Stumps on day one - Australia 147-3 trail New Zealand by 36
Australia with the honours after an eventful first day’s play of the Trans-Tasman Trophy series. 13 wickets (should have been 14) and 330 runs made for an entertaining spectacle.
The tone was set from the off with Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle ripping through New Zealand’s top order after Steve Smith won the toss and sent the home side in. There was a recovery of sorts from 97-7 but 183 was still below par on a good pitch offering a smidgen to the new ball early on.
Australia looked to be in a similar kamikaze mode when they went out to bat after tea but following the cheap dismissals of both openers, Usman Khawaja and Smith added 126 to give Australia the upper hand.
As seems to be the case in Test cricket these days, this match is rattling along at a fair pace. I wouldn’t be booking day five tickets.
We’ll be back for more of the same tomorrow. Catch you then.
And here's the delivery that bowled Voges and was then called a no ball... #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/2iVICWxbAu
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 12, 2016
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40th over: Australia 147-3 (Khawaja 57, Voges 7)
Bracewell to bowl the final over and Voges doesn’t need to play at the first two of them. The third does make the veteran play at stroke but a positive one from his pads into the on-side.
The fourth, oh my, the fourth. Welcome to controversy central! Bracewell bowls Voges with a delivery that kisses the top of off with the batsman not playing a stroke. But he’s reprieved by a no-ball! But replays show it was a legal delivery! What a mess. The amount of wickets overturned by TV umpires on no-ball reviews and here we have what should be a wicket that has to be left out on the field. Cricket, eh?
How the hell is that a no ball!?!!?!!
— Francis Leach (@SaintFrankly) February 12, 2016
Oh umpire. You'll be needing this tomorrow.. #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/QxsuUES89b
39th over: Australia 144-3 (Khawaja 57, Voges 5)
Penultimate over of the day to be bowled by Mark Craig and it’s safely negotiated by Voges and Khawaja. Everyone expected it to be the final over of play but with two overs still to be bowled in the allocation the umpires are giving the benefit of any doubt to the crowd.
38th over: Australia 142-3 (Khawaja 56, Voges 3)
Bracewell bowling a good line and length to Voges as the day’s place begins to wind down. Voges offering a good stride and the full face of his bat to see off a maiden. It felt a bit like watching The Matrix that over. Every ball looked the same but the lengthening shadows hinted at an encroaching malevolent presence.
Australia just 41 runs behind with seven wickets still in hand.
37th over: Australia 142-3 (Khawaja 56, Voges 3)
Khawaja and Voges adding some handy runs late in the day, working Craig all over Basin Reserve without risk.
36th over: Australia 136-3 (Khawaja 51, Voges 3)
Awkward little spell for Voges to negotiate. Boult senses the unease and McCullum hands him three slips and a gully to ram home the pressure of the situation.
It is a bad look for Steve Smith to hang around like that. Just get off and let the game go on. Well bowled Mark Craig
— Peter Lalor (@plalor) February 12, 2016
35th over: Australia 133-3 (Khawaja 50, Voges 1)
Khawaja finally brings up his 50 with a Craig full-toss. It ends an eventful over featuring the bonus dismissal of Smith and a streaky start to Adam Voges’ innings.
Another wicket or two before the close and New Zealand will be back in the contest.
Updated
WICKET! Smith c & b Craig 71 (Australia 131-3)
Out of nowhere does not do this justice. Smith has been serene in the last hour and sashays down the crease to Craig but instead of drilling the ball past the off-spinner, he mistimes it straight into the bowler’s follow through.
Craig took a good catch low down and Smith made sure it was confirmed by TV replays before he departed. Massive bonus for New Zealand. Smith left a big score out on the field there.
WICKET! The mysterious man with two first names Mark Craig gets the Aussie captain Steve Smith! @BLACKCAPS #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/BG5mpriXCJ
— #ACCSuperLeague (@TheACCnz) February 12, 2016
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34th over: Australia 131-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 71)
Boult’s over goes for three as he keeps Smith on his guard without seriously threatening to break through.
