Steve Smith was caught out by New Zealand’s short-ball plan again, but Australia moved towards setting the Black Caps a massive fourth-innings target in Perth. The Aussies went to stumps at 167-6 on Saturday, leading the Black Caps by 417 with two full days still to play in the first of the three-Test series. It means Australia will ask New Zealand to either pull off a world-record chase or survive two days against the pink ball to get a result when their innings ends on Sunday. But after Joe Burns and Marnus Labuschagne both hit half-centuries on Saturday, Smith fell to the Black Caps’ trap for a second time in as many innings on just 16. Caught pulling Neil Wagner behind square in the first innings, Smith again pulled the left-armer straight to Jeet Raval at square leg halfway in from the rope. It marked the first time Australia’s batting wizard has gone three Tests without a half-century throughout his 71-match career. His wicket headlined another dramatic night … [Read more...] about Australia build huge lead in first Test against New Zealand
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At least one Australian is still entombed on volcano island or buried at sea after rescue operation only brings back six bodies with two still missing
Two Australians may still be buried on New Zealand's White Island or lost at sea following Monday's deadly volcanic eruption. Kiwi soldiers recovered six of the eight bodies remaining on the island by mid-afternoon on Friday after being deployed to the disaster zone in protective suits and gas masks. Before the daring mission, there were six Australian tourists and two New Zealand tour guides left on the island. Australia's foreign minister Marise Payne said all six bodies recovered were those of the Australians - but New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said that's not true. Meanwhile, on Saturday morning health authorities confirmed seven Australians who had been evacuated from New Zealand were in critical conditions in Sydney hospitals. NZ Defence Force soldiers (pictured on the island on Friday) recovered six of eight bodies remaining on White Island after Monday's deadly volcanic eruption -but two Australians may still be buried on New Zealand's White … [Read more...] about At least one Australian is still entombed on volcano island or buried at sea after rescue operation only brings back six bodies with two still missing
Entire Australian family of four is wiped out in the White Island volcano, devastated grandparents confirm
An entire Australian family of four are believed to have been killed in Monday's White Island volcano eruption. Matthew Hollander, 13, and his brother Berend, 16, schoolboys at Sydney's Knox Grammar, both died in hospital after being caught up in the disaster in New Zealand. Their parents Martin, 48, and Barbara Hollander, 50, are also presumed dead and remain missing. New Zealand Defence Force soldiers recovered six bodies from the island on Friday, but Mr and Mrs Hollander are not believed to be among them. All four members of the Hollander family from Sydney are believed to have been killed in the White Island volcano eruption (pictured L-R Barbara, Matthew, Berend and Martin Hollander) Relatives of the family, who moved from Chicago to Australia five years ago, have given up hope the couple are still alive. 'We are together with our family grieving the loss of our loved ones,' the statement provided by Barbara's American parents to Chicago's ABC Eyewitness News … [Read more...] about Entire Australian family of four is wiped out in the White Island volcano, devastated grandparents confirm