An entire day of cricket in one update
To re-engineer the old commentary cliche, this was a game of thirds. In the first session the Kiwis actually broke even, removing Steve Smith early and keeping things tight, but it fell apart thereafter, with Usman Khawaja (174) and Adam Voges (83*) piling on the runs until Smith called them in with the score on 555.
Is it worth mentioning the individual efforts of the Kiwi bowlers? Not if we’re to be kind to their efforts, I fear. Tim Southee was energetic until he hobbled off injured. Trent Boult barely fired a shot and Mark Craig’s spin was disastrous and shabby in equal measure.
When it was time for the Kiwis to bat they actually made a decent fist of it for a while, Tom Latham, Marty Guptill and Kane Williamson pushing things along to 102-1 at one stage, but then Latham departed for 47 and things fell away very quickly. Ross Taylor (0), Brendon McCullum (6) and Jimmy Neesham (3) all fell in quick succession during an inspired and hostile bowling partnership between the Mitchells Johnson and Starc.
To be fair, that had some roots in the stellar work of Josh Hazlewood earlier, when the right-armer had been the only Australian bowler to tie down an end and bowl with consistency. Johnson and Starc benefitted from the platform he set.
So New Zealand are facing a heavy loss here, there’s no doubt. If Watling can hang around with the classy Williamson they might save face, but otherwise it’s only the weather that will save them.
Thanks for joining us for all the live action today and make sure you pop by tomorrow for more OBO action with myself and Vithushan Ehantharajah, my co-pilor on this magic carpet ride.
Stumps on Day 2 - the Australians are in a commanding position
45th over: New Zealand 157-5 (Williamson 55, Watling 14)
It’s barely a Sheffield Shield crowd at the Gabba as Nathan Lyon begins the final over of the day and Williamson takes a fittingly austere approach to defending his wicket, stepping back and across and never using the bat for anything other than protecting the stumps. As a result it’s a maiden, so the Kiwi pair walk to the sheds having shown all the fight of the innings bar Tom Latham’s assured innings at the top.
The Kiwis end day two in a precarious position; one more collapse from the possibility of following on.
44th over: New Zealand 157-5 (Williamson 55, Watling 14)
A great sign for Australia out of this session is that Mitch Johnson is now at the point where even a crisply struck Kane Williamson cover drive seems like an injustice to the bowler. He just refuses to admit that he shouldn’t be getting a wicket with nearly every ball, a far cry from his wayward opening spells today, when he was down on pace and attitude.
43rd over: New Zealand 154-5 (Williamson 52, Watling 14)
Yeaowww, Lyon nearly prizes out Watling with stumps not far off when the Kiwi keeper flicks him a little uppishly through leg and almost into the hands of Johnson. It evades him though and rolls away to the fence for four.
Williamson reached his half-century to give the Kiwis something to cheer
42nd over: New Zealand 150-5 (Williamson 52, Watling 10)
Williamson has just ghosted to a half-century here, cutting to the boundary to bring up the milestone from 63 balls and with 9 fours. You know that mate who has a ‘wedge’ between rounds and all of a sudden, you’ve only had three pints while he’s had five and a couple of shots? Williamson is the run-making version of that. You answer a couple of texts and he’s on 40, blow your nose and he’s on 60. He’s getting decent support from Watling here too as Johnson returns for one last burst and the boundary ball was the only loose one of the over.
41st over: New Zealand 142-5 (Williamson 45, Watling 9)
Oh look, it’s Nathan Lyon returning from the Vulture street end. He loves the Gabba – always bowls well here. His job at the moment is to give the quicks a bit of a breather after a very profitable shift late in the day, where aggressive left-arm pace has tipped this game even further into Australia’s favour than it was when they were piling up the runs. A single to Williamson is the only damage from this over.
40th over: New Zealand 141-5 (Williamson 44, Watling 9)
The sting has been removed from the contest in the last 20 minutes or so, which you’d have to label a significant win for BJ Watling, who has kept his head where other more fancied batsmen lost theirs. He finishes this over by driving Hazlewood for two through cover and we’re not far away from stumps, the destination point these two batsmen will be eyeing.
Updated
39th over: New Zealand 136-5 (Williamson 41, Watling 7)
Steve Smith must be finding it hard to prize the ball out of Mitchell Starc’s hands at the moment because despite being lathered in sweat and slowing down 6-7kmph in his last few, he’s still charging in. This one’s a maiden and most certainly not a waste of the left-armer’s energy.
38th over: New Zealand 136-5 (Williamson 41, Watling 7)
A hurricane wouldn’t knock Kane Williamson off his game these days. He plays with such soft hands that even as deliberate a shot as the late, withdrawn defensive prod he angles to the third man boundary off Hazlewood here appears to the crowd as an error. It’s not. He really is that good. Poor Haze. The heat has gone out of this a little now but it was his solid work earlier that precipitated the collapse.
37th over: New Zealand 132-5 (Williamson 37, Watling 7)
Starc gets another over but his venom is waning a little now and understandably so after he’s bent his back to such great effect over the last half hour or so. Three to Williamson is the only damage for the over but it might be time for an over or two of Mitch Marsh until Johnson’s right to go again.
36th over: New Zealand 129-5 (Williamson 34, Watling 7)
Having established the template for Australia’s improved bowling performances in a stellar spell earlier, Hazlewood returns with the hope of getting back in on the wickets but he’s having a slightly harder time against BJ Watling, who cracks him through point for a boundary and also picks up a two. He’s a real fighter, Watling.
35th over: New Zealand 123-5 (Williamson 34, Watling 0)
Williamson is like William H Macy’s character in Boogie Nights right now; just a sad onlooker to the increasingly chaotic and dispiriting scenes around him. He really needs to step in and do something, so he punches Starc down to long on for a boundary. How is he so calm?
WICKET! Neesham b Starc 3 (New Zealand 118-5)
Starc removes Neesham! Oh dear, it’s bully-boy stuff right now from the Aussies and this time Neesham cops Starc’s wrath. The ball is fast and angled into the pads and Neesham can’t get enough bat across to it in time to stop it cannoning off his pads and into the stumps. That was just... Too. Damned. Fast.
Updated
34th over: New Zealand 118-4 (Williamson 30, Neesham 3)
This has been a superb period of bowling from Starc and Johnson, so all-rounder Jimmy Neesham arrives at the crease with his side in deep trouble and the intimidating prospect of Mitchell Johnson sending them whistling past his nose. He gets off the mark with three and Johnson glares at him like he’s just taken the last donut from the tray without offering it around first.
WICKET! McCullum c Voges b Johnson 6 (New Zealand 114-4)
McCullum is gone! And it’s Johnson again, slinging it across the right-handed Kiwi and tempting him to reach for the ball. McCullum takes the bait and fences at it - well away from his body and with no noticeable footwork - to send a regulation catch through to Voges at first slip. The Kiwis are in disarray now. Johnson and Starc are tearing them apart.