Allan Border and the rest of the TV commentary team are bemoaning the over rate. 11 overs behind time at the scheduled close of play. Something has to be done about this by the ICC. Be it umpires, match referees, celebrity jungle challenges, or what. Speed it up.
33rd over: Australia 128-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 68)
Maiden from Craig to Khawaja. The Australian’s been stranded on 49 for a while now, for 13 deliveries, and is starting to look a little edgy.
32nd over: Australia 128-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 68)
Needless to say we’ll be utilising the extra half-hour on offer for slow over-rates. Even then we may not see the full allocation bowled.
You won’t hear this often but good running from Usman Khawaja. Actually, that should be good calling. Smith wanted to call his partner through for a quick single but Khawaja was alive to the danger and sent his skipper back before any damage was done. Boult getting through his work efficiently but without menace today.
31st over: Australia 126-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 66)
Commentators suggesting this is becoming a perfect day for Australia. It’s looking that way with Khawaja and Smith tucking in for bed and breakfast.
30th over: Australia 125-2 (Khawaja 49, Smith 65)
Boult’s back into the attack and Khawaja welcomes him with a four through midwicket. This pitch may be green but underneath it’s hard and flat, and with the ball doing nothing in the air, there are no excuses now for this pair not to go on to make big scores.
29th over: Australia 121-2 (Khawaja 45, Smith 65)
Craig to continue after drinks and he’s bowled better than four overs 0/20 would suggest. This over, typical to the spell, has the set partnership watchful and occasionally nervous and then peeling off a boundary from nowhere. This one from Smith, an inside out drive through extra cover was beautiful.
28th over: Australia 116-2 (Khawaja 44, Smith 61)
Another honest over from Bracewell but this pair are set.
This is why the Basin Reserve is rated one of the top ten cricket grounds in the world. #Basin #NZvAUS pic.twitter.com/WQZ7ZJ8Was
— Justin Lester (@justin_lester) February 12, 2016
27th over: Australia 115-2 (Khawaja 43, Smith 61)
Craig continuing around the wicket and he makes both batsmen question their strokes without snaring a breakthrough. Tough times for the Kiwis now with both batsmen set and an hour or so still left to play in the day.
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26th over: Australia 113-2 (Khawaja 42, Smith 60)
Smith has his eye in now and New Zealand don’t know how to bowl to him. Outside off and he leaves without trouble and then the variations get dispatched. This time a bouncer from Bracewell gets lifted over midwicket for six.
25th over: Australia 106-2 (Khawaja 42, Smith 53)
Triple half-chance for New Zealand! Craig fires one into Khawaja who’s beaten in the flight, inside edges just past his stumps at Watling fails to take either the catch or the stumping opportunity. Khawaja rubs salt into the wound by picking up four from that delivery and the one following.
100 partnership now for this pair with Australia beginning to assert some dominance on this Test.
24th over: Australia 98-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 53)
Smith activates the respectful chip in his robo-brain, seeing off Bracewell for the cost of a no-ball.
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23rd over: Australia 97-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 53)
The off-spinner Craig is brought into the attack, right-arm around the wicket to the right-handed Smith. The first delivery is rank. Slow, wide and loopy, and Smith carves it behind point to bring up an excellent half-century.
Australia very much in control now.
Brendon McCullum duck as capt in 100th Test
— Mohandas Menon (@mohanstatsman) February 12, 2016
Allan Border
Stephen Fleming
Dilip Vengsarkar
Mark Taylor
Alastair Cook#greatcompany#NZvAus
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22nd over: Australia 92-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 48)
Smith now leaving Bracewell’s fifth stump line with contempt. Propping forward, withdrawing his willow and offering batting’s equivalent of Vicky Pollard’s “am I bothered?” As soon as Bracewell looks for off stump or straighter, Smith milks him on the on-side.
As quick as wickets have been falling, how good is @stevesmith49's innings looking here? #NZvAUS
— New Balance Cricket (@NBCricket) February 12, 2016
Must be down to the pretty stickers on the front of his bat...
