CHRISTCHURCH, (Reuters) – Australia coach Darren Lehmann has praised his team’s refurbished batting order for taking the pressure off a depleted bowling attack by scoring big totals in the test series sweep over New Zealand.
Lehmann’s revamped team wrapped up an emphatic 2-0 victory with their seven-wicket win in Christchurch on Wednesday, which also secured the top ranking in test cricket.
Australia has weathered six retirements since last year’s Ashes series, including opening batsman Chris Rogers, former captain Michael Clarke and all-rounder Shane Watson, and their replacements all played parts in felling the hosts.
Four of their top five batsmen scored centuries in New Zealand, setting up 500-run totals in both Australia’s first innings in Wellington and Christchurch.
New opener Joe Burns was named man-of-the-match for setting up the Christchurch win with scores of 170 and 65, while the re-instated Usman Khawaja capped his golden summer at number three with a knock of 140 in Wellington, his fourth test century in five matches.
“We’ve lost a big chunk of our side in one hit. But they changed around pretty quickly, we took a punt on a couple of players and they did well,” Lehmann told reporters.
“We’ve probably got the better of the conditions batting-wise, but that’s the way it goes in this game sometimes.