Updated
33rd over: New Zealand 109-3 (Williamson 30, McCullum 1)
Starc returns and scones Williamson on the back with a perfectly-directed bouncer and the tiny but enthusiastic Gabba crowd is loving it. That one’ll bruise. The rest of the over isn’t quite as threatening but the siege atmosphere remains.
32nd over: New Zealand 106-3 (Williamson 29, McCullum 1)
Yowza, Johnson almost gets McCullum first up when he has him fending off his hip towards short leg but Burns can’t dive across in time to snaffle it. The Aussie cordon go up as one in anticipation of another victim. They’re all over the Kiwis right now. If McCullum had the choice of going off for bad light I’m sure he’d sprint off.
Updated
WICKET! Taylor c Smith b Johnson 0 (New Zealand 105-3)
Johnson gets Taylor! The big quick has undoubtedly been spurred on by that Starc business in the previous over and the clearly ruffled Taylor shoulders arms to send an edge through to Smith at second slip after his footwork had left him in no man’s land. The intensity of this game - now played under grey and unwelcoming skies - has gone into overdrive. The Aussie bowlers are hissing likes snakes. Brendon McCullum is next up. Get near a TV.
Updated
31st over: New Zealand 102-2 (Williamson 26, Taylor 0)
Starc gives new man Ross Taylor a hell of a time here when he arrives at the crease, taking his edge once, missing it another time and then squaring him up to the point he’s almost caught at mid-off. Starc has returned on a mission and every ball this over seems to carry the possibility of a wicket. He barely managed one per over earlier. It’s a wicket maiden and exactly what the doctor ordered for Australia.
WICKET! Latham c Lyon b Starc 47 (New Zealand 102-2)
Starc strikes! What the heck went on there? It was the first ball of a new spell from Starc and he jammed it in reasonably quick around an off-stump line, but Latham has just sort of helped it on its way to Lyon at cover, with the bat turning in his hand as he spooned it up. Did it do a bit off the pitch? Maybe, but it was an ugly shot and Latham will be furious to have squandered such a promising start.
Actually, replays reveal he just misjudged both the pace and line, played with a terribly angled bat and basically got himself out.
Updated
30th over: New Zealand 102-1 (Latham 47, Williamson 26)
Now they’re getting after Johnson as well when he over-pitches and it’s Williamson cracking him down the ground for four with a textbook straight drive. Johnson is not impressed, it’s safe to say. He’s been much better in the last few overs but that error is really grinding his gears. The Kiwi run rate is now sitting at 3,40, which isn’t too shabby at all.
29th over: New Zealand 97-1 (Latham 46, Williamson 22)
Okay, the players have had a drink and perhaps a power bar or two (do athletes still eat those things? That’s the point at which I tapped out on fitness knowledge) and we’re back into it with some more Mitch Marsh. Latham clips him off the pads for four and also picks up three to mid-on. Bit too easy, this over.
Raymond Reardon is a gentleman and a scholar and has returned with an Anthony Green style verdict on the Lathams.
“Update on big test results for Lathams : Rod Latham of the early 1990’s NZ: 4 tests for 1 win 3 draws 0 losses (25%). Tom Latham of the mid 2010’s NZ: 11 tests for 6 wins 2 draws 3 losses (54%). Mark Latham of 2004 AUS one election for loss by 27 seats (0%)”
Superb work, Raymond, but doesn’t a loss that heavy tip Mark Latham into a negative percentage?
28th over: New Zealand 90-1 (Latham 39, Williamson 22)
Again Johnson has got his radar working, angling it across Latham’s body and always forcing the batsman to play a careful stroke. There’s no run until the final delivery, when Latham gets a little loose and tries to flick pull off his hip and nearly chips it Burns, hovering at a straighter, shorter square leg. A nice little battle, this one.
27th over: New Zealand 89-1 (Latham 38, Williamson 22)
Ouchie. Williamson has just been cut in half by Marsh and the result is a blow to the upper right thigh – just past the nether regions – where there’s no padding or protection. Williamson doubles over for a minute but he’s okay. Elsewhere, Marsh oversteps for his second no-ball in as many overs but other than that it’s a tidy over. Marsh can do a job here if he ties up an end.
26th over: New Zealand 88-1 (Latham 38, Williamson 22)
The best of this Johnson over is a bouncer that flies a good two feet over Latham’s head, which tells you a bit. At least he’s otherwise keeping it tight outside off stump so it ends up a maiden. Never doubted you Mitch.
25th over: New Zealand 88-1 (Latham 38, Williamson 22)
It’s Mitchell upon Mitchell now, with one in reserve. Marsh steps up for his first bowl of the summer and he’s hovering around the 125kmph mark to start with, not quick enough to just bang it in short outside off stump and not expect to be hammered to the boundary by Kane Williamson. With Hazlewood off, the pressure on the Kiwi batsmen has just evaporated. Ouch, Williamson creams Marsh for another boundary with a pull. This is sub-Bracewell.
24th over: New Zealand 78-1 (Latham 37, Williamson 14)
Mitchell Johnson erred dangerously close to pedestrian status in his first two 2-over spells but he’s back to put the wind up new man Williamson. Or not, as is the case when he continues to sling it at the batsmen’s hips. C’mon Mitch. All we expect of you is 2013-14 level perfection. Not hard buddy.
23rd over: New Zealand 71-1 (Latham 34, Williamson 10)
The Lyon v Latham battle of the L’s continues and the latter finally gets off strike with a single to allow the spinner a look at Williamson. For him, Lyon’s got a conventional slip, a leg slip and Burns at short leg. Williamson duly dances down the wicket and thumps him over cow corner for a boundary. I think you’d call that a statement of intent.
22nd over: New Zealand 66-1 (Latham 33, Williamson 6)
This is a course-setting spell for Hazlewood at the moment and perhaps a guide to his fast bowling colleagues for when they return; line, length and nagging consistency, all delivered with minimal rest between overs as Nathan Lyon races through his. A leg bye here is the only transgression for the over.
21st over: New Zealand 65-1 (Latham 33, Williamson 6)
He might prefer a go at Williamson while he’s still fresh at the crease, but Lyon is again tasked with drawing something rash out of Tom Latham and that appears futile. He defends stoutly and then gets proactive, dipping down on one knee to sweep two around the corner. Lyon still fancies his chances of having him caught at short leg, so we might get another chance to assess Joe Burns’ bon fides in there.
20th over: New Zealand 62-1 (Latham 30, Williamson 6)
Cop that! Hazlewood’s been nothing more than metronomic so far but he takes Williamson by surprise with a vicious lifter that has the batsman jumping hastily to avoid a Kookaburra seam to the chin. Great stuff. Better still for the batsman, having survived that brief ordeal he maintains composure to clip a couple through mid-wicket when Hazlewood over-pitches the next one. This is a an absorbing little duel at the moment.