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21st over: Australia 89-2 (Khawaja 34, Smith 45)
Not a lot doing in that Anderson over other than an excellent cramped cut shot from Khawaja for yet another boundary. Maybe time for a change of tactic from the Black Caps and consider introducing Mark Craig’s spin into the attack.
So B-Mac became first player to play 100 consecutive Tests since debut in Test history. Tells a lot about his fitness. Champion! #NZvAUS
— Ninad Bapat (@iambapat) February 12, 2016
20th over: Australia 84-2 (Khawaja 30, Smith 45)
Four more for Smith off Southee, this time with plenty of top edge to the attempted pull and down to fine leg. Four more to the score but it goes against the wicket-keeper with Southee dropping in a bumper that clears everything but is adjudicated byes, not wides.
Best part of Khawaju innings thus far is on pitch with some seam not a single ball has beaten the outside edge of his bat #AUSvNZ
— Gav_Joshi_Aus (@Gampa_cricket) February 12, 2016
19th over: Australia 76-2 (Khawaja 30, Smith 41)
Corey Anderson on for a trundle and there’s a bit of wobble for him in the air and off the pitch, but not much. Khawaja waits patiently for the bad ball and then introduces it to the third man boundary with a savage late cut.
Anderson responds well with a decent LBW shout but high enough to the naked eye not to waste a review. Umpire Kettleborough teased us all with a slow hand gesture to advance his ball counter before declaring that appeal not out. A nice accent of drama to that passage of play.
Interesting to note, 26 wickets in his first five matches, 41 in the 19 since. https://t.co/lWu5iMRklR
— White Line Wireless (@WhiteLineWire) February 12, 2016
18th over: Australia 72-2 (Khawaja 26, Smith 41)
Four more for Smith who’s ridden his luck and doesn’t look at the top of his game, but still seems capable of scoring runs at will. Southee again chasing him and being worked off his pads.
“A very aggressive over of leaving” remarks Ian Smith on the TV broadcast. Arguably no finer praise could be offered to Australia at the start of this series.
The Aussies are in control now after a very shaky start. This partnership is now worth a match-high 62 runs. #NZvAUS
— Ronny Lerner (@RonnyLerner) February 12, 2016
17th over: Australia 68-2 (Khawaja 26, Smith 37)
Ominous for New Zealand with Smith breaking those fifth stump line shackles with a glorious cover drive on the up, from the crease. If Smith’s eye is in to that level the Black Caps could be chasing leather for the next hour or so.
16th over: Australia 62-2 (Khawaja 25, Smith 32)
Another let off for Smith, top edging a pull from Southee that drops safely into space.
There are two games going on out there. One on a fifth stump line with both batsmen (largely) respectful to the conditions. Otherwise Smith and Khawaja are trying to capitalise where possible, forcing New Zealand to bowl to them. Excellent Test cricket.
15th over: Australia 58-2 (Khawaja 25, Smith 28)
Don’t forget you can join in via Twitter @JPHowcroft, or email: jonathan.howcroft@theguardian.com.
A patient return to action after drinks. Bracewell keeping both batsmen honest. The pitch now looks quick and good for batting - once in. The ball isn’t doing anywhere near as much as New Zealand would like.
14th over: Australia 56-2 (Khawaja 24, Smith 27)
Another boundary for Smith, working the returning Southee to fine leg this time.
Drinks will be taken with Australia regrouping nicely after a horror start.
13th over: Australia 52-2 (Khawaja 24, Smith 23)
Smith continuing the counterattack, smacking a four through point from the first delivery of Bracewell’s over.
DROP! Smith gets carried away, throwing the bat at a wide away-swinger that he has been leaving all afternoon. The ball carries at pace to the right of second slip and Mark Craig shells it. He was late moving to it and ended up parrying it to the boundary.
Considering the quality of the men at the crease and the way this partnership is developing, that feels like a huge moment in this match.
