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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Russell Jackson first and Vithushan Ehantharajah later

Australia v New Zealand: the first day of the second Test – as it happened

Australia batsman David Warner celebrates on a big day for the hosts against New Zealand.
Australia batsman David Warner celebrates on a big day for the hosts against New Zealand. Photograph: Richard Wainwright/AAP

Well, that was barbaric.

Warner equals the Don as New Zealand pay for another lost toss, while Khawaja provided glamorous assistance from the other end. Beauty and the Beast might be a tad disingenuous, but Usman killed the Kiwi attack with style and Warner’s Viking-like brutality set them back to the Stoneage.

Should Lara be worried? Join us tomorrow as Warner eyes up more history...

Updated

Quick reactions at stumps...

90th over: Australia 416-2 (Warner 244, Smith 5)

Last over of the day and Warner sniffing 250, takes a single second ball. The third is left by Smith. As is the fourth. Plays at the final ball, defending it back down the pitch, and that is stumps.

89th over: Australia 415-2 (Warner 243, Smith 5)

Work for deep point to do as Warner cuts Bracewell through extra cover. Three it is. He then finds two on the other side of the man out at deep cover and another via a mishit down the ground. Five ball over. Village.

88th over: Australia 410-2 (Warner 238, Smith 5)

Time for Henry to do some more yards before close. Warner gets a single to deep cover, Smith pulls around the corner for another before Warner gives him back the strike with one into the legside.

Absurd stat from Brendan Jones..

“With the fall of that wicket, New Zealand has finally bowled Australia out (10 wickets) for 1223.”

87th over: Australia 407-2 (Warner 236, Smith 4)

Khawaja goes for 121, picking out Tom Latham at cover to give Bracewell his first wicket. He’s been the pick of the bowlers for the Blackcaps. Steve Smith, who’s been padded up all day, you’d assume, comes to the crease and times his second ball through midwicket for four.

WICKET! Ermm - yeah, seriously. A wicket.

Khawaja hits the ball to cover and walks. Cover caught the ball, which didn’t go for four. That’s a wicket. An actual wicket.

New Zealand 403-2

86th over: Australia 403-1 (Warner 236, Khawaja 121)

The 400 comes up as Warner pumps Southee in front of square for four. He walks to the middle and gives Khawaja a big hug. Whatever you think of Warner, Australia, the meaning of life – this has been pretty damn special.

85th over: Australia 397-1 (Warner 230, Khawaja 121)

Warner decides to let Khawaja have a proper go and takes midwicket up on its offer of a single first ball. He pulls hard around the corner but fine leg doesn’t have to move to field. One to Usman. And then one to Warner, whose 230 is now the most by an Australian in a day’s play (in Australia). Obscene.

84th over: Australia 394-1 (Warner 228, Khawaja 120)

Southee’s far from short but Warner’s still rocking onto the back foot and smashing him through the legside for four, between mid on and midwicket. Off his leg for one as Khawaja yet again sees out the over.

Peter Leybourne has identified Warner’s next mountain...

“Most runs in a three test series: 752 - G Gooch at home vs India 1990 (including a 333).”

83rd over: Australia 389-1 (Warner 223, Khawaja 120)

Warner punches for two before Boult digs one in too short and is wided. There are two fielders out in the legside so it’s a legitimate tactic and nearly pays off as Warner hooks the next in the air but nowhere near either of those men. Another two and then a single give Khawaja the final ball.

82nd over: Australia 381-1 (Warner 216, Khawaja 120)

Southee hurries Warner with a bouncer but it’s played down behind square on the legside for one.

81st over: Australia 380-1 (Warner 215, Khawaja 120)

Khawaja gets a single first ball and Warner nearly takes the bowler’s head off with a lofted drive down the ground for four. He goes inside out next ball over extra cover but the ball plugs and he settles for two. Amazingly, the umpires are asking to change the ball – it’s three balls old! A third new ball is taken and it’s immediately boshed through extra cover for another four. And then he cracks Boult down the ground, just past the bowler’s shins, for another. Keeps the strike with a single off the final ball.

The bowler was Trent Boult, by the way. Not that it matters...

80th over: Australia 364-1 (200, Khawaja 119)

There it is – a single to midwicket and Warner has his first Test double hundred! Khawaja with a single out to deep cover. Everyone’s now bracing themselves for the new ball...

79th over: Australia 362-1 (Warner 199, Khawaja 118)

Warner moves to 191 with a pull off McCullum for two, as deep midwicket runs around to field. Then a huge six down the ground – McCullum drifts just outside off stump. He thinks he’s got to his double hundred with a powerful drive but Bracewell dives to his left superbly to stop four. Single down the ground takes Warner to 198 before Khawaja returns the strike. McCullum bowls a full toss outside off stump and Warner reaches for it and bunts it to long on for another single.

Updated

78th over: Australia 351-1 (Warner 189, Khawaja 117)

Grip from Guptill squares up Warner. Can’t make the most of it as Warner sweeps the next ball for a single before he gets the strike back as Khawaja beats point. Warner hits one to the offside sweeper and that’s the 250-partnership up.

77th over: Australia 348-1 (Warner 187, Khawaja 116)

Brendon McCullum decides he wants a go now. I’ll be honest, it’s pretty naff medium pace. Disappointing, really. For such a dynamic cricketer, you’d at least expect some kind of flamboyant run-up, a six-foot-plus leap and a back of the hand release with some outlandish seam position. But it’s just rubbish medium pace. Five from the over. Rubbish.

76th over: Australia 343-1 (Warner 182, Khawaja 115)

Guptill into the attack now, with some out-of-the-top-of-the-hand off-breaks. He’s a tall bloke but he won’t get much bounce from his action. Around the wicket to both lefties and Khawaja hits a short one for a single before Warner pushes a full ball into the offside for another.

75th over: Australia 341-1 (Warner 182, Khawaja 114)

Usman Khawaja puts in a late shout for Shot Of The Day with a glorious straight drive off Bracewell. We get a glimpse of the ball as it’s fetched from beyond the fence and it looks like it’s had a few rounds with threshing machine.

74th over: Australia 335-1 (Warner 181, Khawaja 109)

Drinks and Williamson fluffs his first ball short and Warner is quick to send it on its way to the midwicket fence. HE’s short on the offside to Khawaja but there’s cover there (literally) to get Williamson out of trouble.