19th over: New Zealand 58-1 (Latham 30, Williamson 2)
Lyon’s hemming Latham in on his back foot, daring him to hit across the line when the danger of an LBW lurks. It’s not attractive batting, but so far the Kiwi is effective in his defensive efforts.
18th over: New Zealand 58-1 (Latham 30, Williamson 2)
Oof, Hazlewood almost traps the danger man Williamson in front with his very first delivery to the new man at the crease. It’s quick, angled in and raps him on the pad but it’s correctly deemed to be heading down leg and also, perhaps, a fraction high. Williamson takes a breath, gets off the mark with two and pauses to assess the situation. He’ll need big runs to keep his side in this game.
I was a bit harsh on Guptill, by the way. His bat was actually reasonably close to his pad but he did kind of jut it out there for an edge. A little bit of movement and he was gorrrn.
WICKET! Guptill c Warner b Hazlewood 23 (New Zealand 56-1)
Hazlewood strikes! And it’s Guptil who goes, hanging his bat out again as he had in the over before but this time clipping his edge into the hands of Warner at third slip. The Aussies have their breakthrough and after a solid start, Guptill is gone.
Updated
17th over: New Zealand 56-0 (Guptill 23, Latham 30)
There’s easy pickings from this Lyon over. He’ll need to tighten up a little on that effort. These two batsmen are looking more and more comfortable by the over.
16th over: New Zealand 50-0 (Guptill 20, Latham 27)
Hazlewood didn’t set the world on fire during the Ashes series but a decent opportunity presents itself this summer with three Tests against a pretty deplorable West Indies side to follow these New Zealand ones. He has a decent moment here, drawing Guptill forward and into an error but the edge skids away through a gap at gully and ends up crossing the third man boundary.
15th over: New Zealand 47-0 (Guptill 16, Latham 27)
Mike Hussey has some nice words for Nathan Lyon here after the offie is introduced for the first time. He says he “knew he was something special” back when the Hussey-era Aussies dragged Lyon away from his groundskeeping duties at the Adelaide Oval to prepare them for an Ashes test against Graeme Swann and co.
Lyon’s right on the money to Guptill here, looping it nicely until he drags one down a little and gets cut through cover for three. It’s the only blemish of his first over.
Updated
14th over: New Zealand 43-0 (Guptill 13, Latham 27)
Orright, we’re back on. Latham’s facing Hazlewood first up, hoping he can refocus and keep pushing things along as he did in fine style before the tea break. The Big Haze starts with a maiden but he’s brooding and unhappy. Actually, maybe that’s just his default facial expression.
I’m back...with more Latham updates
Not really, but reader Raymond Reardon asks, “Who has best winning record at the highest level - Rod Latham, Mark Latham or Tom Latham?” Big Collingwood fan, Mark Latham. Bit like Paul Keating...
Anyway, we’ll have some more cricket shortly.
New Zealand's openers survive until tea without loss
13th over: New Zealand 43-0 (Guptill 13, Latham 27)
Am I being a little harsh on Burns? Probably. Dare I say that short leg superhero Cameron Bancroft might have caught it? Burns batted beautifully yesterday, so I think we’ll let him off. Anyway, insult is added to injury for Johnson when he’s milked for runs by the increasingly confident Kiwi openers. His last delivery of the session strays to leg and Latham clips it for three.
And that is Tea. I’ll be back shortly after a few quick refreshments.
Dropped! Burns has put down a tough chance at short leg to dismiss Guptill!
It was straight out of the middle of the bat but Burns might have taken that at short leg. It was flying for his left knee and he grassed it. Where’s that sub fielder kid from last year who took the diving catch under the lid? Get him on.
12th over: New Zealand 35-0 (Guptill 12, Latham 20)
Hazlewood soldiers on but the ever-alert Guptill seizes upon a slightly short one outside off stump, using his height perfectly to punch three through cover off the back foot. The tea break is approaching now and after three hours in the hot seat I must admit, I’m really stinging for a Pespi Max. Looks like I’ll have to wait another over.
11th over: New Zealand 32-0 (Guptill 9, Latham 20)
“Expect some pace!” bellows Michael Slater as Mitchell Johnson charges in for his second spell. 136kmph first up. Bad luck Slats. Johnson is wobbling it in a little to Latham but he’s lacking in that first-bowl-of-the-summer menace he’s managed in the last few years. He’s a bit like that Metallica album (‘Load’?)with the accoustic guitars, only the fans aren’t rioting and calling him a traitor.
“Think I saw Rod Laver open for Led Zeppelin at Kooyong,” says Patrick O’Brien. If you have a Led Zeppelin, Rod Laver or Rod Latham joke stashed away, now is the time to let me know, people. All jokes must go. Ooh, Latham’s biffed Johnson over point for a boundary.
@rustyjacko "Load" was great. Front cover art was bull seamen, this pace attack resembles some other form of bull excrement currently
— Kirt M (@kirtmorgs) November 6, 2015
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10th over: New Zealand 28-0 (Guptill 9, Latham 16)
Do you reckon that Tom Latham, who picks up three here in an uneventful Hazlewood over, has ever been mistaken by some hard-of-hearing individual as the son of Rod Laver? It could happen, right?
“This is Tom, you might have heard of his dad Rod Latham.”
“Rod Laver? Wonderful, he really was a magician with a racquet in his hand. Saw him play at Kooyong back in the 60s. A true gentleman of the game. So why cricket, Tom? Wanted to prove Dad wrong?”
9th over: New Zealand 25-0 (Guptill 9, Latham 13)
It’s probably a little early for Nathan Lyon, but entering his fifth over now, Starc will be puffing away a little. Perhaps Mitchell Marsh will relieve him and get involved for the first time in the game. Starc’s still fast and and draws a streaky shot from Guptill when he fences one towards gully, but his penetration is lacking. The Kiwis are happy to sit and wait for now.
8th over: New Zealand 25-0 (Guptill 9, Latham 13)
Right as I finish my big whinge, Australian fast bowling coach Craig McDermott has risen from his seat and wandered down to the boundary’s edge to have a word with Starc. Oh no, he’s signing autographs for kids. Their Dads must have explained who he is and sent them down. They should be watching Hazlewood, who only concedes a single in this over and is nagging away on the McGrath length outside Latham’s off stump.
7th over: New Zealand 24-0 (Guptill 8, Latham 13)
Starc’s bowling fast and short to Latham, who is a little vertically challenged himself. Still, 148kmph is a little easier to deal with when it’s flying well past your head than when it’s rising at your throat or crushing your toes. I’m really not sure this approach is a wise one for the Aussies. We saw enough in their innings to suggest that the ball is doing nothing off the pitch. Might the best yorker-bowler in the world not, you know, bowl some yorkers? Or at least give it a chance to move in the air? Just asking questions.
This is a reasonable point.
@rustyjacko Joel Garner must be the finished fast bowler/gully fieldsman in history.
