AUS vs NZ | Neil Wagner is going get a few back in next Test, warns Tim Paine

New Zealand faced a thrashing defeat by the hands of the Aussies in the first-ever pink-ball Test to be played in Perth. Although New Zealand lost the game, their fast bowlers were in tandem with the Aussie quicks when it came to bowling short-balls. Australian skipper Tim Paine said that they were having a laugh before they were to bowl at the New Zealand tail-enders. 

"It was great theatre, wasn't it, We were just having a laugh before when we were bowling at their tail, we think it's going to be a bit of bodyline for a lot of the series."

Mitchell Stac, who got the last wicket of Neil Wagner to seal the deal for the hosts, was also adjourned the man of the match for picking up 9 wickets in the game. Paine said that the New Zealand bowlers are very skilful and can put them under challenge.

"There's been a lot of talk about it, but regardless of the pace of the two teams they are very, very skilled at executing that ball and they set great fields for it. So it's a completely different challenge from what you get from other teams. They're very good at it and they're very clever. What I do know is our boys [the bowlers] won't be getting any slower as the series goes on," Paine said.

When Australia were cruising in the second innings, Wagner and Tim Southee created a collapse of 7 for 58. Wagner also had the satisfaction of twice removing Steven Smith with the short ball. Notably, Wagner was the one who threatened the Aussies with his short-pitched balls and also had instances of hitting a few wounds of leather.

"You've got to respect a guy who can run and bowl 50 overs and absolutely have a crack. He looks like the sort of bloke you'd love to have on your team. Of course, he's going get a few back, that's a given. I just thought it was all played in the right spirit, and our boys have got a lot of respect for the way he goes about it. This game was bloody hot, and I think he bowled about 50 overs and 200 bouncers. He's clearly got a big heart, so hats off to him - I thought he did bloody well," Paine asserted.