73rd over: Australia 330-1 (Warner 176, Khawaja 109)

Khawaja takes a single out to deep midwicket before Warner drives for one. Boult and Southee are taking some time-off before the new ball. Looks like Warner and Khawaja are, too.

72nd over: Australia 328-1 (Warner 175, Khawaja 108)

Kane Williamson’s off-breaks making an appearance now. Around the wicket to both lefties, he’s bowling quicker and flatter than Craig. Outside off stump, too, and three singles to point are taken.

71st over: Australia 325-1 (Warner 174, Khawaja 106)

A single for Warner out to the square leg fence, as Bracewell tries to tuck him up for room from over the wicket. Khawaja goes finer in that director for two before pulling in front of a square for a single that allows him to keep the strike.

70th over: Australia 321-1 (Warner 173, Khawaja 103)

To be fair to Craig, he’s not actually bowling badly at all. Good flight and dip have Warner and Khawaja watchful, which is some going given how they’ve played the rest of the attack. Three from the over.

69th over: Australia 318-1 (Warner 171, Khawaja 102)

Doug Bracewell gets his first bowl of the evening session. Warner, third ball, whips him to the man out at deep midwicket for a single.

Kevin Wilson asks a very important question over email:

“Might England be unwitting beneficiaries from Australia pounding New Zealand? Does a series whitewash take England above New Zealand? Default, the two sweetest words in the English language...”

I think you might be right. It’s all very bunched up from two to six in the rankings.

68th over: Australia 317-1 (Warner 170, Khawaja 102)

Craig goes for seven in the over as Warner uses Craig’s pace on the ball to get six of them himself. There is spin and bounce to be had but these two aren’t letting him settle.

67th over: Australia 210 (Warner 164, Khawaja 101)

And there’s the hundred – dropping his hands onto a short ball that runs away to third man for four (132 balls; 10 fours, two sixes).

66th over: Australia 304-1 (Warner 163, Khawaja 96)

Khawaja looks happy to get close to his second Test hundred with all the singles on offer down the ground. Craig flights one and he lazily bunts one to wide mid on for an easy single. Bit more into his next ball as Craig puts one outside off stump and Khawaja throws his hands at it – he misses and the ball spins and bounces to first slip. The 300 comes up as Khawja takes one from outside off stump and into the leg side for one. Craig drops short to Warner – you know what’s next. Four to end the over and that’s the 200 partnership, too, from 43.2 overs.

65th over: Australia 297-1 (Warner 158, Khawaja 94)

Deep point is brought into the circle as Henry begins another over. As a result, rather than bunt one into the region, Warner hooks aerially but short of the legside sweeper. Warner gets two and three balls later gets four with a brilliant shot: guided between point and short-ish cover for four. Could be shot of the day, that.

An email from Peter Leybourne: “We all have fond memories of George B taking apart Jimmy A two years ago. Will we see such an over this series against what is pretty ordinary up and down bowling?

“(Disclaimer: I went for 23 once but it included a dropped catch on ball #1 that bounced off long on’s shoulder for 6).”

64th over: Australia 291-1 (Warner 152, Khawaja 94)

Warner pushes to long off for one and Khawaja finds another out at deep point. Warner then picks out that man at deep point for a third.

63rd over: Australia 288-1 (Warner 150, Khawaja 93)

Khawaja waits for a back of a length ball from Henry to reach chest height outside off stump and then dabs it between Watling and a straight-ish gully for four. Sensual. Henry around the wicket and full – Khawaja sees out the over.

62nd over: Australia 284-1 (Warner 150, Khawaja 89)

Mark Craig into the attack and Warner flays him immediately through cover. Only some sharp work in the deep from Martin Guptill prevents the boundary (they still get three, mind). Gets back on strike soon after and pushes down the ground for the single that moves him on to 150 (182 balls). He’s also gone past 1,000 Test runs in the calendar year.

61st over: Australia 278-1 (Warner 146, Khawaja 87)

Matt Henry replaces Trent Boult. Starts outside off before Khawaja and Warner exchange singles for balls three, four, five and six. Even with McCullum maintaining a strong offside, these two are finding singles easy to come by.

60th over: Australia 274-1 (Warner 144, Khawaja 85)

Khawaja takes the lion’s share of this over: Southee starts from around the wicket and throws in a few short, before finishing over the wicket. The fifth ball is also a bouncer but the sixth is a full ball which Khawaja clips of middle and leg for one.

59th over: Australia 273-1 (Warner 144, Khawaja 84)

Single for Warner into the offside and then our first play and miss of the session, as Khawaja wrists at one outside off stump from Boult. Short-arms one to square leg for another single.

58th over: Australia 271-1 (Warner 143, Khawaja 83)

Better from Southee, who concedes only two runs this over. He’s bowling back of a length from around the wicket and gives little for Warner and Khawaja to throw their hands at.

57th over: Australia 269-1 (Warner 142, Khawaja 82)

Not the best bouncer, but Warner jumps and tennis volleys it down – Henmann-esque – in front of square on the legside. Gets two. A clip off the legs brings Warner on strike and width from Boult and he’s caressed through backward point for four.

56th over: Australia 258-1 (Warner 139, Khawaja 74)

Controlled pull around the corner finds fine leg for one. A few dot balls and Southee bumps Khawaja, who’s swotting the ball away, with little control. Luckily, he’s not committed to the shot so the top edge falls well short of fine leg, who comes in to field. Just two from the over.

Updated

55th over: Australia 256-1 (Warner 138, Khawaja 73)

Warner’s hitting the ball so well that he’s getting one to fielders. Off the mark in this Boult over with the first ball, that puts a hole in the cover fielder. Khawaja gets one at him and gives Warner back the strike. Boult bowls an ODI offside wide – not given, obvs – then Warner gets right behind one and plays it up and over the long off fence for six! Single down the ground finishes a productive over (there have been a few of those).

54th over: Australia 247-1 (Warner 130, Khawaja 72)

Timothy Southee starts off after tea. Two full balls are dabbed into the offside by Khawaja and then a flick off rhe pads, through midwicket, for two. A third shot straight to a fielder on the posh side before Khawaja decides to open the face and play the penultimate ball squarer through point for one. Warner then clatters the ball into extra cover, who does well to get behind the ball. Single taken.

