How to save Kiwis from humiliation

Record-setting opener Jamie How hoped his teammates were saving their runs for the coming Test series against Australia after he saved them from total humiliation against a depleted NSW today.

In their only warm-up game before next week’s first Test in Brisbane, the Black Caps were dismissed for 266 after winning the toss on the opening day of the four-day match at the SCG.

How (170) dominated, contributing almost two thirds of their total.

At stumps, NSW was none for 15 in reply, with Phillip Hughes on 10 and Usman Khawaja five.

How’s score beat his previous highest first class knock by one run and was also the highest individual innings by a New Zealander on the SCG.

The highest partnership of the innings was 64 for the third wicket between How and Ross Taylor (31), who was the second highest scorer, with no one else contributing over 17.

The rest struggled against a Blues attack missing five leading pacemen.

In the absence of Brett Lee, Stuart Clarke, Nathan Bracken, Doug Bollinger and Mark Cameron, the Blues fielded one of their “greenest” new-ball attacks.

On a wicket offering little assistance, veteran Grant Lambert (5-74 off 16.3 overs) led the way with good support from the Blues youngsters.

Seventeen-year-old debutant Josh Hazlewood (2-53 off 18 overs) performed well, as did his new ball partner, the marginally more experienced Moises Henriques (0-9 off eight).

With discarded Test spinner Beau Casson unable to bowl after coming down with food poisoning, 19-year-old leg spinner Steven Smith (2-85 off 27) enjoyed plenty of work.

How said the pitch was good and conceded his batsmen may have come into the game underdone, but expected a far more resolute performance in the second innings.

“Maybe I just used up all their runs a bit,” joked How, who notched his ninth first-class century, but is still waiting for his first Test ton after 14 games.

“I’m sure the guys are hungry for the second innings and they are not wasting their runs, they are saving them for the Test,” added How, who smashed 13 fours and six sixes in a commanding 272 ball, 332 minute innings.

He said the team’s end-of-day review centred on being more ruthless and converting starts.

“260 is just not going to cut it in Australia, we’ve got to get 350, 400, 450s, these big scores,” How said.

Hazlewood, who was presented with his NSW cap before the game by Blues legend Allan Davidson, removed How’s opening partner Aaron Redmond for five in just his third over in first class cricket.

In the afternoon session, Hazlewood also dismissed Taylor, a wicket which started New Zealand’s decline from a healthy position of 2-121.

“I feel good after that performance, Hazlewood said.

“It does a lot for your confidence, especially (against) an international team.”

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