DROPPED! Smith edges another one from Bracewell and it goes down in the cordon and races away for four more: https://t.co/T6tZfh79MF #NZvAUS
— cricket.com.au (@CricketAus) February 12, 2016
12th over: Australia 39-2 (Khawaja 20, Smith 14)
Khawaja releasing the pressure now, working Boult off his hip for four through midwicket, then teasing one over the slips on the bounce for four more, culminating in a joyous square cut to make it a 12-run over.
11th over: Australia 27-2 (Khawaja 8, Smith 14)
Bracewell’s maintaining the pressure on Smith as Boult is on Khawaja. Good partnership bowling from New Zealand. Smith’s smacked on his pads offering no shot but he’s well outside off-stump (not that that matters with him offering no stroke) but too far, and probably too high to justify a big appeal.
In response, Smith drills a four through the covers, then one more straight down the ground, almost as if he’s taunting the Black Caps with his earlier defence. Smudger rope-a-dope.
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10th over: Australia 19-2 (Khawaja 8, Smith 6)
Even some of Khawaja’s defensive strokes need a superlative monitor. He looked like he was unfurling a cover drive to Boult but mid-stroke decelerated to push the delivery into the covers.
Again, Boult is tying Khawaja down but failing to find that magic delivery. Khawaja patiently biding his time here.
9th over: Australia 19-2 (Khawaja 8, Smith 6)
First bowling change for New Zealand with Doug Bracewell coming into the attack. Smith and Khawaja have their game faces on at the moment though, digging in for the long haul.
Bracewell has a clear plan against Smith, one I’m sure most international sides are now developing. Set him up outside off stump and then find the inswinger or off-cutter that catches him leaning too far to off. It nearly works too, the last delivery of the over finding the outside edge but played with soft hands and the ball reaching second slip on the half-volley. Smith deserves credit for how softly he played that, even if it was a false stroke.
8th over: Australia 18-2 (Khawaja 7, Smith 6)
Boult applying pressure against Khawaja, stringing a few dots together, asking questions off the pitch. He goes for the wicket ball but there’s no swing for him and the batsman relieves the pressure with a single.
7th over: Australia 17-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 6)
Smith adopting the perfect technique in these conditions. Watchful to anything on off, cashing in as soon as the bowler chases him towards his pads. It really is a game of patience out there for Australia. See off the new ball and then take advantage of the conditions.
6th over: Australia 15-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 4)
Jacob, surely all host broadcasters are biased nowadays? Especially when you’re listening as a supporter of the other team.
Boult persisting with the line over the wicket to the left-handed Khawaja. The Australian is admirably patient, leaving often, as much on length as line. Good Test match bowling, good Test match batting.
5th over: Australia 15-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 4)
Big test now for Smith in his first overseas tour as Test captain. He needs to both stop the rot and take advantage of excellent batting conditions. He’s helped by a lack of swing from Southee, enabling him to feel his way into his innings at his own pace. He clips a couple off his pads.
Jacob Murray-White emails in praise of the radio commentary available via the Cricket Australia app, sourced from New Zealand. “A level of biased commentary our kiwi friends have always sworn blind only happens in Australia”.
4th over: Australia 13-2 (Khawaja 6, Smith 2)
We need a superlative monitor for Khawaja’s drive. The form Australian gets off the mark with an elegant off drive that clips along the Basin Reserve outfield for four.
Boult’s not finding much movement out there, which will concern his skipper.
3rd over: Australia 7-2 (Khawaja 0, Smith 2)
Horrible loose shot from Warner. No foot movement, trying to slap Southee to the point boundary without picking up the pace of the pitch. The ball might be coming on a touch quicker than the batsmen are expecting.
Blistering start from New Zealand.
WICKET! Warner c Watling b Southee 5 (Australia 5-2)
Southee has two! And it’s another gift from Australia, Warner slashing at a wide delivery outside off stump and feathering an edge through to the keeper.
They do know this game can last five days, right?
2nd over: Australia 5-1 (Warner 5, Khawaja 0)
How will Warner respond to this situation? By caressing Trent Boult twice through the covers for a combined five runs. Boult ploughing that fifth stump furrow to the two left-handers and Warner just leans gently into a couple to get him and his country off the mark.