Evening all – Vish here to take you through to the close of day one. It’s been carnage so far...

Tea - Australia are creaming it at the Waca and go to the break 243-1

53nd over: Australia 243-1 (Warner 129, Khawaja 69)

Wheeyhh. Usman Khawaja has gotten very lucky here in hooking Henry down to fine leg because although poor Doug Bracewell’s leap in the air made it look like a tough chance, it wouldn’t have been if he’d been positioned right on the rope. Instead it skims his arm on the way through for six and he gets a big round of Bronx cheers from the local crowd down there.

And with that, the second session comes to an end and so too does my stint on this here blog. Thanks for your company and make sure you keep firing all those emails in to Vish.

52nd over: Australia 235-1 (Warner 128, Khawaja 62)

Doug Bracewell continues to bowl with discipline and tenacity but at 132kmph, he’s hardly giving Warner cause for concern at any point. He’s like a faithful dog pounding along the beach in search of a stick, the big paceman. He’d probably just settle for a Gatorade and a lie down at this stage.

It’s been a tough day at the office for Doug Bracewell and the New Zealand bowlers.
It’s been a tough day at the office for Doug Bracewell and the New Zealand bowlers. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

51st over: Australia 234-1 (Warner 127, Khawaja 62)

Matt Henry certainly hasn’t been the worst of New Zealand’s bowlers today but he’s not exactly metronomic with his line and length. If you were considering the upside you’d say it makes him unpredictable, but in this over as in others he’s easily milked for singles. Crowd update: there’s 12,000 in at the Waca today, which is a decent enough crowd for a Friday in November I’d say, especially given the searing heat.

50th over: Australia 230-1 (Warner 125, Khawaja 60)

Bracewell has been decent today but Warner starts this over by flogging him like a rental car for boundary through mid-wicket and then giving the big paceman a wink to go with it. But there’s till hope...

49th over: Australia 225-1 (Warner 121, Khawaja 60)

Ian Smith has just revealed that Brendon McCullum is in such dire straits with regards to his luck at the toss that he considered sending Tim Southee out to do the honours today before swooping in for the TV interview part. Maybe he should have.

48th over: Australia 219-1 (Warner 116, Khawaja 59)

It’s worth noting at this point that it’s 37 degrees out there right now, not exactly Kiwi-friendly bowling conditions. It’s been said often in recent times, but another feather in Warner’s cap right now is the mountains of fitness work he’s done to get in the kind of shape where he can bat for long periods of time in conditions like this. If he’s tiring at the moment it doesn’t show. In half an hour he’ll get a break for tea.

47th over: Australia 216-1 (Warner 115, Khawaja 58)

Matt Henry took the only wicket of the day earlier when Joe Burns chopped on, but his tactic at the moment is to bowl stump-to-stump with the emphasis being on leg and that’s almost a fruitful one when Khawaja flicks at one and it nicks his pad on the way through to Watling.

Usman Khawaja is batting beautifully in Australia’s first innings at the Waca.
Usman Khawaja is batting beautifully in Australia’s first innings at the Waca. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

46th over: Australia 212-1 (Warner 114, Khawaja 55)

Doug Bracewell is back on now because McCullum needs to rein in this run rate and the others aren’t much chop in that regard. It’s doing the trick for now but on an unhelpful surface it’s been another miserable day for the touring bowlers today. One thing is likely: this is going to be a 5-day Test.

45th over: Australia 209-1 (Warner 113, Khawaja 53)

Matt Henry returns for another go and moving one in to Khawaja he has a decent LBW shout to start but Umpire Ravi gives him nada because he probably thinks it’s sailing high. The field is spread now, it’s safe to say. Channel Nine are now just calling Warner “Dave”. Fair enough I suppose.

44th over: Australia 204-1 (Warner 109, Khawaja 52)

Craig has officially been belted out of the attack to Kane Williamson steps up with his offies, which in this over at least are a lot less expensive.

43rd over: Australia 201-1 (Warner 108, Khawaja 50)

It’s safe to say that things have gone a bit pear-shaped for the Kiwis in the last 20 minutes. With another boundary to Warner – smashed through cover – the home side moves past 200 at a run rate of 4.67. It’s going every bit as badly for Brendon McCullum and his side as the first day in Brisbane.

Updated

Warner gets his hundred and Khawaja 50!

42nd over: Australia 197-1 (Warner 104, Khawaja 50)

Khawaja brings up his 50 in fine style – from just 62 deliveries – after he slog sweeps Craig for four and six before nudging a single to put Warner on strike. Warner gets a gimme outside off stump but belts it straight to cover first up. Then... another short one he can belt away through cow corner to bring up another brilliant century!

It took him 118 deliveries and featured 12 boundaries. What a star. He’s batting like a genius at the moment. New Zealand have no answer. Poor Mark Craig. Touchingly, Channel Nine turn Warner’s leap in the air into a cross promo for Toyota. Blimey.

David Warner celebrates his century milestone in Australia’s first innings at Perth.
David Warner celebrates his century milestone in Australia’s first innings at Perth. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Updated

41st over: Australia 181-1 (Warner 99, Khawaja 39)

Southee continues after lunch and David Warner moves to 99 by tucking a single to leg. Southee then has a huge appeal for LBW when it looks like the ball has struck Khawaja’s toe on the full but there was enough doubt in the mind of the umpire that he wedged his bat in that it’s given not out. Again, they would have reviewed. The good news: we can keep drinking in the sight of Khawaja’s attractive batting. Warner has one ball at the end to get a single but Southee jams him up well to keep it interesting.

Drinks

40th over: Australia 179-1 (Warner 98, Khawaja 38)

As the peanut gallery urges him to bring up his milestone with a six, Warner still looks absolutely set on confounding expectations so instead taps Craig for a single to move to 98. Craig thinks he’s got Khawaja caught behind off the final ball before drinks but Nigel Llong is not interested and they’ve got no reviews left. Ouch.

39th over: Australia 176-1 (Warner 97, Khawaja 36)

Warner starts the Southee over with another single but he’s looking to attack whenever he can. Khawaja returns the favour to get him back on strike with four deliveries still to come. Then there’s another single to Warner when he drives to mid-off and it would have been celebration time if he’d placed it a metre either side.