— Lord Not the Singer (@master_grundy) November 6, 2015
6th over: New Zealand 24-0 (Guptill 8, Latham 13)
After two unthreatening overs in which he displayed a distinct lack of mojo, Johnson is wisely given a rest to regroup and reload, so Hazlewood grabs the still-new ball. As for novelties, Starc has now moved into the gully position, forcing me to wistfully recall Terry Alderman’s time in the Australian slip cordon. Guptill negotiates the Hazlewood over and does so under minimal duress.
5th over: New Zealand 23-0 (Guptill 8, Latham 13)
Starc’s trying to rough up Latham now and it’s not a bad ploy with a man in at short leg. There’s one lifter that gives him a bit of trouble but as mentioned a moment ago, Josh Hazlewood is now swinging his arms around in the time-honoured fashion that says, “skipper, give us a run.” Pleasingly for Latham, he weathers the storm well before driving Starc through cover for an all-run four. It’s not spectacular but it’s increasingly solid stuff from the Kiwi openers.
4th over: New Zealand 16-0 (Guptill 8, Latham 7)
It’s Mitch against the boys from across the ditch and for now, it’s a bit of a non-event as Johnson tries to find his groove. Oi, quiet down the back. Anyway, it might help if he and Starc actually make these guys play at the thing. They’re in danger of wasting the new ball here, even if this over is a maiden.
3rd over: New Zealand 16-0 (Guptill 8, Latham 7)
Starc’s bowling even quicker in this over - 148.5kmph is one reading I catch - but that’s not much good when your line and length is all over the shop. Guptill duly whips him off the pads for three and though Starc will get one or two more, I reckon Hazlewood should start warming up quick smart.
2nd over: New Zealand 13-0 (Guptill 5, Latham 7)
Mitchell Johnson is the man to partner Starc early and he’s also errant to start with, spearing one onto Tom Latham’s hip and begging him to clip it for a boundary. Next there’s an LBW shout – one of those ones whose primary function is to intimidate the batsman. It was heading miles down leg.
Sam Fiddian is back with an email. “A quick look at the weather website thingy says there’s a better than even chance of rain (even thunderstorms) in Brisbane for the next few days,” he says. “Could the current circumstances of the Test be about New Zealand lulling Australia into false hope of victory before the inevitable rain-delayed draw? Or am I just being naturally and reasonably paranoid about our cousins from across the ditch?”
Canny theory Sam, very canny. If history tells us anything it’s that there is literally no more annoying thing in cricket than losing a series in which you had a Test won before rain intervened. McCullum is a genius. Not an evil one – an unfailingly nice one.
1st over: New Zealand 9-0 (Guptill 5, Latham 3)
Guptill and Latham appear for the Kiwis and it’s Guptill facing up to Mitchell Starc’s first ball, a searching near-yorker he bunts for one. 144.8kmph there from Starc. Reasonable heat. Starc has been in red-hot form in the Matador Cup and he’ll be looking to replicate it with the red one he’s not quite mastered as well.
Latham works three to the leg side to get off the mark and it’s a no-ball from Starc as well. He’s getting plenty of bounce and hooping it in towards the right-handers, but Guptill leans into his final delivery and beatifully drives it for a boundary down to long off. That’s a very encouraging start from the New Zealand openers and a bit of a fizzer for Starc.
The final numbers on that Australian innings
556 runs. Only 4 wickets lost. 174 for Khawaja. 163 for Warner. 83 not out for Adam Voges, who got a wriggle on today when his captain asked him to.
It was sort of fitting that part-timer Williamson got Khawaja in the end. The frontliners barely looked like it. His knock took 239 deliveries and contained 16 fours and 2 sixes. Splended stuff. Voges took 127 balls and biffed 11 fours in his. Super schtuff.
The bowling? Pretty grim reading. Injured Tim Southee had 1-70 off 24, Boult 1-127 off 29, Bracewell 0-107 off 27 and the spinner Craig a truly dissappointing 0-156 off 31. Jimmy Neesham’s 1-50 off 11 and Williamson’s 1-39 off 8.2 were mere footnotes, even though they both made breakthroughs.
Anyway, the Aussies are already out there with the new ball and raring to go. Strap in.
Khawaja goes for 174 and Australia declare on 556!
WICKET! Khawaja c Guptill b Williamson 174 - Australia declare at 556-4 (Voges 83 not out)
Gargh, Khawaja goes, playing a dinky reverse sweep that Guptill dives to catch in the conventional gully position. With that, Steve Smith calls them in and the Australians will have a bowl. Should they have batted on a little? I guess they’re mindful of the gloomy weather forecast. That’s a pity for Voges too in his debut home Test.
130th over: Australia 555-3 (Khawaja 174, Voges 82)
Voges is batting like a man who has been told he’s got a couple of overs to get his hundred, thumping Bracewell to long-on for a boundary and then heaving for a single too. Khawaja isn’t quite as aggressive and sees off the rest of the over without major incident.
129th over: Australia 550-3 (Khawaja 174, Voges 77)
The actual declaration aside, the main interest here is whether Khawaja and Voges can tick off their looming milestones. Kane Williamson relieves Craig of the off-spin duties and Khawaja dinks him down to third man for three to edge a little closer to 200.
Meanwhile, out in clubland...
A cricket first for me this weekend. A team mate unavailable due to Ten Pin Bowling commitments. You can't make this shit up! Amazing.
— Schlitz (@Schlitz310) November 5, 2015
128th over: Australia 544-3 (Khawaja 170, Voges 75)
There’s a little bit of weather about, as they say, and with Steve Smith now sitting in his whites, it’s perhaps time to indulge in a bit of declaration speculation. Why would you though? Rack up 700 and have a go at them in the afternoon gloom I say. Anyway, big Doug chugs away, but he’s not having any luck.
127th over: Australia 542-3 (Khawaja 169, Voges 74)
Did we end up coming up with a less fortunate Craig than Mark Craig yesterday? I think it stalled at Craig David. Anyway, Voges is biffing him about again now - reverse sweeps au go go. Khawaja is just sleep-walking his way towards 200.
Robert McLiam Wilson is on board the beach cricket train. Or boat, I guess. “Thanks for the top, top clip,” he says. “I’m not at all ashamed to say it - beach cricket is absolutely brilliant. I always knew that Graeme Hick would come good in the end.” Poor Hicky.
126th over: Australia 534-3 (Khawaja 166, Voges 69)
Doug Bracewell has had a nightmare game so far, but he’s back with the carrot of a late-innings wicket or two in front of him. On the evidence of this over it might be beyond him today. Again he’s just banging it in back of a length and hoping for the best. There’s half a chance of a return catch when Voges drives him down the pitch but nothing else worthy of note.
All this is certainly a far cry from his heroics in Hobart a few years back.
125th over: Australia 531-3 (Khawaja 163, Voges 69)
Adam Voges is trying to reverse-sweep Mark Craig at every opportunity in this over, except when he nearly clumps a full toss straight to the man at wide long-on. They’re playing cricket out there, but only just.
