Demoralised by Cam Green’s mighty unbeaten 174, the Black Caps fell into an all-too-familiar abyss against Australia in the first Test before giving themselves a glimmer of hope with two late wickets..
The tourists put together dominant sessions either side of lunch to take control of the Test, first with the bat and then with the ball.
Green and Josh Hazlewood sparkled before lunch with a century partnership that lifted Australia from 9-279 to 383 all out.
In reply, New Zealand were all out for 179 inside two sessions, giving Australia a first-innings lead of 204.
Only Glenn Phillips’ run-a-ball 71 and Matt Henry’s even-quicker 42 gave joy to the Basin Reserve fans, who offered the biggest cheer of the day to a streaker after tea.
There was more cause for celebration after Australia opted against making the Kiwis bat again, and lost Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne to loose shots in quick succession against Tim Southee.
Marnus Labuschagne of Australia leaves the field after being dismissed during day two of the First Test in the series between New Zealand and Australia at Basin Reserve on March 01, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
Labuschagne made two to add to his one from the first innings. The batsman has been out of form and this marked the lowest return he’s ever had in a Test match, according to the TV commentary.
He’s now had 10 scores of 20 or fewer in 13 completed Test innings since his century in Manchester. The dismissal also saw his average drop below 50.
Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon should also have been removed but was dropped by Southee at slip as the Aussies limped to stumps at 2-13, a lead of 217.
The batting capitulation was all too familiar for Kiwi fans, who haven’t seen the Black Caps beat Australia in a home Test since 1993.
Even the longest-standing Black Caps followers can’t have seen many sorrier sights than their top order’s effort on Friday.
New Zealand capitulated at the start of their chase, losing three wickets in six calamitous balls before stumbling to 5-42 at the tea break.
The worst was a shambolic run-out of Kane Williamson, who clattered into Will Young and was caught short by the accurate arm of Marnus Labuschagne.
Williamson, so often the Black Caps’ batting talisman, departed for a second-ball duck either side of Tom Latham and Rachin Ravindra’s cheap dismissals.
Latham (five) chopped on from Mitchell Starc’s bowling, while Ravindra was sensationally caught by Nathan Lyon at point off Hazlewood, heading to the sheds for another duck.
The quick wickets left New Zealand at 3-12, sucking the air from Wellington’s Basin Reserve, with more pain to come.
Cameron Green of Australia celebrates his century during day one of the First Test in the series between New Zealand and Australia at Basin Reserve on February 29, 2024 in Wellington, New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)
After sustaining 12 overs of pressure from the Australian attack, Daryl Mitchell and Will Young lost concentration and their wicket in consecutive balls.
Mitchell pulled Pat Cummins for a morale-lifting boundary but was caught behind from the following delivery, departing for 11 off 37 balls.
Wicketkeeper Alex Carey caught Young (nine) when the opener got a faint edge on a Mitch Marsh ball heading down the legside.
From 5-29, Tom Blundell and Phillips gave the Black Caps some much-needed stability with an 86-run stand.
Lyon broke their partnership by bamboozling Blundell, taking three further lower-order wickets as the Kiwis went for the slog, finishing with 4-43.
Australia’s performance was all the more spectacular given the sides started the day around level pegging.
Green and Hazlewood began Friday with Australia at 9-279, and expectations of a swift end to their partnership and the Black Caps beginning their response.
As it was, the Kiwis were made to wait until lunch after Green – who started on 103 – plundered their attack for two further hours.
The pair tallied a 116-run stand, the highest 10th-wicket partnership of any side across New Zealand’s 469-Test history.
Green’s 174 was his best Test score, trumping his sole previous century last year against India.
Hazlewood claimed a record of his own – bettering Glenn McGrath’s 14 to produce the highest-scoring innings of any Australian No.11 in New Zealand.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Only problem with that is that it’s just about every innings now with Labushagne , in every form of the game.
Blink
Roar Rookie
People say that during every test match ever played. Bad shot drop him, stupid shot drop him. I've no doubt Labushagne will turn it around with a century soon enough. This bad run was always going to happen as it is experienced by most every great test cricketer on the planet. Joe Root the most recent example.
Blink
Roar Rookie
That would be particularly stupid, unless there is an injury. Renshaw may cop a couple of good balls and have his test career ended. He hasn't been in great form either, similar to Labushagne.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
Green Shoots… Anyone take a good look at that pitch. You’d wonder what you were looking at as a batsman, if you’d just come from India to bat there. I thought they must have been preparing the ground to run cows on after the test , there’s so many green shoots . That’s just the pitch area.