The best is yet to come; Khawaja sweats on a wide one from Southee and clips a crisp, elegant late cut through gully for another sublime boundary. This is heavenly viewing right now. I’m fully submitting myself to Usmania.

38th over: Australia 169-1 (Warner 95, Khawaja 31)

Wallop! Khawaja’s seen enough dot balls from Craig now so gets down on one knee and slog sweeps him for a one-bounce boundary down at cow corner. I won’t tempt fate by stating the obvious about Warner.

Usman Khawaja has started beautifully in Perth.
Usman Khawaja has started beautifully in Perth. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

37th over: Australia 162-1 (Warner 92, Khawaja 27)

If you’re near a TV, get over there now and watch the truly exquisite cover drive Khawaja has just played here off Southee. It fizzes away to the boundary. Gorgeous. You know what else? I might have been a little harsh on Watling, with replays revealing there might not have been an edge after all. I reckon Khawaja would have reviewed it if Watling had taken it.

Watling drops Khawaja!

36th over: Australia 157-1 (Warner 91, Khawaja 23)

Oh dear. Craig sends one through a little quicker and takes Khawaja’s outside edge as he cuts but as he’s quickly rising to take it, Watling not only gets nowhere near catching it but almost cops a ball to the goolies too. Craig’s bowled very well at times in the last half hour so that’s a real blow. Feel a bit sorry for both Kiwis involved there.

35th over: Australia 156-1 (Warner 90, Khawaja 23)

Tim Southee is on for another go and that suits David Warner just fine, because he’s able to hammer him past mid off for a boundary. Southee’s line and length are all over the shop. There’d been a bit of pressure building on the Australian pair 20 minutes back but it’s basically ebbed away in the last few overs.

34th over: Australia 149-1 (Warner 84, Khawaja 22)

Now it’s Khawaja’s turn to be tied down by Craig, who is doing well to avoid the half-trackers that blighted his Brisbane Test and his first over here. Oh no...I spoke too soon. Right on cue he drags one down and Khawaja cuts him for another imperious boundary out to deep point.

Patrick O’Brien is getting very niche now. “I was at a wedding reception in Croydon in 2005 and the entertainment was an Elvis show. The band was pretty good and it turns out the drummer was Shakin’ Stevens’ drummer. At half time I asked him for his autograph and he said no. He had brought his own sandwiches in a lunch box. Could it have been that he was sick of signing all those millions of autographs?”

Updated

33rd over: Australia 143-1 (Warner 84, Khawaja 16)

Boult moves in to Khawaja and it’s poetry in motion as the latter swivels onto his back foot and cracks a lovely pull shot out to the deep mid-wicket boundary before playing another Goweresque cover drive for one. He’s ‘on’, if you get my drift.

32nd over: Australia 136-1 (Warner 83, Khawaja 10)

Whisper it but Mark Craig has had the better of David Warner in the last 15 minutes and again draws him into a false stroke here by keeping it tight and then throwing one wide outside off. Warner flashes at it but thankfully for him, it evades the edge of the bat.

The Zapruder tweet?

31st over: Australia 134-1 (Warner 82, Khawaja 9)

In the tradition of all captains who never had to use the DRS, Mark Taylor is now laying into Brendon McCullum for his “tactical” reviews today, both of which came to nothing. Bit harsh? It’s worth a go when they’re as close as that last one was.

30th over: Australia 132-1 (Warner 81, Khawaja 8)

Craig drops short again to start the over but Warner’s cut shot only carves out two and the rest of the over is just as tidy as the last.

Harry Hobbs has a autograph story and it’s positively Homeric in length and scope. “How many games did Michael Slater captain Australia? It can’t have been many, but he did lead the side out onto the field on 8 July 1997 against Minor Counties at Jesmond. As an 8 year-old, Slats was my favourite player and I had stationed myself by the grandstand to get him to sign my bat.”

“As the Australian team ran out I remember catching his eyes. Instead of pretending not to see me and leading his country out onto the pitch, no doubt fulfilling a lifelong ambition, he stopped. I frantically motioned over to the stands where my dad was holding up a bedsheet on which an acrostic poem had been painted in green and gold: Slashing, Legend, Attacking, you get the idea… (complete with Toyota logo for the channel 9 cameras back home). We had a brief chat, Slats signed my bat and then he ran onto the ground well behind the rest of the team.”

“Back home in Australia I posted a photo of the bedsheet/banner to him and I got a response with some more signed photos. Whatever Slats has done since (the footy show, that autobiography where the title of every chapter is Jon Bon Jovi song title, the interview with Ellyse Perry and Meg Lanning), I still remember him as the guy who stopped and made an 8 year old’s day rather than lead his country out onto the field.”

Lovely stuff Harry. Harry also says he once bowled Mitch Marsh when the latter was five. Harry, were you bullying him?

29th over: Australia 130-1 (Warner 79, Khawaja 8)

The LBW disappointment aside it was a much better over for Boult there and his over costs just a single to Warner at the end.

Not out! Warner survives

Phwoar, Warner was very lucky that the original call was not out. It was a real 50-50 call on the ball tracker but it’s thrown back to the central umpire because less than half the ball was hitting the bails.

Review! Boult thinks he's trapped Warner LBW

Was it high? I’m 1/1 today so I’m saying it was.

28th over: Australia 129-1 (Warner 78, Khawaja 8)

Warner did everything short of pin Craig down and give him the typewriter in the last over and again he’s looking to slash him through the off side for boundaries here, so Craig briefly pursues a leg-stump line and ties things up, conceding the southpaw only a single to long-on. That’s far better from the spinner.

27th over: Australia 128-1 (Warner 77, Khawaja 8)

I don’t like to focus on TV coverage, as you know, but Ian Chappell is having a blinder today. Now he’s laying into Craig for clapping Warner’s 4000th run in the last over. He thinks he should be more worried about getting the Australian out and save the back-slapping for after 6pm. Worse for the Kiwis, Boult is also bleeding runs here too, even if Khawaja’s four through gully was a low edge.

Mathew Churchill is in even better form than Chappelli. “I once asked Mark Taylor for a photo at an AFL Grand Final breakfast but he told me no and said he was having a beer with his mates. He’d just been named Australian of the Year.” But Mathew, what is more Australian than that?