1st over: Australia 0-1 (Warner 0, Khawaja 0)
What a start for New Zealand. Immediately in the contest with the cheap dismissal of Joe Burns. The right-hander just overbalanced a touch trying to work one off his hip, gloving behind to the safe hands of Watling.
Updated
WICKET! Burns c Watling b Southee 0 (Australia 0-1)
The $64,000 question: will Tim Southee make the new ball swing? Hmmm, our survey says, “ish”. To deliveries around off it’s swinging from the hand, towards middle and leg it’s angling down.
Fourth delivery angles towards fine leg and New Zealand are up in appeal for a glove behind! Rejected by umpire Kettleborough in the middle... and McCullum’s reviewing! Now then, what does the replay show? There’s a hot spot! Burns has tickled this off his glove to BJ Watling and New Zealand have a wicket in the first over.
Game on!
Another blistering session Mr Lemon. Tip of the hat to you.
The responsibility now falls to me to see how Australia’s batsmen handle similar conditions to those New Zealand failed to adapt to. If there’s swing and seam for Southee and Boult we might be over and out before the weekend’s through.
The pitch update during the Tea break indicated the track is quickening and flattening. Mark Richardson suggested it will be a belter to bat on very soon so New Zealand will need to make early inroads or fear watching Australia race away.
Speaking of Nathan Lyon, it would be an offence to Photoshop if we didn’t post these.
@NeutronGirl @WhiteLineWire Actually, He's more Kimba the White Lion than Simba - pic.twitter.com/Ud9g3afzZL
— Andrew Donnison (@Donno79) February 11, 2016
@NeutronGirl @WhiteLineWire I need to stop this, but the Bird-Lyon combination had me intrigued. pic.twitter.com/c2VRB3Uxyg
— Andrew Donnison (@Donno79) February 12, 2016
@FredTitmus @Donno79 @WhiteLineWire Might be spending too much time on this but hey it's Friday. pic.twitter.com/mHS5kc73Kp
— Amy Bennett (@NeutronGirl) February 12, 2016
WICKET! Boult c Khawaja b Lyon 24
48 overs: New Zealand all out 183 (Craig 41)
Crunch time! What an over. Boult is down the wicket once more, but this time he swings Lyon sweetly over midwicket for six!
A dot ball, then another six, as he almost picks out the same man in the crowd who caught the first one, right by the Grecian pergola.
From the last ball, he goes for a third. Straight, almost behind the bowler. Khawaja comes across, leaps, takes the ball right near the rope, then flicks the ball up before jumping over the rope and then back into the field of play to take the rebound.
“Sux! Sux! Sux!” chants the Wellington crowd as the third umpire looks at a foot that is very close to the rope. But in the end he decides Khawaja has done enough.
Lyon has gone the journey a couple of times, but also picked up one of the easiest three-fors of his career: 3-32 from 6 overs.
Updated
46th over: New Zealand 170-9 (Craig 40, Boult 12)
Hazlewood is punished for his lax fielding by being dragged back into the attack.
“When I say run, you run!” heaves Sniffer Smith, his red eyes gleaming.
Hazlewood draws some defensive strokes, and a big play-and-miss from the left-handed Craig, but not before Craig patted two runs through square, and then bolts a single from the second-last ball.
Boult does his patented move way outside off stump in order to produce a forward defensive.
45th over: New Zealand 167-9 (Craig 37, Boult 12)
Watching Trent Boult bat is one of the unalloyed delights of world cricket. He charges Lyon almost every ball of this over, mostly defending once he gets there. Then as Lyon drops short to counter the charge, Boult cuts two from the last ball.
44th over: New Zealand 165-9 (Craig 37, Boult 10)
Suddenly Mark Craig is away as well. Confidence flowing. Siddle bowls with just a touch of width, Craigh cover-drives for four. Next ball, dead straight down the ground for the same result.
Siddle straightens up, Craig flicks a couple of runs square.
Then the least cultured shot of the over, as he gets a length ball which he leans back and wallops through midwicket. A very tired Hazlewood trudges after it, and while any other fieldsman would have saved it, the paceman’s legs were too heavy.
