NZ have been winning pretty consistently since that loss to Aus. Even the series they lost against SA, they got screwed over by the rain or they'd probably have drawn.It's hilarious that NZ are ahead of Australia.. but how? They lost to them home and away and they only recorded marginally superior results to the Aussies on their last tours to England and UAE (draw as opposed to loss) and they lost more convincingly in India.
They've beaten Pakistan (who Australia beat straight afterwards), Bangladesh and WI (hardly the stiffest opposition). They were unlucky not to draw the series against SA, but I still think they'd generally lose home and away against SA and Australia most of the time. They have no advantage w.r.t conditions, and every thing that they do well, those two do a little better.NZ have been winning pretty consistently since that loss to Aus. Even the series they lost against SA, they got screwed over by the rain or they'd probably have drawn.
Worth noting that you were far more competitive in Australia than in New Zealand the last two times we met.Reckon we'd soundly beat Australia at home right now. Would also be soundly beaten in Australia though.
The AU tour of NZ had a few issues on our end that I reckon didn't play in our favour. Taylor was out of the series which was a pretty major factor for our general batting strength, we had Guptill and a pretty fresh and out of his depth Nicholls. I reckon it also coincided (and I say this knowing that Australia batted very well and are consistently a very good batting lineup) with some very bad form for Southee AND Boult. Australia's batting was also significantly stronger than it is at this moment. Voges was in one of the greatest bits of form any player has ever had, Smith and Warner were available.Worth noting that you were far more competitive in Australia than in New Zealand the last two times we met.
Probably just a coincidence, but worth noting anyway.
No Starc either. Hard to believe a bowling attack of Hazlewood, Siddle, Bird and Lyon was still able to dismantle NZ really cheaply.Re that NZ 2016 tour, the thing was that while Smith was his usual dominant self, Warner was pretty much a non-factor in the series. It was the likes of Khawaja (only century he's scored overseas to date), Burns (ditto) and Voges who also cashed in.
I reckon it wasn't the strongest Oz lineup of recent times (remember Siddle was in for Cummins) but NZ always seem to be intimidated against Australian sides. Haven't won a Test series against Australia since the 1980s and have never won an ODI series in Australia (even when they beat Oz 3-1 in the 2001/02 tri-series they still lost to South Africa).
The point isnt really to look at the results but more to look at the likeliest potential of results. Warner is a quality bat so whether he fails in that series or not, he's a factor in a potential series being played tomorrow. It wouldn't be a series against some hapless minnow so there's always a chance it doesn't go how it reads on paper. But I reckon NZ right now are stronger than Australia areRe that NZ 2016 tour, the thing was that while Smith was his usual dominant self, Warner was pretty much a non-factor in the series. It was the likes of Khawaja (only century he's scored overseas to date), Burns (ditto) and Voges who also cashed in.
I reckon it wasn't the strongest Oz lineup of recent times (remember Siddle was in for Cummins) but NZ always seem to be intimidated against Australian sides. Haven't won a Test series against Australia since the 1980s and have never won an ODI series in Australia (even when they beat Oz 3-1 in the 2001/02 tri-series they still lost to South Africa).