26th over: Australia 121-1 (Warner 74, Khawaja 4)

Mark Craig is on to bowl his offies and Warner is straight into him, stepping authoritatively down the pitch and slog-sweeping his first ball out to cow corner for a boundary, waiting a ball and then late-cutting an absolute howler for four more. “If you’re going to bowl rubbish like that than you’ll get carted more” says Ian Chappell, and Craig salutes that thought by dragging another one short so Warner repeats the dose.

That takes Warner past 4000 Test runs and his average is now also beyond 50, rare heights for an Australian batsman of this era. Khawaja leaves Craig’s final delivery but he’s been spanked again there. It’s been a tough initiation to Australian conditions for him in the last week.

25th over: Australia 108-1 (Warner 61, Khawaja 4)

Aaand we’re back after lunch, with Trent Boult being pulled for two by Khawaja to get going in this second session alongside David Warner, who has now passed 50 in his last six Test innings, a remarkable run of consistency for a player once thought flighty and unpredictable. He’s a man possessed at the moment.

More autograph-hunting tales

Dan O’Halloran has one. “David Hookes told me to ‘piss of’ as an 8 year old autograph hunter at the WACA. But I’m sure he was a top bloke.” Surely a question of state allegiances, Dan?

And Matt Hine has an epic tale. “It’s not a pop culture relic - although it concerns Mike Whitney, so that probably counts,” he starts, immediately piquing my interest.

“My brother, who is deaf, once went along to a NSW shield match and ran down with the rest of the kids to the boundary fence for a signature from Mike (his favourite player at the time). I can’t recall the exact details, but I don’t think Whitney was having a great game, so gave a general call out to the kids that he wouldn’t be signing autographs. Begrudgingly they all disappeared back up the stands except for my brother who hadn’t heard the news. My dad tells me he waited down by the fence for a good 10-20 minutes, smiling silently at Mike across the fence.”

“Finally, after being shamed into submission, Mike ran across as signed my brother’s miniature bat, and one of those green and gold elastic caps that were the rage back then. My brother was absolutely over the moon. The story then goes that my brother wrote a a few fan letters to Mike - who responded with a signed photo of himself, and they kept in touch for a little whiles afterwards as well. There’s your pop culture relic, a signed photo of Mike ‘Who Dares Wins’ Whitney. I would’ve probably preferred one of Tania Zaetta.”

Matt, this just confirms my life-long theory that Mike Whitney is a terrific bloke. You know he was the only Australian cricketer to knock back Rebel Tour money on moral grounds? I’m also a big fan of his two (yes, two) books, ‘Whiticisms’ and ‘Quick Whit’.

We now know Mark Waugh’s WCW wrestler name

“The Governor of Thunder Nation” is an excellent job title. He should have that printed on his business cards.

The Waccangabba

Ian Belford has another Waca story. “Further to Robert McLiam Wilson’s comment, when I moved to London in the 90s, my first boss was a part time cricket enthusiast (i.e. Ashes only) who was under the impression that, as Gabba is short for Woolloongabba, Waca must be short for some highly exotic place name; he was rather let down when he found out that it wasn’t the case.”

This is about as tenuous a link as the OBO will ever get, but along these lines my brother used to think that the lyrics to Bohemian Rhapsody went “I’m just a poor boy, I need no slice.” Slice of what? Cake? Quiche? Frittata? Who doesn’t need a slice of those things?

In honour of Betty Wilson the bulldog

Raymond Reardon has kindly alerted me to the efforts of Otto, who actually looks remarkably similar to Betty, if a little larger. “Australia were cruising downhill until Burns wicket,” says Raymond.

Otto the Bulldog’s world record effort.

People are going wild for autograph-hunting chat

Well not really but it is at least ‘trending’ in my email inbox. Peter Leybourne has a tragic tale of doing the deed, as it were. “I was at Bankstown Oval about 10 years ago and Adam Gilchrist was doing some media for Milo cricket with a dozen kids,” he says, which seems like a truly ominous start... “I had been spanked by him a few times in the nets at Richmond CC in England in 1989. I learned to go a for a jog when he was putting on the pads. Felt like a sad d&*^head lining up with 10-year-olds for an autograph which I posted back to the club. And no, he did not remember me or my pies.”

I once asked comedian Tim Ferguson for his autograph (calm down, I was probably 9 years old) and he signed it “Don’t forget your toothbrush, Tim Ferguson” with a Quentin Blake-style drawing of said toothbrush beside it. Sub-question: is there a more dated pop cultural relic than that?

But first...

24th over: Australia 105-1 (Warner 60, Khawaja 2)

Khawaja has a few more sighters from Bracewell but the only great commotion is this over is when Umpire Sundaram Ravi calls lunch a minute earlier according to the clock at the ground and much to the chagrin of Kiwi captain Brendon McCullum. But that’s it, the first session down. Australia dominated it from ball one but New Zealand struck one blow in removing Joe Burns. I’ll be back with more after a few updates from our valued commercial partners.

23rd over: Australia 102-1 (Warner 59, Khawaja 1)

Yeah, that Burns dismissal was pure human error from the batsman when you look at replays; an innocuous delivery he might well have left. Ah well, it at least provides us with some tension heading towards lunch as Khawaja has an awkward little period to negotiate. He starts by tucking a single off his hip.

Sarah Bacon has a story for Robert Wilson. “Headingley cricket ground may be ‘posh’ now, but if Robert McLiam Wilson wants to see how the other half lives, he only has to pop around the back to the rugby ground. Bottomless warm Tetley (beer), paint-stripper wine, and a crowd that knows how to Use Its Words. I memorably attended a match there a few years ago where four-footed foulmouths had no problem cursing the opposition … but nevertheless lined up for autographs from the very same players at full-time. No shame.”

Where on the list of social crimes does adult autograph hunting sit? Surely somewhere slightly higher than filming music gigs through your phone.

WICKET! Burns b Henry 40 (Australia 101-1)

Burns is gone! There was a slight delay in play there because Burns wanted to change his bat and it’s proved a curse because he chops the very next ball from Henry straight back onto his stumps. It was just back of a good length and wide of the off stump, so Burns threw the bat at it but he’s done himself in and that ends a promising start for the rookie opener. The Kiwis will be ecstatic to pinch a wicket out of nowhere and only seven minutes from lunch.

