Feature

Warner's non-review, Guptill's roof fixation

Plays of the day from the first ODI between New Zealand and Australia in Auckland

Brydon Coverdale
Brydon Coverdale
03-Feb-2016
Having twice hit the roof at the Westpac Stadium, Martin Guptill turned his attention to the roof of the ASB Stand at Eden Park  •  Getty Images

Having twice hit the roof at the Westpac Stadium, Martin Guptill turned his attention to the roof of the ASB Stand at Eden Park  •  Getty Images

The review that wasn't
When David Warner tried to turn Trent Boult to leg and was struck on the pad, it immediately looked high - not least because Warner's feet were both in the air as the ball hit. But the umpire Derek Walker was happy with the appeal and gave Warner out; surely Warner would review the decision? Surely? But, after a discussion with his batting partner George Bailey, Warner decided against challenging the umpire's call and went on his way for 12. Replays confirmed the ball would have sailed well over the top. The Bails at the non-striker's end might have been in more trouble than the ones on top of the stumps.
The roof
Eden Park might be famous for its short straight boundaries but the six that Martin Guptill struck off Kane Richardson in the fourth over of the match would have been six at any ground in the world. It was hit so cleanly over long-on and with such elevation that it landed on the roof of the ASB Stand at the northern end of the ground. It is far from the first time Guptill has launched a delivery onto the roof of a stadium: he has done so twice at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, once in 2012 and again during his World Cup innings of 237 against West Indies last year.
The catch
James Faulkner made a strong case for catch of the match during New Zealand's innings when he thrust his left hand up and stopped a fierce aerial drive off his own bowling from Adam Milne, then casually completed the catch on the second bite. But for sheer aesthetics it was hard to go past the catch taken by Kane Williamson later in the match to dismiss Glenn Maxwell, who lofted a drive towards extra cover off Trent Boult. At wide mid-off, Williamson ran to his left and timed his jump perfectly, snaring the ball in his left hand, arm outstretched above his head. It left Australia at 40 for 5, and it seemed New Zealand could do no wrong.
The duck
Up until then it hadn't been the best of matches for Williamson, who had piled up mountains of runs against Australia during the Test series earlier in the summer. He walked out with New Zealand placed well at 79 for 1 in the 11th over but an eight-ball duck was the unexpected result of his innings this time. He drove Josh Hazlewood on the up to short cover, where Shaun Marsh completed the catch but looked as surprised as anyone at the rare error of judgement from Williamson.

Brydon Coverdale is an assistant editor at ESPNcricinfo. @brydoncoverdale