Facing a shortage of fit players, the New Zealand team management was forced to ask batting coach Peter Fulton to wear the Blackcap in case he was required to take the field during the second day of the third Test against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground.
Peter Fulton is in the whites with Jeet Raval the latest to suffer from the flu 😷 Boys fighting on the park – Will Somerville with the early wicket of Wade 🏏
🇦🇺 CARD | https://t.co/EPIJotM8GY#AUSvNZ #cricketnation pic.twitter.com/5agcuwhi4i
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) January 4, 2020
As a result of their dismal performance in the series so far and a long list of injuries, the Kiwis were forced to make five changes for the match. However, their trouble did not seem to have any end as pacer Matt Henry broke the thumb of his non-bowling arm and opener Jeet Raval was declared ill on day 2.
It was then that the management had to ask Fulton, a veteran of 23 Tests, to be ready. Fulton, who had also played 49 One-Day Internationals (ODI), retired from the game in 2014.
Raval was dropped from the playing eleven following New Zealand’s defeat in the first Test in Perth. But lack of players forced him to be a part of the Kane Williamson & Co and then early on Saturday, he went down to flu. However, he took to the field late into the first session.
Henry, who had replaced Tim Southee, sustained his injury on Friday. But he continued to bowl with his thumb covered under heavy strapping when the play commenced on Saturday. If he will bat or not is still not clear.
In return to Australia’s 454 in the first innings, New Zealand have stood firm so far as they ended Day 2 of the third and final Test match with 63 runs on the board without losing any wicket. Skipper Tom Latham and Tom Blundell were batting on 26 and 34, respectively, when the umpires called for stumps.
The second day belonged to Marnus Labuschagne, who continued his stellar show with the bat scoring maiden double century as the Aussies posted a mammoth 454 in the first innings after opting to bat.