Joe Burns departs for 40.
Joe Burns departs for 40. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Updated

22nd over: Australia 100-0 (Burns 40, Warner 58)

Patrick O’Brien is full of praise for the, err, sophisticated Perth crowd. “I can’t help but think that if this were the English on top they’d be singing vulgar, drunken ditties containing advice on where the Rugby could be placed,” he says. “Pleased to observe the Australians are way too cultured for such ugliness. Either that or there’s no-one at the ground.” I think they’ve got sunstroke, Patrick.

New Zealand continue to offer Warner the single at the moment, which is keeping the run rate down a little but not exactly inspiring confidence. Bracewell finally errs with a short one and Warner opens the face to ramp it over the vacant gully region for four. He’s perfectly happy to wait for those right now. He’s never faced as many deliveries in a Test innings as he did in Brisbane. It’s a new maturity and I don’t think he cares one iota if he has to sit and wait for the odd bad ball.

With three more Warner brings up the 100-run partnership and smiles even more broadly than for his own milestone. That done, Australia’s openers – Warner and Chris Rogers first and now Warner and Burns – have passed the 100-run partnership mark in each of their last five innings. Sensational stuff.

That's 50 for David Warner!

21st over: Australia 90-0 (Burns 39, Warner 50)

Matt Henry’s back for another spell and there’s an odd moment to start his over when he digs a bouncer in and Warner pulls out of a hook shot, meaning the ball cannons into his shoulder and loops up to Watling behind the wicket. Four balls later he nudges a single to bring up his half-century from 56 deliveries, a knock that contained six boundaries. He’s in supreme form now and looks switched on for another big one. The poor bowlers...

Warner has now reached 50 in each of his last six Test innings.
Warner has now reached 50 in each of his last six Test innings. Photograph: Paul Kane/Getty Images

Updated

20th over: Australia 89-0 (Burns 39, Warner 49)

Bracewell is still charging in and doing a job for his skipper, tying up Burns and asking questions of him outside off stump. The only problem is that he never looks particularly likely to take a wicket, but Curtly Ambrose might struggle for penetration on this deck.

19th over: Australia 87-0 (Burns 37, Warner 48)

Warner’s been subdued in the last half-hour or so but here he’s able to angle a hybrid hook-pull off Southee down between deep mid-wicket and fine leg to pick up two, showing great control not to parry it into the air.

18th over: Australia 84-0 (Burns 37, Warner 46)

Another Gus Logie update now from Brendan Brown. “And our beautiful, beautiful golden labrador, now looking down at us from doggie heaven, was named Logie after Gus.” Nice stuff, Brendan. We named our Australian bulldog Betty, after the Australian cricket legend Betty Wilson.

And Robert McLiam Wilson is around the traps too, pleasingly. “When I was a kid, listening to the radio all night and relatively unfamiliar with the Aussie accent, I thought it was Attawaca,” he says. “Which sounded both effortlessly glamorous and completely terrifying. I can’t tell you how disappointed I was when I realised my error. Sad to see it go. Always seemed like the last proper working-class cricket place. Even Headingly is a bit posh now.” Hear hear.

Bracewell keeps it tight again. Bucking the trend from Brisbane he’s really doing his job here.

17th over: Australia 83-0 (Burns 36, Warner 46)

Australia’s still going at 4.79 here, so the runs haven’t dried up altogether, but the Kiwis are doing a little better at stemming the tide as Warner and Burns approach their third three-figure stand in as many innings. There’s a bit going on behind the bowler’s arm at the start of this Southee over but I don’t think that’s the reason why Warner pulls away from one delivery at the last minute. That’s a bit odd.

It looked like he just wasn’t ready to face up and didn’t realise Southee was upon him. After the dead ball is called Warner punches another boundary down the ground and Southee does well not to give him a spray, instead going past the outside edge with the final ball of the over.

16th over: Australia 79-0 (Burns 36, Warner 42)

Bracewell is doing a decent job at the moment in unfavourable conditions for his brand of bowling, keeping things tight outside off stump and at least applying some pressure. Then....a pleave boundary! Yes, Burns goes to play, then decides to leave and the resultant contact on the bat sends the ball down to the fence at third man. I will not be satisfied until ‘pleave’ has entered the cricketing vernacular. Come with me on this.

There’s really not much in this for the bowlers.

15th over: Australia 74-0 (Burns 32, Warner 41)

Burns cuts Southee for a streaky four but it’s at the point where loose shots respresent a calculated risk because the field is now well spread. A better shot is Warner’s straight drive that’s speared down to the fence off the fifth delivery of the over. That hummed its way to the rope. Again it was all timing from Warner.

14th over: Australia 64-0 (Burns 27, Warner 36)

We’re back from that quick drinks break and Doug Bracewell is the man who is thrown the ball, but he doesn’t get to send it down until an unthinking security guard dressed in all black doesn’t realise she’s standing in front of the sight screen, a scenario that begs several questions. A bit sadistic to dress them in black in this heat, no?

Anyway, Bracewell is swinging it away from the right-handed Burns, but only gently. Will Sinclair is a little more entertaining than this over, to be honest. Take it away Will... “I don’t have any cricketing anecdotes for you but your mention of Gus Logie reminded me that, for many years, I thought the Australian television awards were named after him.”

Will, my wedding reception is at the venue where the Logies were once hosted and I now fear that during my speech I’ll be unable to think of anything other than the diminutive West Indian batsman, though that’s always a risk for me I guess.

13th over: Australia 62-0 (Burns 26, Warner 35)

“I can’t fathom how New Zealand missed that,” says Ian Smith, referring to the big inside edge on that defensive prod from Burns. Southee is back, in case you didn’t figure it out. His return over heading into drinks is very tidy indeed.

Not out! Burns survives

Argh, there was a big inside edge. Not out. I’m a genius. Put me on the elite umpire’s panel, fools.

Review! Southee thinks he's trapped Burns in front

I think it went down leg, but I’m not wearing my glasses and it can be hard to tell from the sofa.

12th over: Australia 61-0 (Burns 26, Warner 34)

I guess Tim Southee is on restricted duties? If not, I’m not sure why he hasn’t returned yet. Or why you’d play him. Maybe Henry and Bracewell will do the carthorse work and Southee will bowl Johnson-style three over spells. Boult has a stifled shout for a leg-side catch off Burns here but McCullum resists the urge to review it. He’s also avoiding tantrums or tears too, which much be an ask.

