision by the third umpire on Day 4.
Certain he had Kane Williamson trapped leg before wicket with a full delivery, Hazlewood was horrified when Australia's review to the initial not-out decision on the field proved to be unsuccessful. It turned out there had been an inside edge, not that the bowler was convinced.
A colourful outburst at umpire Ranmore Martinesz—which happened to be picked up by the stump microphones—cost Hazlewood 15 per cent of his match fee, as confirmed by Cricket Australia.
Wash your mouth out, Josh.
Winner: Steve Smith
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Steve Smith continues to find Test captaincy a doddle.
Since taking over from Michael Clarke for the fifth and final Ashes Test against England in 2015, the 26-year-old has yet to taste defeat.
The victory in Christchurch was his sixth in 11 matches in charge, per HowStat.com.
He again played an integral part in his team's success, making 138 and 53 not out with the bat at the Hagley Oval.
Winning the toss in both games in New Zealand also helped, but Australia's run of good form is down to more than just Smith calling correctly on the first morning of each game.
However, there was one slight blot on his copybook.
The International Cricket Council charged him with dissent for his part in the review incident on Day 4 that saw Josh Hazlewood fined. Per Cricket Australia, Smith pleaded guilty to the offence, though he is yet to find out his punishment.
Winner: Brendon McCullum
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Brendon McCullum may have been a loser in his 101st and final Test appearance, but the batsman ends up a winner in our book.
On Day 1, at his adopted home ground in Christchurch (he was born in Dunedin), he treated the crowd—both inside the beautiful ground and those watching on television around the world—to one final masterclass.
His side were 32 for three when he walked to the middle, yet McCullum did what he always tried to do in his international career—attack.
In reaching three figures from just 54 balls, he set a new record for the fastest Test century.
Talk about going out with a bang: He blasted 21 fours and six sixes before being caught in the deep by Nathan Lyon on 145.
As Mike Selvey pointed out in the Guardian, it is not just New Zealand who will miss him: "McCullum has changed the perception of how the game can and should be played, not just within his own team but those elsewhere. Cricket owes him a massive debt."
All stats used in the slideshow were from ESPN Cricinfo, unless otherwise stated.
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