Updated
124th over: Australia 530-3 (Khawaja 162, Voges 67)
It’s a thankless task but Boult keeps charging in for his skipper and trying to prize out another wicket to stop the dispiriting momentum of this game. Voges is driving attractively but can’t beat Brendn McCullum at mid-off. He’s a little ginger when he gets up though, the Kiwi skipper. He’s getting a bit of a work-out over there.
Updated
123rd over: Australia 525-3 (Khawaja 159, Voges 67)
With Southee injured and alternative options thin on the ground, Mark Craig continues to a suddenly rampant Khawaja. It’s a better over too. Not a single boundary ball. Meanwhile, there is now talk about that beach cricket could become an Olympic sport.
Sounds about right to me. Is Graeme Hick available?
Khawaja reached 150!
122nd over: Australia 521-3 (Khawaja 156, Voges 66)
It wasn’t the most convincing stroke - flying away off a leading edge - but Khawaja has picked up four down to third man to bring up his 150. It came off 210 balls with 17 fours and 2 sixes. It’s been a beautiful knock. And that theory of mine that they’ve been instructed to hit out? I think my powers of deduction are correct, because Khawaja is on the attack at every opportunity, cracking a superb on drive for four to go with the earlier boundary. This could be a lot of fun from here.
121st over: Australia 513-3 (Khawaja 148, Voges 66)
The biggest danger a batsman encounters facing Mark Craig at the moment is that he’ll play a shot that only gets him a single, so allows his partner to feast on the inevitable buffet ball. Voges and Khawaja only tap him around until, yep, you guessed it, Voges tucks him around the corner for a boundary down to fine leg. Still, Voges is just a touch loose at the moment, perhaps having been told to get a wriggle on by his skipper. Khawaja is still all languid movement and class.
120th over: Australia 504-3 (Khawaja 146, Voges 59)
Boult concedes two to Voges but otherwise it’s a much-improved effort on the last few. That’s not really saying much I guess. This is ‘please declare’ cricket from the Kiwis right now.
Meanwhile, this is turning into quite a brainstorm.
@rustyjacko instead of performing MRI's on his wrist, perhaps we can count the rings on Afridi's cricket bat. Would this be as effective?
— Kirt M (@kirtmorgs) November 6, 2015
119th over: Australia 502-3 (Khawaja 146, Voges 57)
He started the session in inglorious style, but Mark Craig is given another over so Khawaja duly skips down the deck slightly, plants himself on a knee and slog-sweeps the spinner over cow corner for a one-bounce boundary. That brings up the 500-run milestone for the Aussies too with no sign that they’re tired of making runs.
Liam Connelly and his mate have a decent point. “The Shane Warne interview was inspired (if not inspiring),” he says. “As one of my mates remarked to me “He is a bit of a Peter Pan but rather than being stuck in a state of childhood he is stuck as a bogan adolescent like a Poida Pan.”
Quite. But we still love him all the same.
118th over: Australia 495-3 (Khawaja 141, Voges 55)
Trent Boult pairs with Craig to start with and he starts a little more competently by drawing Voges forward and forcing him to leave, but it’s not long before he’s dropping short and wide so that Khawaja can cut him late down to the vacant third man boundary.
Raymond Reardon has an interesting observation via email. “The average ages of the test teams according to alleged birth records are 28.8 years for the Aussies and 27.4 for the Kiwis,” he says. “Yet it seems (and not seaming ) that the New Zealand team are playing as if they are a lot older and less nimble than the Australian team. At the under 17 Football World Cup (currently taking place in Chile) they now use MRI scans of players wrists to determine if players have understated their ages. I wonder whether scans of the New Zealanders wrists would show up them to be a lot older than stated?”
Raymond, I think you’re burying the lede here. This is a question about Shahid Afridi, isn’t it?
117th over: Australia 489-3 (Khawaja 136, Voges 54)
Aaaand we’re back. It’s Mark Craig kicking things off in this second session and he’s immediately dropping short and gifting three to Khawaja, who quite honestly has a double-hundred for the taking here. Craig then bowls a couple of better ones - as is his style - before dropping short again to hand Voges a boundary to deep square leg, which is also his style. Same old same old.
Ooh, I’ve even got an early email and it’s Robert McLiam Wilson, gentleman and scholar. “Don’t be so cocksure about this game,” he starts. “Today is a day of wonders. George H Bush publically called Dick Cheney an a**hole, a Parisian waiter was polite to me and I finally (oops, i meant nearly) told my wife the truth about my batting average. What I’m saying is, New Zealand could pull this around. Is ‘date’ really an Aussie slang term for arse? Or is your usual private delirium starting early?”
It is at OBO central.
One more, err, plug for Warnie
I know Will has already covered it off, but I also want to get in on the fun and recommend that you read this interview with Shane Warne, who amongst other things, rues the lack of Tinder-enabling wifi at airports and moots a truly remarkable songwriting project he’s been working on.
What would a Shane Warne song sound like, do you think? I think we’re being thrown by all the Ed Sheeran/Chris Martin talk. Surely it would be a cock-rock extravaganza in the style of David Lee Roth era Van Halen. Does he wear his bandana when he sits down to work on it? More questions than answers at this stage, sadly.
Other big questions out of these first two days
Firstly, will the local broadcaster ever stop playing the clip of ‘the ball hitting [Ian] Smith’s car’ and will they reveal that it wasn’t actually his car, but a rental? I’ve already seen it more often than the Zapruder film, and while I’d hazard a guess that sitting on my date watching cricket all day isn’t the worst job in the world, I’d appreciate it if they could acknowledge my whim here and cease showing it immediately.
Secondly, how do you feel if you’re Mitchell Marsh right now? Is he on a hiding to nothing? I sense yes. Pretty easy batting out there so he’ll only cause a fuss by getting out cheaply. You’d also imagine he’ll be wincing slightly watching Doug Bracewell and Jimmy Neesham toil away with the ball. I could be wrong. Maybe he’s just buoyed by his teammates’ dominance and will come out and go berserk.
Anyway, email in and tell me what you think. At the moment I have only Michael Slater for company. Is that the life you want for me?
And another...
@rustyjacko @benno_76 pic.twitter.com/1hHpbi11Ql
— Michael (@starofflorida) November 6, 2015
Hello OBOers
It is indeed Russell Jackson here, taking you through right up until stumps today, by which time New Zealand might be even further into this house of pain. And not in the ‘Jump Around’ sense. They can barely muster a hobble right now.
It looked a little rosier early when Trent Boult removed Steve Smith with a gem. They did a little better at containing the Australian batsmen early on too, as Will mentioned, but I’ve just received a Tweet that I think sums the current situation up quite well.
@rustyjacko pic.twitter.com/RtEza0QTvK
— Brett Peterson (@brettwp) November 6, 2015
Lunch, and Australia are dominating.