Ian Belford has some Waca moment contenders from left field. “1. As a kid I was at the WAC watching NZ v. India on the day John Lennon was shot - pretty dull game, from memory. 2. Watching Joel Garner taking lots for not very many against Australia, can’t remember the year, late 80s.”

I reckon ‘Lots for not many’ would be a great autobiography title, actually.

11th over: Australia 60-0 (Burns 26, Warner 33)

Burns is gathering a bit of steam now and drives Henry out a little squarer to pick up three and beat the two men posted in the gully region to snaffle those open-faced drives of his. At least McCullum forced the issue on that one and asked something new of the batsman. Or not. Burns thumps Henry’s last ball through gully again to pick up four more.

Matt Harris has dropped by. “Afternoon Russ. That 100-off-58 was truly glorious. Did I ever tell you I used to deliver Gilly’s paper? Well, I did. He always had a couple of nice Audis out front.” Matt, why didn’t you email this in when we were playing ‘I sat next to Allan Lamb on the train’ in the last Test? That would have been prime fodder. Almost as good as when I sat in the barber’s chair next to Gus Logie.

“As for WACA memories, I have to nominate this gigantic six from Mark Waugh. Beautiful timing – he barely looked like he hit it but gee it went a long way.”

Mark Waugh belts Daniel Vettori for a towering six.

10th over: Australia 51-0 (Burns 19, Warner 31)

Perhaps because it’s slammed into the fence a little too often, the Kiwis call for a change of ball here and get their wish after a brief delay. Is there a cricket version of those novelty exploding golf balls? Maybe they should try one of those. Boult continues to improve but he’s shafted by his fieldsmen when Burns punches one towards gully and it’s fumbled for a boundary. Was Guptill the culprit? I think it was him.

9th over: Australia 46-0 (Burns 15, Warner 30)

Crack! Matt Henry fires one down short and too wide and that’s just bread and butter stuff for David Warner, who belts him through cover for a boundary that prompts Brendon McCullum’s first defensive field placement of the day; a deep extra cover out on the rope where it just went. Warner immediately takes the single on offer, which allows Burns to pierce the field on the off side for four of his own. All that and Henry hasn’t actually been terrible. Still, Australia’s off to a flier and setting a similarly ominous tone to proceedings as they did in Brisbane.

8th over: Australia 37-0 (Burns 11, Warner 25)

As Boult sends down a far tidier over, Peter Kemp has another contribution on fast bowler injuries. “Mention of the injury Alderman suffered when he tackled a field intruder reminds me of the worst outcome from an onfield collision. Jeff Thomson, then 26 and in his fiery prime as a fast bowler, dislocated a collar bone in a collision with fielder Alan Turner when both went for a catch in a Test match against Pakistan in Adelaide. Thommo returned to test cricket after missing the remainder of the season but was never again at his best. Tragedy.”

It was a tragedy but it did produce a brilliant photo when Age snapper Bruce Postle paid a local nurse $20 to let him in through the back entrance of the hospital so he could sneak into Thommo’s room and get a pic. Thommo looked appropriately rapt to see him.

7th over: Australia 36-0 (Burns 11, Warner 24)

Interesting. Perhaps on account of the heat or perhaps because he wants to swap ends, Southee is taken out of the attack and replaced with Matt Henry. He’s an upgrade on Boult at the very least and gives Burns an awkward moment by seaming one back into the batsman’s jatz crackers. Ouchie.

Liam Connelly has another Waca memory. “Okay. Second best memory. Warne’s ‘not so grouse’ 99. If that T Shirt is not in the WACA museum. Nothing should be.” In saying that Liam, Warnie did launch a craft beer label off the back of this moment so all was not lost. Personally I preferred his red wine collection. Or “woyne”, as teammates apparently called it.

Shane Warne holes out for 99.

6th over: Australia 33-0 (Burns 11, Warner 21)

Burns has been a little less assured than in Brisbane but he’s hanging in there and angles a streaky boundary between gully and point after opening the face to Boult. Far easier to execute is the leg glance he clips for four more when Boult strays onto his pads. The left-armer needs a spell, to put it politely. For the second Test in a row he’s contributing heavily to Australia’s lightning start.

The 140-character Don is struggling too...

5th over: Australia 25-0 (Burns 3, Warner 21)

Southee’s really hitting the mark now – slightly fuller than his first over and moving it away from the left-handed Warner, who can’t handle the occasional dash at him. Ooh, but then he strays wide and Warner clatters him through cover for a blazing boundary. He obliterated that one.

Gabrielle Liddle has a Waca memory, one that might make a few fans wince. “Hi Russell, all these years of cricket...they all run into one another after a while but one of my earliest memories is actually from the Waca... when Terry Alderman tackled some random and put himself out of action for a year. What an idiot! Not sure I’d call it a favourite memory but it sure stuck in my mind!”

As awful as that was, an underrated element of it when it’s spoken of is that Alderman did actually chase the guy. I’ll go out on a limb here and assume that nobody wants to see the clip.

4th over: Australia 19-0 (Burns 3, Warner 15)

As if to emphasise the joys of batting in Perth with a single movement, Warner lurches onto the front foot and plays nothing more than a forward defensive stroke to gather three more runs down to long-off. Might Brendon McCullum be spared these chases at this point of his career? He’s haring off again to reel it in. Talk about keen.

Boult doesn’t have to do much to improve on his first over but has a far better moment here when he jags one in over the top of Burns’ middle stump and then sends the next one the other way, tempting the Queenslander into an impetuous swish. Burns counsels himself immediately and with good reason. He almost got an edge on it.

3rd over: Australia 16-0 (Burns 3, Warner 12)

This is better from Southee now when he draws an edge from Burns with a nice out-swinger, but the cordon is set perhaps a little deep (“way too deep” says a less forgiving Chappelli) so it doesn’t carry to Guptill at 2nd slip. Burns gets off strike with a leg bye and then there’s a hairy moment for Warner when he throws his hands at another square drive and almost chops it onto his timber. He drives to long-on for three, which would have been a boundary if not for McCullum’s gung-ho (or is it kamikaze? Your country needs you Brendon) chase and dive at the rope. Don’t worry about Harmison, that brings to mind Simon Jones.

