NZ vs AUS: Josh Hazlewood signs sandpaper on Day 3 of Christchurch Test

While fielding near the boundary line on Day 3 of the second Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, Australia pacer Josh Hazlewood was approached by a group of local fans to sign autographs for them. The Australia international fulfilled their wishes but interestingly, a few fans asked him to sign a sheet of sandpaper, which the 33-year-old humbly accepted.

Notably, in 2018, Australian cricketers Steven Smith, David Warner and Cameron Bancroft were caught using the sandpaper to tamper the ball against South Africa. It led to their ban from any form of cricket for a significant time but the banter hasn’t stopped. Fans all across the globe mock Australia and especially Smith and Warner for using unfair means but the cricketers never replied to critics as the word ‘sandpaper’ was far away from the Australian dressing room.

However, this incident of Hazlewood signing a sheet of sandpaper is not the first time when he decided to do something of this sort. In 2021, he signed a Barmy Army poster in which it was written, ‘I Joshua ‘Joshie’ Hazlewood do solemnly swear that I knew it was sandpaper’. Meanwhile, the fans in attendance at Hagley Oval cheered for Hazlewood for being a good sport and signing the sandpapers that were brought to him.

Australia need 279 runs to win second Test

After a disappointing performance with the bat in the first innings of the second Test, the hosts made a strong comeback to put Australia on their back foot. Tom Latham and Kane Williamson gave the perfect start and after they got out, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell took care of the business. Ravindra made 84 runs, while Mitchell scored 58 runs as the Kiwis posted 372 runs in the second innings.

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Australia now require 279 runs to win the second Test and seal the series. However, their batters too had a tough time in the middle in the first innings and that’s something that the visitors need to take care of. The opening partnership of Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith will be key.