Suddenly 16 from an over, almost 10% of the runs New Zealand scored today.
The downside for NZ is that this pitch now looks pretty nice to bat on.
43rd over: New Zealand 149-9 (Craig 21, Boult 10)
Boult! First wanders towards Lyon and smears two over midwicket. Then finally connects one cleanly and lofts it straight for six! Surely he’s close to moving about Southee in the order. Some good knocks in his last few Tests.
42nd over: New Zealand 141-9 (Craig 21, Boult 2)
Just a couple from Tidy Siddle, as Craig gets it through the covers.
41st over: New Zealand 139-9 (Craig 19, Boult 2)
Southee went at Lyon first ball and fell. Boult is more the thinking-man’s opening bowler, so he looks at three balls before lifting one over the infield, which looks mighty but pitches at midwicket.
“It doesn’t quite reach the fence, either by air or by land,” says Cameron Rose dryly on the White Line Wireless commentary.
Updated
WICKET! Southee c Hazlewood b Lyon 0
This is criminal. Playing on a green seaming deck, and you lose your wickets to the spinner. Southee aims a wallop, gets a big outside edge and it lifts gently to backward point.
41st over: New Zealand 137-8 (Craig 18, Southee 0)
Siddle settles into a full length, looking to hit Craig’s pads. Craig bats out a maiden, pushing every ball straight.
Interesting email I missed earlier from Tony Hastings.
“This is the problem with the current DRS format. It assumes the umpire has doubts over every aspect of the LBW shout. What if the onfield umpire only gave that not out because of the uncertainty about pad or bat first, which was actually resolved by the technology in favour of the bowling side? Let the third umpire relay this info to the onfield umps and you may get a different (correct) decision.”
40th over: New Zealand 137-8 (Craig 18, Southee 0)
Lyon with 1-7 after two overs. How easy is that. Your quicks have toiled away all day, the batsman has survived, then you bring on the spinner and the batsman can’t resist trying to slam a few quick runs.
WICKET! Anderson c Khawaja b Lyon 38
Oh no you didn’t. Oh, you did. Oh, you numpty. Lyon comes on after drinks, Anderson strikes a four down the ground, then goes again next ball and skews it off a high leading edge to mid off.
Two and a half hours of effort, what a waste.
Updated
39th over: New Zealand 132-7 (Anderson 34, Craig 18)
Again, just the one scoring shot. Again, it hits the fence. Bird beats the bat with one ball to Anderson, but gives him an easy full ball the next that Anderson clips through midwicket. Again, looking better by not trying to crush the shot.
38th over: New Zealand 128-7 (Anderson 30, Craig 18)
Marsh bowling pretty nicely now, but one ball gets too straight and Craig is able to glance it fine. They may not have many runs, New Zealand, but the ones they have are being scored in boundaries. I think that makes 17 in the innings.
37th over: New Zealand 124-7 (Anderson 30, Craig 14)
Jack Bird is back, the only Australian who hasn’t enjoyed himself today, with 43 runs from his first eight overs.
He doesn’t wind things back with this over, as he gives Anderson width and a helpful length. Funnily, when Anderson doesn’t try to blast the ball and just hits it, he times the cut nicely for four.
36th over: New Zealand 119-7 (Anderson 26, Craig 13)
Craig is bowled! Except he’s not. The shortish ball from Marsh hits him in the ribs, then the underside of his arm, then the ground, then bounces into his off stump about three quarters of the way off, hard enough to bounce back towards the batsman. But the bails stay at home.
He gets off strike by deflecting another short one away, then Anderson aims a horrific slog towards midwicket, and instead top-edges it over slip. Marsh misses out on a couple of wickets in that over.
35th over: New Zealand 116-7 (Anderson 24, Craig 12)
Oh, Craig. You charmer. Runs a single, gets hit by the throw, realsies there’s no fieldsman nearby at mid-on, so he jogs down their with pads and bat to field the ball himself. Stop it.
