First Test New Zealand v Australia – Perth
First innings: Australia 2-160, dinner, day one
Labuschagne 68, Smith 31
A half-century by Marnus Labuschagne is again piloting Australia to a respectable total at the end of the second session on day one of the First Test against New Zealand in searing Perth heat.
The Queenslander, who compiled his sixth 50 in 12 Tests, and Steve Smith put together a 50-run partnership to steady the ship before the dinner break and the challenge of battling the pink ball under lights.
Smith was lucky to survive a dropped catch at second slip by Tom Latham when he was 19.
The unlucky bowler was Test debutant Lockie Ferguson (0-47), whose first four overs went for 26 runs, and included five wides in his second over.
Batting in temperatures verging on 40 degrees Celsius, Australia was reduced from 0-41 to 2-75 after Joe Burns was adjudged leg before wicket for nine, and fellow opener David Warner (43) fell to a spectacular caught-and-bowled catch by paceman Neil Wagner (1-30).
Warner bunted back a full toss that never rose above shin height to the left-armed Wagner, who took a one-handed catch as he fell to his right.
One of the best caught-and-bowled catches you'll see! @bet365_aus | #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/4XmXMkovZ3
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 12, 2019
Burns could count himself unlucky with his dismissal by Colin de Grandhomme (1-18).
He paid the price for not reviewing the umpire’s verdict, with ball-tracking later showing the decision would have been overturned as it was deemed to be missing leg stump.
Trapped in front! Burns goes for 9 and de Grandhomme strikes first for NZ.#AUSvNZ live: https://t.co/0Uay6Vh9fg pic.twitter.com/uZyz8r2ozP
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 12, 2019
Earlier, Australian skipper Tim Paine has backed his batsmen to set up a big score in the first Test against New Zealand in Perth.
Paine won the toss and decided with the high temperatures to bat on the fast and bouncy Optus Stadium pitch.
New Zealand lost paceman Trent Boult to a side strain, despite having got through two training sessions in the lead up to the Test this week
Australia was again unchanged.
Australian batsman Travis Head told Channel Seven before the match that the home side has a lot of faith in the batsmen to deliver.
“It is fantastic,” Head said.
“They put on a show [against Pakistan]. It’s about … taking momentum into today. I have had a couple of weeks [rest], haven’t had to do much.
“I prepared really well at home. I get the opportunity [here] … As the heat goes on, we will see. It looks like there is a little bit more grass coverage. We can’t see the cracks as much as we did last year.”
Both sides held a minute’s silence before the match to remember those who died in the New Zealand volcano disaster earlier in the week.
