Cricket: Australia scatter Kiwis: Beaten captain fears for his side's Test-playing future

Australia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .544-6 dec

New Zealand . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161 and 161

Australia win by an innings and 222 runs

AUSTRALIA inflicted a devastating defeat on New Zealand in the second Test in Hobart yesterday, provoking the Kiwis' captain to declare that his country's cricketing credibility was at risk.

'We are now playing not only for the credibility of this team but for the credibility of New Zealand cricket,' Ken Rutherford said after his side had been beaten by an innings and 222 runs with a day to spare.

'It is vital for the financial future that the Test team performs so that we continue to be invited to England and Australia for Test series,' he said. 'I do not want to spend the next five years touring Zimbabwe and Sri Lanka.'

After losing the toss, New Zealand dropped five catches, missed two stumping chances and fluffed one run-out opportunity as the home side piled on 544 for 6 declared. Centurians Michael Slater, David Boon and man of the match Mark Waugh all survived early chances.

The spinners, Shane Warne and Tim May, then took charge, taking 16 wickets between them as the Australians disposed of the tourists for 161 in both innings.

Warne took the last four wickets for three runs in 14 balls to complete the rout at Hobart's Bellerive Oval, leaving Australia with a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.

Rutherford said he was bitterly disappointed by the way his side collapsed, giving Australia their biggest winning margin against the Kiwis and New Zealand's worst defeat in 221 Test matches since 1946.

'The past three or four days has been club cricket,' Rutherford said. He took over as captain a fortnight ago when Martin Crowe flew home for knee ligament surgery.

'I don't mind losing if you give 100 per cent, fight, show some determination and guts,' he said. 'Most of those elements were missing here. The time for talk is over. It's time for the individual players to take a long, hard look at themselves and decide whether they want to play Test cricket.'

Since the retirement of Sir Richard Hadlee in 1990, New Zealand have played 19 Tests and won two, with nine defeats.

AUSTRALIA - First Innings 544 for 6 dec (M J Slater 168, M R Waugh 111, D C Boon 106).

NEW ZEALAND - First Innings 161 (A H Jones 47; T B A May 5-65).

Second Innings

(Overnight: 127 for 5)

M J Greatbatch c M Waugh b McDermott . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

B A Pocock st Healy b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

A H Jones c Border b M Waugh . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18

* K R Rutherford b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55

D N Patel lbw b May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16

C Z Harris b May . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4

] T E Blain c and b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29

M L Su'a b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5

D K Morrison b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .0

S B Doull c May b Warne . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1

R P de Groen not out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Extras (nb8 lb5 b2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .161

Fall: 1-1 2-29 3-84 4-103 5-111 6-133 7-149 8-149

9-158.

Bowling: McDermott 17-8-42-1 (nb3); Reiffel 12-1- 28-0 (nb4); M Waugh 4-0-8-1; May 25-13-45-2 (nb1); Warne 19.5-9-31-6.

Man of the match: Mark Waugh.

India will have to give up its share of hosting the 1996 World Cup unless the government changes its mind over foreign television rights. The dispute has given the International Cricket Council concern over the next World Cup, to be staged by India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

The row stems from the Indian government's support of state television's contention that it has a monopoly to cover any sporting event in India. This led to a blacking out of the recent Jubilee Tournament's early matches when London-based Trans World International was prevented from covering the event even after winning global rights.