Anderson flicks Hazlewood for two. Honestly, if you can three per over from him in this mood, you’re doing very well indeed.
34th over: New Zealand 113-7 (Anderson 22, Craig 11)
Mitch Marsh now. Still just the one over for Lyon. It’s seamer day. Craig drives three runs out through cover. Not bad. Anderson slogs an attempted pull shot that just clears the bowler and limps straight for two. Bad.
33rd over: New Zealand 108-7 (Anderson 20, Craig 8)
Hazlewood continues, he’s bowled 12 of 33 overs so far today. Loving the work. Absolutely thriving on it. Look at his little face.
It’s another maiden. Anderson waiting, waiting, waiting. Patience is his game. Huh? Yes, 20 off 65. At least he’s scoring faster than he didi on the ODIs.
32nd over: New Zealand 108-7 (Anderson 20, Craig 8)
Siddle gives something away for the first time today. A no ball, which Anderson clips for a single. Devastating Siddle’s figures.
He makes up for it by stitching Craig’s feet to the crease for the next six balls, but one of them takes the edge down to third man, and Lyon’s diving save clips the rope to concede the least convincing of fours.
31st over: New Zealand 102-7 (Anderson 19, Craig 4)
Mark Craig looks quite capable of handling Hazlewood, who has done a lot of work this morning. Two singles from the over.
“Morning, what’s the crowd like and are they expecting good numbers over the weekend? The World Cup seemed to grab the public and wondering if that’s continued over there.”
Firstly, this question came in from someone named “dwarner81”. I know who you are, David. You don’t fool me. You should be concentrating in the slip cordon, not emailing the OBO.
And you can perfectly well see that the place is full. It’s a sell-out, both the first two days are. It’s utterly glorious Wellington weather, the couple of weeks of bliss that they apparently receive each year in this fine city.
So yes, right now cricket is king.
30th over: New Zealand 100-7 (Anderson 18, Craig 3)
Mark Craig away quickly, with a couple of runs square and then a single, which raises the New Zealand 100. But they’re seven wickets down, all of them caught behind the wicket.
Siddle 3-13, if you don’t mind, from eight overs.
WICKET! Bracewell c Voges b Hazlewood 5
And Bracewell is stopping. Gets a ball closer to his stumps, never there for a back-foot forcing stroke - almost the worst shot you could play against tight bowling on a pitch with some movement. It takes the edge to slip.
Updated
29th over: New Zealand 97-6 (Anderson 18, Bracewell 5)
“Everybody gets one,” says Josh Hazlewood, as he gives Bracewell a short wide one for the batsman to clobber away square for four. And a single. Bracewell gets going.
28th over: New Zealand 92-6 (Anderson 18, Bracewell 0)
Nice straight drive from Anderson the first ball of Siddle’s over, and it nets him four below the large white sightscreen sheet next to the twin scoreboards (digital and analogue).
That’s about all that’s nice for Anderson, as he’s beaten outside the off stump, then as Siddle comes around the wicket, a ball is left that just misses that stump.
Anderson flips a bottom-handed drive back at the bowler, and Siddle just uses his chest to stop that getting past him. No stopping Chesty Sidds.
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27th over: New Zealand 88-6 (Anderson 14, Bracewell 0)
The good part of the over for New Zealand was when Watling drove a Hazlewood half volley through cover for four.
The bad part was the next ball, detailed below.
It’s down to New Zealand’s pair of all-rounders with the bat. Hazlewood 4-29 from 9. He likes leading the attack.
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WICKET! Watling c Nevill b Hazlewood 17
Well, that didn’t take long. Josh Hazlewood banged it back of a length, it jumped appreciably and even though Watling wasn’t trying to do anything with it, he was drawn into a defensive prod well outside off stump with his feet rooted to the spot, and only succeeded in gloving the ball. Four wickets for JH.
Updated
26th over: New Zealand 84-5 (Anderson 14, Watling 13)
The remarkable thing is not that Australia has five wickets. The remarkable thing is that they’ve only got through 25 overs in the first session. We’ll be here until midnight at this rate.
