Australia have taken clear honours on Day One of the first Test match against New Zealand, going to stumps only 36 runs behind with seven first innings wickets in hand.
Winning the toss on what looked like a very green wicket, Australian captain Steve Smith elected to put New Zealand into bat, and despite a shaky start for his bowlers it paid dividends very quickly.
New Zealand flew out of the blocks, reaching 0 for 17 in just two overs with Martin Guptil trying to improve on his recent Test match performances, simply by showing aggressive intent.
His opening partner Tom Latham would be the first to go, with the bowling of Johs Hazlewood proving too much for him. Kane Williamson then came to the crease and went about building a partnership with Guptill.
They found this a lot easier to do against the bowling of Jackson Bird, and it didn’t take long before he was replaced in the attack by Peter Siddle. He and Hazlewood then got rid of both Williamson and Guptill, before going onto remove Brendon McCullum and Henry Nicholls in quick time.
Corey Anderson and BJ Watling would then join at the crease, in real trouble with the score at 5 for 51. They would put on a much needed partnership of 37 runs, before Australia got back on top taking the wicket of Watling and then Bracewell.
Mark Craig proved to be a rock for Anderson, and would end up not out, top scoring with 41.
Corey Anderson got out to a terrible shot from the bowling of Nathan Lyon before Trent Boult came in and hit three big sixes to get New Zealand to 181.
Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle were by far the pick of the bowlers.
In reply, Australia looked in all sorts of trouble early on with both Joe Burns and David Warner back in the sheds with the score reading 2 for 5 in the third over.
Burns original decision of not out was reviewed and overturned, before Warner lashed at a wide ball and got an edge through to Watling.
From there Usman Khawaja who is 57 not out, and Smith who scored 71 put on 126 in a massive third wicket partnership to steady the innings. New Zealand didn’t bowl well at all, regularly releasing the pressure with boundary balls. In fact, in just 32 overs, with the pressure on there was 21 boundaries.
Eventually Steve Smith was caught and bowled by Craig, before Adam Voges came to the crease with about 20 minutes of the day left. He and Khawaja successfully navigated their way through to stumps but had a scary minute in the final over.
With Bracewell bowling, Voges left one that nipped back quite a distance and took the off stump. The umpire, called it a no-ball, but it was quickly established on replay that it in fact wasn’t. Unfortunately for New Zealand nothing could be done about it.
So, Australia taking the honours on day one at the Basin Reserve, and finding themselves in a commanding position.
New Zealand 1st innings- 10/183 (48)
Australia 1st innings – 3/147 (40)
Australia trail by 36 runs with 7 wickets in hand.
Despite winning the recent one-day series, New Zealand will have revenge on their minds as they take on Australia in the first Test of a two match series at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Day 1 from 8am (AEDT).
New Zealand managed to claim the one-day series by 55 runs on Monday, but after getting beaten in the series that was played in Australia at the end of last year, they will still have revenge on their mind, and feel like the job is only half done.
Brendon McCullum starts his final series before retirement, and will have an absolutely pivotal role to play if New Zealand are to get over the line. His batting is a force to be reckoned with, but aggressive captaincy is going to be where it’s at.
He has to try and get Australia feeling unsettled early on in the match and series, getting them on the back foot. With some inexperience in the Australian squad and Steve Smith as captain, Australia may struggle to recover from a bad start.
With that said, either David Warner and Joe Burns or Josh Hazlewood is going to have a massive role to play in getting Australia on top of the match and settling the mood of the dressing room early on. Smith, you feel will also have a much better performance if he can be on top of the captaincy situation and not feel like that is leaving him under pressure.
From a New Zealand point of view, Tim Southee returns from injury and will open the bowling with Trent Boult. They must put Australia’s presumed weakness against seam bowling under the pump early on with the new ball, attempting to expose Australia’s middle order.
The spin bowlers, while not having a huge role to play on Day 1, you feel at some point will play a big part in this match. Mark Craig has plenty to prove after an abysmal performance in Australia during the first series, and Nathan Lyon has become maybe the most important bowler in the Australian attack.
The weather is expected to stay fine for the full course of the match, but both teams will be keen to keep thing moving with it being quite unpredictable in Wellington.
The toss, could play a big part in this match as well. With a green wicket expected, it is going to put the pressure on whichever captain wins.