116th over: Australia 482-3 (Khawaja 133, Voges 50)
So a ball after Voges brings up his 50, it’s lunch time. New Zealand started the session really well, using the newish ball to find some swing, and with Trent Boult prising out Steve Smith with an inswinging beauty. It’s been tough going since as Voges has just bedded in and Khawaja has put away the bad ball (there were more and more as the session wore on).
New Zealand have problems, and not just on the scoreboard. The quicks bowled well, but Tim Southee has been off the field for at least 30 minutes with a disk problem that is being assessed, an injury that could spell bad news not just for this game, but for the series. Neesham is still just a bit too loose and the spinners - particularly Craig, who the Aussies fancy a slice of - have no control whatsoever.
That, alas, is it from me. It’s past my bedtime here in dank London so I’m going to hit the hay. Thanks for your emails and tweets! Russell Jackson will join you shortly to carry you through the rest of your Friday, so do say hi - he can be emailed at russell.jackson@theguardian.com or tweeted at @rustyjacko. Enjoy!
Updated
50 for Adam Voges!
116th over: Australia 482-3 (Khawaja 133, Voges 50)
Just very comfortable for the Aussies against Kane Williamson. Ones and Twos available all over the shop, and Voges sends the penultimate ball of the over into the legside to bring up a fine 50 off 81 balls, his first in Australia. Well batted that man - the stand has raced to 83.
115th over: Australia 475-3 (Khawaja 131, Voges 46)
Craig manages to contain for two balls, before Voges finds a lovely, springing late cut for four behind point. He pushes to mid-on for a single, then Khawaja - with Craig bowling over the wicket to the southpaw - tries a sweep but misses. One more before the break.
114th over: Australia 471-3 (Khawaja 131, Voges 41)
This is now very, very easy for the Aussie batsmen. Neither of the spinners threatening, and both batters are very much in. Three singles are milked to men in the deep off Williamson as the lunch break approaches.
Peter Rawsthorne joins the big Olympic debate: “Excluding sports from the Olympics because they already have a world championship would lead to the cost of hosting the games falling dramatically.”
113th over: Australia 468-3 (Khawaja 130, Voges 39)
Ouchy, that’s brutal from Uzzy, a bunt down the ground for four off Craig, going down on one knee. Lovely. There’s a single to long-off, then Voges blocks a couple, then pushes to midwicket for one. Uzzy leaves the last. The Australians think Mark Craig is a bit rubbish, I think.
News from the lovely Black Caps on Tim Southee:
Southee off the field with an irritated disk - continuing to be assessed #AUSvNZ ^CE
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) November 6, 2015
112th over: 461-3 (Khawaja 124, Voges 38)
Kane Williamson’s on, so it’s spin at both ends. Some good fielding at short midwicket saves one first up, Voges leaves the second, swats the third for a legside two and a single to long-on. Khawaja takes a single of his own off the last ball.
111th over: 458-3 (Khawaja 124, Voges 35)
We have official declaration speculation on the tellybox. Craig gets away with a couple this time, as Khawaja misses out on two short, wide ones. Fifth ball of the over he sweeps for two, past Tom Latham at short leg, and a better ball last up keeps it to two from the over. Better from Craig, I guess.
More Olympic thoughts....
@willis_macp All-nations championship. Like the World Cup is. Which surely negates the need for it to be at the Olympics.
— Matt Reddin (@mattreddin) November 6, 2015
110th over: Australia 456-3 (Khawaja 122, Voges 35)
Don’t bowl there to Voges, James Neesham. The third is full and wide and sent through cover for two, and the next is very short and pulled for four through midwicket. The others are dots, two blocked, two left.
109th over: Australia 450-3 (Khawaja 122, Voges 29)
So Mark Craig is back. He really did serve up some dross yesterday, but I’m convinced he’s better than that.
But his second ball is short and Khawaja pulls to mid-on for a single, and the next is shorter and turns into Voges who hoicks behind square for four. Next is interesting - Voges overbalances and there was perhaps the faintest chance of a stumping. No maybe not, turning and bouncing sharply. Normal service resumes next ball, as it’s too full and crunched through mid-off for four, while the final is nudged round the corner to bring up the 450. 10 from Craig’s first over isn’t really going to work for McCullum. The 50 partnership is up too.
108th over: Australia 440-3 (Khawaja 121, Voges 20)
Khawaja drives Neesham cleanly through mid-off for two, which would have been four were it not for some fine work from Brendon McCullum. There’s another wristy flick for one next ball and Voges sees out the over.
Mark Nicholas is talking about Usman Khawaja, and how impressively patient he’s been this morning, and I’m inclined to agree. The Kiwis haven’t given him many bad balls, so he’s just been watchful. Nicholas seems to really like him, but then he does loves a stylist, does MJCN. He also liked Michael Clarke. Maybe Khawaja is the new Michael Clarke?
107th over: Australia 437-3 (Khawaja 118, Voges 20)
The Channel Nine lads are talking about one of their favourite things: positive intent. It’s what Australia always has, apparently. Voges plays out an uneventful maiden from Dougie Bracewell.
Good question, Brin. I guess so. Lots of crickety people saying it won’t be easy to build cricket grounds everywhere. I can’t believe it’s much harder than a new velodrome or a canoeing centre, though?
@willis_macp Why do people feel the need to bastardize sports to get them into the Olympics? Is it to fit a "so everyone can play" ideology?
— Brin Paulsen (@brinpaulsen) November 6, 2015
106th over: Australia 437-3 (Khawaja 118, Voges 20)
Neesham’s serves up a horrid wide first up, but he improves thereafter, with each batsman taking a single in familiar areas - Khawaja to point then Voges to midwicket two balls later. He forced a play and miss from Uzzie earlier in the over and the last is leading edged along the ground to cover.
By the way, what does everyone make of these funky new blue and grey numbers the Aussies insist one wearing when they’re not playing. Bad areas from Asics, in my opinion.
Updated
105th over: Australia 434-3 (Khawaja 117, Voges 19)
Bracewell starts with a no ball, and gives away just one more run, a flick to long leg from Khawaja, who has been very watchful today. Three more required for Bracewell’s ton.
James Sutherland has been on the ABC, by the sounds of things. He’s been talking about cricket in the Olympics, which is a nice idea. But he’s suggested beach cricket, which really isn’t a nice idea. Why can’t cricket administrators just have some faith in our great game rather than talking gubbins about the beach and the sports hall. The Chinese will think beach cricket is as stupid as I do, Jim.
104th over: Australia 432-3 (Khawaja 116, Voges 19)
So Jimmy Neesham is back in place of Southee, who’s still off the field. Neesham seems a lovely guy, and he’s well worth following on the twitters, because he’s good at interacting and has top drawer pop culture knowledge.
His third ball is rank - short and wide, but Voges can’t put it away, perhaps surprised by quite how rubbish it was. He gets off strike with his stock shot next ball, the push past midwicket. Uzzie leaves one then flicks to midwicket for a single.