Panthers
Roar Rookie
You said that other sides have worked him out. Who’s to say that that average isn’t going to just keep plummeting, the more tests he plays? A flawed batting style , isn’t going to get him any runs in tests . Unless he changes his style of batting & can get rid of the worst of the flaws. Is the test cricket side the best place for him to be , while trying to work out how to bat ? Same thing could of course be said about a few of the batsmen now.
BigGordon
Roar Rookie
I found the emotive language in this piece hard to take. I didn't get the sense the Black Caps were "demoralized" nor do I think they "fell into a batting abyss", whatever that is? I'm not sure how Glenn Phillips innings could be part of a "batting capitulation", ditto with Tom Blundell and Matt Henry. This is a bowler friendly pitch with the new ball and a world class attack would be expected to use the conditions well, which is exactly what Australia did. In reality. there was little difference between the Black Caps batting and Australia's, save for an outstanding effort from Cameron Green and good contributions from Marsh & Hazlewood. I expect far more fight from the Black Caps batting in the 2nd innings, especially if the sun takes some of the sting out of the pitch.
Naughty's Headband
Roar Rookie
Haha, nice one. Shave those sideburns hippie!
Doctor Rotcod
Roar Rookie
He did wonderfully well against SK and the other UnZudders on the Aus A tour,so we are led to believe,so put him in. Beau Webster would do a better job along with ten other Shield players averaging over 40, but Renshaw's in the squad, 'that means he's good enough to
playrun drinks'.Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It would be silly. Batting takes them out of the game completely.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
It's actually not hard to bat and bowl.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Yep, Renshaw deserves a shot at opening, move Smith back to #3. Ideal chance to give the guy some more test experience & to see how he handles the green top. Can’t be any worse than Marnus.
Short Arm
Roar Rookie
Too risky for the ultra conservative Australian brains trust to enforce the follow on.
13th Man
Roar Rookie
It’s a pity the only other option is the underwhelming Renshaw. Bancroft deservingly should replace Marnus instead, with Smith moving to the more familiar number 3 position.
PeteB
Roar Rookie
Some batting practice for those who need it. But it didn’t work out for Marnus.
Nathan Absalom
Roar Guru
Great stuff from Cameron Green. It often works for young all rounders if you tell them that they will be judged on one discipline and asked to fill a smaller role in the other. Many of our great batsmen have begun as all rounders and dropped the bowling altogether. If he's going to score runs like these, it's a good move to put him at four and tell him he's there to score runs.
Worlds Biggest
Roar Pro
Great day Australia, shame it ended with the cheap wickets. Smith and Marnus were once a formidable combo, now look so out of sorts. Congrats to Green and Hazo with a fantastic stand and to the bowlers for a great shift.
Nudge
Roar Rookie
Yeah Renshaw would average less than 22 in his last 6 first class innings. Marnus no doubt is struggling for runs but you don’t average 60 in your first 3 years of test cricket by fluke. The lad can bat, but international test cricket ain’t easy and teams will work you out. But if you’ve averaged 60 for your first 3 years you are going to be good enough to get through your weaknesses that the opposition have worked out. Back 20 to 30 years ago you get dropped for someone like Lehmann Hayden Bevan etc that are averaging 50 plus in first class cricket. We don’t have that luxury at the moment or maybe anymore so persist unless it becomes diabolical which we are still 5 or 6 test matches away from
The Knightwatchmen who say Nii
Roar Rookie
Rubbish. This would require a collapse tomorrow of Cape Town 2011 proportions to give the kiwis any hope whatsoever.
chaukspp
Roar Rookie
What a horror show by Marnus ? He is into a disaster zone. And I have already said enough about Smith. Not clear why follow on was not enforced. Tired bowlers ?
Tufanooo
Roar Rookie
The match is done. The only way NZ win from here is if Australia suffer a fate similar to the ring ins for the Springfield softball team. Pat Cummins is going to need to disappear off the face of the earth Mitchell Starc is going to need to be falsely imprisoned Nathan Lyon is going to need to suffer head gigantism from a tonic Josh Hazlewood is going to need to be busy helping a lady rescue furniture from a burning house Cam Green will need to be benched for not shaving his sideburns. Travis Head will need to be beaten to a pulp in a pub fight over whether Pitt the Elder is a better PM than Lord Palmerston (clearly, Lord Palmerston!) About the only two people whom won't negatively impact NZs chances are Smith and Labuschagne, who are clearly foreign agents of NZ right now