Be sure to join The Roar for live scores and coverage of Day 1 from 8am (AEDT) and don’t forget to leave your own comments in the section below as the match unfolds.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
ThugbyFan
Guest
I know this may be derided as a stupid question, re: the Adam Vogues ball, but hear me out and would love an answer that makes sense, without any jingoism. If I step on the front foot line as my arm is coming though to bowl a ball, but I slide say 20cm forward before the ball is actually released, so in fact I am a good 10-15cm in front of that front foot line upon release, is that not correctly deemed as a No-Ball? I ask this because in the A.Vogue no-ball-gate case, despite the tv commentators biased rantings, a frame by frame look at the bowler convinces me that the umpire was correct and it WAS a no-ball. That was what I saw it as when I was watching it live on TV. The bowler has the back of his foot just ON the line as his arm is coming forward with the ball. The back of his foot then lifts as his momentum moves him forward such that as he releases the ball, that part of his foot touching the ground is clearly in front of the line and his heel is raised well above and slightly in front of the line. So my question is this, if the front foot must be on the line upon release of the ball, then why the hell is everyone saying it isn't a no-ball? Please take a look at the video and slow mo it before you reply. Chest beating will be muted. :)
Tana Mir
Roar Rookie
At last some real Test Cricket. How engaging. Thank you New Zealand Cricket.
danno
Guest
Great catch Neville. Williamson doesn't give many chances, he looked very good prior to the inside edge knick.
Bobbo7
Guest
No you got that test already when Lyon was not given out in Adelaide. Anyway, that call from the umpire was very poor.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
How refreshing was it to watch cricket on a pitch which actually offered bowlers a chance. There were zero demons in that deck - no balls seamed wildly, kept really low, or exploded off a length. There was just enough assistance to reward bowlers who were accurate and patient. This was the kind of day 1 Test wicket that we commonly saw until crappy flat decks became the norm in recent years. It's a proper test of skill - if a bowler hits the right areas they almost certainly will be rewarded (unlike on "roads") and if a batsman doesn't show good judgment and patience they won't make runs (unlike on "roads"). This is what Test cricket should be. The Adelaide Test was the most interesting match in Australia for years because the pitch ensured a real tough battle between bat and ball.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
I'd give Burns plenty more opportunities and then take stock of where he's at at the end of the 3-Test tour of Sri Lanka in August. If Burns did need to be dropped later this year no way I'd move Khawaja up to open - he's not an opener and is the first batsman since Ponting to have flourished in the first drop role.
Don Freo
Guest
Yep...if we have to go back to Shaun Marsh, an extra 150 runs an innings won't go astray anyway. Win, win.
Dalgety Carrington
Roar Guru
Khawaja's in the form of his life, you don't mess with that for anything. Burns has a few things to work through with his technique I reckon, hopefully he can pull it together and get back his mojo, but if he doesn't, there's no shame in him going back to the Shield to work it out.
rasty
Guest
About 877 less than his ICC ranking numbers. Let's see if they remain similar.
E-Meter
Guest
Cowan!!!!! No no no no no no no and no.
Michael Keeffe
Roar Guru
Burns should be given an extended run. If he failed badly in the short term (NZ & SL tours) I would move Khawaja to opener. If his record isn't too flash at the end of next summer then I'd be looking to the best of a young opener. Bancroft would be in contention but there are a couple of young guys on the up right now. Dean from Victoria and Renshaw from QLD have both made two centuries each this summer. If they continue that form for the rest of the summer and through another full season next summer then they could be future options. Going to an 30+ batsmen who has failed at Test level is not an option.
Ronan O'Connell
Expert
Simoc that is crazy talk...you want to drop a 26yo rookie opener who averages 40 in Tests for a guy about to turn 34yo who averages 31 in Tests??!
Maggie
Guest
Or John Buchanan's.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Oh, I trip over that thing all the time. Mainly when I'm writing on the AFL page though, haha. Not as level headed over there at times.
WQ
Guest
All good Paul D The moderators thoroughly checked me out though..
Digby
Roar Guru
Good day out, disappointing in terms of the score board but if we had applied ourselves a bit better to start with not too mention taking our catches we could be in a lot better position. Anyhow, plenty of this game still to be played yet. Great to see Smith play live, don't think I have ever seen anyone more fidgety at the crease! Indian bookies must take bets on how many times he taps, shakes and adjusts between each delivery! Average seemed about 12... Probably should of known I was in for a long day when we were surrounded by Aussie tour groups ;) great fun though, good banter. Looking forward to tomorrow! Certainly need a big day!
Simoc
Guest
A good day for Oz. Joe Burns scored a good century as an opener last test but apart from that one innings he doesn't appeal as an opener. He belongs in the middle order at some stage. He'll get more opportunities opening but I think good bowlers will have his measure at the top end. Possibly the selectors don't see a better option but I think Ed Cowan is the right man at the moment and later maybe Bancroft. Whoever it is they should only be looking to score straight for at least the first half hour. No cuts or pulls. Warner is an exceptional talent as are Smith, Khawaja but not the other bats who need to restrict their shot selection. We need a lead of 100 and a lead of 200 would be a winning lead.
Don Freo
Guest
How about a ball banging into the stumps and the bails not coming off? NZ got 50 more than they otherwise would have. Poor Mitch Marsh.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Now THAT, is terrible umpiring.
Paul D
Roar Guru
Bit hard to pick that up from just words. Thanks for clarifying.