Richard Hanson has one (well two, really) last Will and Bill offering: “An obvious one for the politically inclined, Will Shorten - sounds like the start of a question, that will probably never be answered. And for train enthusiasts there is a lovely old steam tourist train in the hills outside of Melbourne that really can’t (or shouldn’t) be renamed Puffing Willy.”
You’re not the only one, Dan
I’ll be honest. I’m really missing Watto around about now. #AUSvNZ
— Dan Liebke (@LiebCricket) November 6, 2015
103rd over: Australia 430-3 (Khawaja 115, Voges 18)
Bracewell does Khawaja all ends up first ball of the over - seaming in and beating the inside edge. The next is flicked to square leg for a single. Voges leaves one, then sends one to midwicket’s right for a single. Bracewell, who is approaching a century, serves a decent bouncer which Khawaja ducks right under, then bowls one outside off. They need wickets soon but that’s not helped by the fact that...
Southee’s not looking good, I’m afraid.
Southee looks in all sorts. Coming off the field. #AUSvNZ
— Melinda Farrell (@melindafarrell) November 6, 2015
102nd over: Australia 428-3 (Khawaja 114, Voges 17)
Southee’s back, which strikes me as a good idea. He bowled well earlier but that back issue he’s got might prevent him from bowling long spells. Who knows (that’s a guess). Lots of full stuff in this over: the first is blocked, the second and third left, the fourth and fifth flicked to McCullum’s man at midwicket, and the sixth left too. Voges wants to hit literally everything through the midwicket and is ignoring it all outside off.
It’s a maiden, but Southee’s leaving the field with the physio in some discomfort at the end of the over. Eek.
It's drinks, and the Kiwis are looking much better (although they don't have too much to show for it)
Australia 428-3 (Khawaja 114, Voges 17)
There’s Khawaja’s boundary. He’s waited almost an hour (60 minutes that have veritably flown by), but that’s lovely. A cute glance to fine leg from a Bracewell inswinger. He’s thinking about a few more shots. He sees out the over safely.
Scott Poynting is wondering if we’ve had reference to Will Lawry yet? Or, for the (awful British - my inclusion) cop show enthusiasts The Will?
Tubbs, Mark Nicholas and Smithy are on comms and it’s just quite nice patter. Time for a drink. Enjoy.
Updated
100th over: Australia 423-3 (Khawaja 111, Voges 17)
No boundaries yet for Khawaja today, but he nearly has one here, swatting the fifth ball of Boult’s over with one of those rolly-wristy pulls for three (not quite timed) after each batsman takes a legside single early in the over. Little inside edge saves Voges from a good in-ducker last ball of the over. Good areas, as Shano would say, from Boult.
Matt Harris is back with more on yer Bills and yer Wills: “Further to Arky’s point on the historicity of Will as opposed to Bill: Bill Shakespeare?” One of the better Bills, in my opinion.
99th over: Australia 418-3 (Khawaja 107, Voges 16)
That’s really good from Bracewell, who squares Voges up and forces him to edge wide of gully. His bat is heading towards mid-on but the ball is on the fourth stump - not always that clever, for mine. Two balls later, just as Ian Smith is telling us Bracewel’s figures don’t reflect how he’s bowled, Voges slays a poor ball (short, wide, rank) through point with a handsome cut. Four more.
98th over: Australia 410-3 (Khawaja 107, Voges 8)
Khawaja flicks Boult for one first up, and McCullum’s got a funky field for legside-heavy Adam Voges. There’s a leg gully and two short-midwickets. He blocks a couple, then turns the fourth ball to the leg gully, who produces a direct hit, which is clever. That’s what this Kiwi team do. One of the short midwickets is pushed back and the ball goes straight where he was for a single. Oh well.
Richard Hanson’s talking about Bills and Wills too:
“I’m generally with you on the Bill/Will thing,” he says, “but there are exceptions. Would anyone want to visit Billy Wonker’s chocolate factory?”
Good point, well made. And Arky’s making a good point too: “Where’s this idea that Will is more modern than Bill? It’s the Bills who are the Johnny-come-latelies (or should that be Jack-come-lately?). Will Scarlet. Will Rogers. Will Ferrell!”
97th over: Australia 408-3 (Khawaja 106, Voges 7)
Doug Bracewell’s into the attack and it’s more tidy (tidier) stuff. He makes Khawaja play lots and eventually he takes a single to square leg and Voges sees off the last ball.
We’re talking about Dimi Mascarenhas on comms, who features on Shane Warne’s mural, if I’m not mistaken. Robert Wilson has been in touch about Shano, and he’s sounding a bit melancholic.
“Impressed by your passionate recommendation, I read the Warney interview. I was a very early-adopter of the Shane. But I feel all dirty now. He’s getting worse. It read like a symptom checklist for some dreadful personality disorder. Have we all become gleeful, chortling enablers of something worrying now? As with his ‘commentary’, I kept having to remind myself of the incredible beauty of watching him bowl. Or am I over-reacting a little and he’s just a bit thick?”
I think you are over-reading him, Robert.
Ian Smith is talking loads about rugby. How do you Aussies feel about that? Also, I missed this belter from Slats, somehow:
"That's a peach of a cherry" - Michael Slater, not a greengrocer.
— Russell Jackson (@rustyjacko) November 6, 2015
96th over: Australia 407-3 (Khawaja 105, Voges 7)
Classy flick to midwicket for one from Usman first ball. That whip. Ok, shouldn’t get too excited about a single. Was lovely though. Oh, and so is that - an off-drive from Voges, which McCullum failed to keep in - four. Good comeback from Boult, inswing which hits Voges on the pad for a muffled appeal, followed by a good bouncer. Finishes with two leaves.
95th over: Australia 402-3 (Khawaja 104, Voges 3)
It’s a maiden from Southee. Much better this from the Kiwis. Also notable that McCullum hasn’t been being too funky - not too many field changes. There’s a bit of swing, but Voges negotiates it safely with leaves and forward defensives.
Also on the emails, Michael Tilley’s back with more names that cannot be Will’d: “Willy the Kid. Will Withers. Will Clinton (ok maybe this one is)”
Australia 402-3 (Khawaja 104, Voges 3)
McCullum’s got his customary catchers in for Voges, who is playing his first Test on home soil. He’s away with three through square-leg and Uzzie’s safe for the last of the over.
On the emails, Matt Harris is suggesting some pointless declaration speculation. Admittedly he did that before Smith got out, but it still stands. Guess away OBOers...
Wicket! Smith b Boult 48 (Australia 399-3)
Smith’s gone and of course it’s a beauty. That’s more like it, Trent Boult. That is just dreamy from the left-arm seamer. Pitched on off, straightened a bit and Smith played on. Smith had swung the over before and he did not learn. Just what the Kiwis needed.
Updated
93rd over: Australia 398-2 (Khawaja 103, Smith 48)
The Channel Nine lads are looking at old catches, which is nice. Hussey is talking about him and his brother David trying to pretend to be Allan Border as youngsters.