2nd over: Australia 12-0 (Burns 3, Warner 9)

Trent Boult gets the first blast at Warner and he’ll certainly be hoping for a more profitable showing in Brisbane, where he was rusty and ineffectual. There’s an unfortunate ring of familiarity when his first delivery here slants into Warner’s pads and is smartly clipped through mid-wicket for a boundary, which is followed by another the next ball when Warner drives square of point.

It’s not an ideal start for Boult. His third delivery is another loose one in Warner’s hitting zone and though the left-hander crunches it to extra cover it’s straight at the man positioned there. He could have been 12 from 3 deliveries but gets off strike with a single and then Burns gets off the mark with three. Boult’s had a ‘mare to begin this Test.

Reader Peter Kemp has been taken by surprise here. “Astonished to see that the 2nd test starts today, Russell. A hitherto well kept secret. Do CA and Ch9 have a death wish for test cricket? Their promotion failures would seem to indicate so.” I’m the wrong guy to ask, Peter. I sit ticking off the days in my ABC cricket guide. If I wasn’t watching this I’d be watching a Sheffield Shield stream.

1st over: Australia 0-0 (Burns 0, Warner 0)

Tim Southee takes the new ball for the first over of the day and his first delivery is short and wide down the leg side and a circumspect Burns resists the urge to hoik it towards fine leg. His next two are far too short too, but if he’s doing that it might be worth sticking a man or two in close under a helmet, no? Southee’s fifth ball is a veritable ‘Harmison’ but the efforts of BJ Watling to scoot across and glove it in front of first slip stops the umpire from calling a wide, so the over ends up a maiden.

Southee hasn’t prized a wicket there but they’re already falling like nine pins at the Waca:

The anthems and all that jazz

Are very anthem-y. One gent in the crowd is even holding up a boxing kangaroo flag, which brings to mind many things but mainly Expo ‘88. Good on him for having a go. There’s also a quite brilliant ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony too, the best I’ve seen in any sport this year. For all you rusted on Test cricket traditionalists, there’s also a choir of kids wearing t-shirts emblazoned with the Qantas logo, just like back in Bert Sutcliffe’s day. Anyway, we’re only a couple of minutes from the first ball now. Let’s do this.

Updated

Our first Waca memory of the day

It’s just under 15 minutes until Southee and Boult grab the shiny new Kookaburra and Liam Connelly has arrived with a cracking Waca moment. “Best WACA memory….AG 100 from 58. No humorous comments needed,” he says. “Complete visual cricket delirium.” And he’s right of course.

Adam Gilchrist’s wonder-ton

A little more on that Kiwi line-up

And I should have mentioned this earlier but Tim Southee has, in the words of Brendon McCullum, “scrubbed up pretty well” to recover from his injury complaints at the Gabba. The lucky ones here are Doug Bracewell and Mark Craig, who retain their places almost by default. But most important of all is Jimmy Neesham’s absence, which is a blow for the man himself and we wish him well in his recovery of course...but...it’s a boon for this live blog because the 140-character Don is back on his phone and serving up the good stuff.

Our first reader email of the day

...and it’s Kev McMahon who pays us the honour. He’s got grand ideas for this blog. “You’ll be pleased to hear that the weather in Brisbane is fantastic now!” he starts. “Barely a cloud... I think it’s time OBO branched out into audio. There’s not a lot of extra work involved: just reading the text and then playing any number of themed YouTube clips from “Curmudgeons from Perth who can bat a bit”, or whatever the fun musical theme of the day is. “It’s time”, as Gough might have said (not that one, the other one)”

Kev, I’m honoured that you think I’m up to the challenge but I have a face for radio and a voice fit for silent film, so I’m in a bit of a pickle on that one.

Speaking of Gough, he was a bit bottom-hand heavy, wasn’t he? And is that Hawkey crowding in the keeper? Shove left a bit, Bob.

Steve Smith wins the toss and bats!

Our teams today

“I thought they played beautifully, the two new guys,” Smith says of Usman Khawaja and Joe Burns. He’s also loving David Warner’s work right now. He’s also rapt to be having a bat and quite unsurprisingly. There’s always value for runs at the Waca.

“I’m not great,” says a chuckling Brendon McCullum of his luck with tosses. With Jimmy Neesham injured and sent home, BJ Watling shuffles up to six (hmm...) for his side and Doug Bracewell will serve as the all-rounder, allowing seamer Matt Henry to come into the side. Is that enough batting? The likes of Taylor, Guptill and Latham will certainly need to stand up.

Australia: David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith (c), Adam Voges, Mitchell Marsh, Peter Nevill, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood.

New Zealand: Tom Latham, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (c), BJ Watling, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Matt Henry, Mark Craig, Trent Boult.

Steve Smith walks from the ground after winning the toss.
Steve Smith walks from the ground after winning the toss. Photograph: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

Updated

Preamble

Hello OBOers! Welcome to the Guardian’s live coverage of the 2nd Test from the Waca, where we’ll be bringing you every single over of play, even if David Warner’s given a bowl.

The Kiwis head into this one a little battered and bruised, of course. They were kicked from pillar to post in Brisbane and suffered a few injury blows as well in their 208-run loss. But today is a new day. The sun is positively beating down in Perth, where it’s currently 27 degrees celsius and rising. It’s forecast to reach 34 later.

Anyway, a few points of order. If you want to get in touch throughout the day – and please do because we’re a needy bunch here – you can get me on russell.jackson@theguardian.com or via Twitter: @rustyjacko

This Perth pitch mightn’t be the fast bowler’s heaven of decades gone by, but let’s just enjoy it while it lasts, shall we? I wrote about its imminent demise a while back but don’t feel like wallowing right at the moment. Feel free to email and tweet me your favourite Waca memories. If we’re going for New Zealand ones, I’d plump for Lou Vincent’s maiden ton in 2001-02, when he still had the whole world in front of him and cricket was pure joy.

I’ll be back shortly with line-ups and the toss. Here’s a teaser:

Russell will be here shortly with a blow-by-blow account of the first two sessions at the Waca Ground in Perth. In the meantime here’s how Russ saw the performances of Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja in the first Test at the Gabba. The headline says it all, really:

Updated

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