Australia call on gun fielder for day three

Australia have called up gun South Australian fielder Sam Raphael to fill in for the injured Mitchell Starc for the remainder of the third Test against New Zealand after team masseur and logistics coordinator Grant Baldwin took on the role across the opening two days.

In quite remarkable scenes at the Adelaide Oval, Baldwin – who last played Second XI cricket for Victoria almost eight years ago – was chosen to fill the void left by Starc in the field, standing at mid-on for the majority of the New Zealand second innings in front of 42,372 fans.

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The Australians had three younger players from the SACA system available as substitutes, but Josh Hazlewood explained after stumps that the decision had been made to go with 28-year-old Baldwin.

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Grant Baldwin in the field // Getty Images

"Grant's obviously played Second XI cricket for Victoria and he's fielded for us before on tours," Hazlewood reasoned.

"We've got three young guys here who haven't played first-class cricket and I think we're getting a guy in tomorrow who has played for South Australia, so that will be good to get him out there.

"But we thought Grant was probably the best option (ahead of) those three young guys; it's quite a pressure situation out there in front of 40,000 (people)."

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Raphael, 28, has played 14 first-class matches for the Redbacks and recently made four appearances in the Matador One-Day Cup.

Against a New South Wales side containing four players with whom he'll be sharing the field with on day three, he effected two run-outs (including Peter Nevill) and took two catches.

Watch: Raphael rules in the field for Redbacks

The Australians have been below their best in the field throughout this series, dropping chances in Brisbane and Perth, and captain Steve Smith continued a frustrating trend for the hosts in the final session of day two, dropping two catches at second slip from the bowling of Hazlewood.

The paceman didn't think the pink ball was at fault for the missed catches, coming as they did once darkness had set in and the lights had taken hold.

Watch: Australia misses a few opportunities on day two

"I'll have to ask the skip when I get back in the sheds … (but) I think it's the twilight period when (catching) is at its toughest," he said. 

"Once it goes pitch black, it's not too bad."