Khawaja nudges to leg to get his first runs of the day, before Steve Smith unleashes an absolute worldie of a straight off drive for four, then middles another but this time it’s straight to the fielder. The two English umpires are worried about the ball (the Kookaburra really isn’t as good as the Duke, I’m afraid) and, as is the way with these things, the 12th men are on giving the lads some Gatorade. It’s been a couple of minutes now, and Southee’s actually having the physio take a look at his back , which is very bad news for the Kiwis. He picks himself up and bowls a no-ball, which Smith defends to short extra. The last is defended back to the bowler.
Michael Tilley’s using a case study to prove that Bill is better than Will and, again, I like it: “Re: shortening of William to Will, I have to agree with Richard. Sonny-Will Williams just wouldn’t sound right.”
Can’t argue.
92nd over: Australia 392-2 (Khawaja 102, Smith 44)
This is a slightly busier over with Smith whooshing at Boult a little, but getting just two runs, an edgey sort of cover drive that goes near mid-off. Swing meant it didn’t hit the middle and swing caused a play and miss next up. Uneventful leaves and defence otherwise.
First email of the day!
It’s from Richard (not Rick or Dick) Woods, and it’s a belter. He’s questioning the modern shortening of William to Will, not Bill, and I reckon he’s got a point.
“Now this ‘Will’ business,” he says. “What happened to Bill? It was good enough for Ponsford. It was good enough for O’Reilly. It was good enough for Lawry. As a pom I can say it was good enough for Voce and it was good enough for Athey. Just what has happened to our sport?”
91st over: Australia 390-2 (Khawaja 102, Smith 42)
Lots more leaving from Smith. Good stuff from Southee, but surely he needs to make Smith play more. Still a bit of swing though - you get the impression, the Kiwis need to get the kookaburra doing its work early doors, before all the lacquer is gone. The last ball of the over gives Smith the first runs of the day, an inside edge down to fine leg.
90th over: Australia 389-2 (Khawaja 102, Smith 41)
Trent Boult from the other end, bowling to Usman. Mike Hussey - as he tends to - is talking sense about how difficult it can be to start again the morning after a cracking ton and a major moment. James Brayshaw is talking, but it’s often difficult to know what about. This time it’s something about an interview Uzzie did with Braysh’s mate Slats.
Anyway, cricket. The first three balls are plenty wide enough to leave, and Usman does. The fourth is straighter and swinging and all the Kiwis are up for an appeal for leg before! Umpire Illingworth says no but McCullum has asked for an appeal. We’re having some “rock’n’roll that” fun. Eventually, there’s no bat, and the impact’s outside the line so Uzzie survives. He leaves the fifth and is beaten outside off by the sixth. There’s a bit of hoop about. That’s another maiden.
89th over: Australia 389-2 (Khawaja 102, Smith 41)
Tidy start from Southee, who lets Smith leave the first, outside off, then forces him to face the next three. The fifth is left and the sixth sent back to the bowler. The Aussie skipper looks utterly unruffled by the whole thing. The Kiwis will like themselves a maiden, mind.
So Khawaja, with 102 to his name, and Skipper Smith (not quite as catchy a name as Captain Cook or Captain Morgan, but still pretty good) are in the middle.
Australia start the day 389 for two and New Zealand have lots and lots of work to do. Here we go. Tim Southee (who went to hospital last night but seems ok) with the newish nut.
Nearly time for some cricket, which is exciting. I suspect the Australians amongst you are a good deal more excited about watching this particular game of cricket than the Kiwis or even, for that matter, the neutrals. But Usman Khawaja is batting and that is always great. Drink it in, folks.
Send me a tweet (@willis_map), or send me an email, to the rather clumsy and not at all succinct will.macpherson.freelance@guardian.co.uk. The only way they could have made that email address longer would be to add the iam of William, and I haven’t been called that since I was naughty at school.
But I’d love to hear from you all so please check in and say hi. Should be a fun morning’s cricket. And if it’s not, there’s always that sensational Shane Warne interview to tuck into over and over again. I’m feeling immensely proud of whichever one of my colleagues decided that interview was a good idea. It really, really was.
Small Talk with Shane Warne. That sounds good, doesn’t it? It really is good. Shano talks about, as you might expect, banter, all his famous cricketing mates, his other famous mates, being single (and thus tinder), and that wondrous mural he has (a reminder that he’s just chilling in the corner with Bruce Springsteen). SK goes off-piste too though, and for that we should be grateful. He talks about the song he’s writing (“a mixture of Time after Time and Midnight in Chelsea”).
Great, great areas Shano. It’s so good I don’t want to ruin it all, so you can read it here.
Last night we solved the greatest mystery of our times: all the people in Warnie's ultimate party mural #warniemural pic.twitter.com/NxDROVBTgl
— Tom Cowie (@tom_cowie) August 18, 2015
Well a very good morning to you all! Or, depending on where you are, good evening! Or good afternoon! It must be the afternoon somewhere. I guess it’s always 5 o’clock somewhere, as Matt Prior used to say in the days when England won cricket matches.
Decent first day of the summer for the Australians, then? The term “dream start” has been bandied about plenty, but it’s hardly stretching it to dub 389 for two against those fancied (the term that recently replaced plucky) Kiwis just that. After a little consideration, it’s not that surprising: this, after all, is the Gabbattoir, where the Australians just don’t lose; they won the toss, and have a top six where every single player had a point to prove. Two because they’re so fresh back into the side (Burns and Uzzie), two because they’re new to leadership roles (Davey and Smudge), and two, in Voges and Marsh - who will have spent the night licking their lips at the prospect of a hit - because their places in the side are not yet solid.
We knew what David Warner could do, but what a sight it is when he’s in full flow. The sheer brutality of those meaty forearms, the half-pint-Haydenness of those drives, and he really did take his new leading-from-the-front thing seriously. He was joined by Joe Burns, who loves opening at the Gabba, and looked classy after a slowish start. He’s got great wrists, has Burns.
Then came Khawaja, and what a joy that was. There really are few better players to watch in full flow. Plenty have talked about that glorious lofted cover drive, but I was particularly taken by the insouciance with which he brought up his century, a fine (in both senses of the word) flicky-pully sort of number that beat the man posted to stop it. Lovely. With him for company, I think we can confidently expect Smith to go big today, too.
A word, finally, for the Kiwis, who were pretty dire. Southee didn’t move it too much, Boult was a bit pedestrian, Bracewell couldn’t hold the way he was picked to, and Craig was just all over the shop. Do the nice guys of world cricket ever give their bowlers a hiding after play? If so, yesterday was the day to do it. If they’re to get back into this game, they’ll need to improve, and sharpish.
There is, unfortunately. “a bit of weather about” later. Might be New Zealand’s best hope.
Australia dominated day one at the Gabba, belting New Zealand’s bowlers from pillar to post. Will anything change today? Will Macpherson will be here shortly to take you through the first session as Usman Khawaja continues his maiden Test century. In the meantime, check out yesterday’s match report to bring yourself up to speed.
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