Also: hello! Geoff Lemon with you, as foreshadowed. Send me a tweet, send me an email, I crave your correspondence and attention.
Siddle resumes formalities with a maiden to Corey Anderson.
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LUNCH. 24th over: New Zealand 84-5 (Anderson 14, Watling 13)
Watling drags Bird behind square for a couple, and then forces three more through point. That’s it for a fascinating session. At one stage New Zealand were in danger of being bowled out before lunch, but Anderson and Watling regrouped with calm certainty. It could have been a lot worse for New Zealand, even if it was clearly Australia’s session. Thanks for your company; Geoff Lemon will be with you after lunch. Bye!
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23rd over: New Zealand 76-5 (Anderson 11, Watling 8)
That was the last ball of the over. We should have two more before lunch.
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REVIEW! New Zealand 76-5 (Watling not out 8)
This is better from Bird, and Watling, cramped for room by a nipbacker, very nearly drags it onto the stumps. The next ball brings a big LBW shout that is turned down. Was that pad first? Smith has gone for the review. This might be close, although height could also be an issue.
It seems to be pad first, just about, but it’s irrelevant because the point of contact was umpire’s call and so we stay with the on-field decision. “Pitched outside leg” says the third umpire, for reasons best known to himself. Replays show it was hitting the stumps too, so that’s a fair enough review.
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22nd over: New Zealand 76-5 (Anderson 11, Watling 8) Mitchell Marsh has a man at short cover for both batsmen, which is odd as he has largely bowled short. That’s not the length on this pitch. New Zealand look very comfortable at the moment. It’s been a session of two distinct segments: five wickets in the first hour, none since.
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21st over: New Zealand 75-5 (Anderson 11, Watling 7) That’s Bird’s best over so far, with a consistency of line and length that had previously been elusive. The ball isn’t doing much, however, and that reinforces the perception in the commentary box that New Zealand gave it away a little in the first hour. Guptill was the only batsman who got a really good delivery.
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20th over: New Zealand 73-5 (Anderson 11, Watling 6) Marsh is developing into a really handy, wicket-taking fourth seamer. Anderson works a couple off the hip to fine leg. This has been a level-headed partnership, with Anderson particularly impressive in his restraint.
19th over: New Zealand 71-5 (Anderson 9, Watling 6) Anderson punches Bird through mid-off for four, a high-class stroke. New Zealand seem to have targeted Bird, who has disappeared from 35 from his five overs.
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18th over: New Zealand 66-5 (Anderson 4, Watling 6) Mitchell Marsh, on for Siddle, almost strikes with his second ball. Watling, trying to turn a lifter to leg, got a leading edge straight up in the air. He had no idea where the ball was as the bowlers and fielders converged, and eventually it bounced and hit him on the back. I think it would have bounced over the stumps had it not hit Watling. The over ends with an optimistic LBW shout against Watling; it was going down.
“Morning/evening Rob,” says Phil Withall. “A small positive for the Kiwis. I’ve just settled down for a morning of cricket watching and housework (I know how to spend a day off) and will be bringing my ability to kill any excitement in a cricket match to the table. You can expect the score to tick over at two an over and no further wickets until I go and cut the grass.”
17th over: New Zealand 66-5 (Anderson 4, Watling 6) Jackson Bird replaces Hazlewood. His first spell was poor, but he should be able to relax now with New Zealand five down. Should. His third ball is too wide and Watling clouts it through the covers for four.
16th over: New Zealand 61-5 (Anderson 4, Watling 1) Those of us who had the misfortune to be born as England cricket fans can’t understand why Siddle isn’t a regular, or at the very least a banker in places like England and New Zealand. He bowls a no-ball to Watling, the first run he has conceded in 27 deliveries. Watling then gets off the mark from is 18th delivery.
15th over: New Zealand 59-5 (Anderson 4, Watling 0) Anderson gets off the mark from his 17th delivery, a flamboyant flick through midwicket for four off Hazlewood. After eight consecutive overs, Hazlewood might be due a break.
14th over: New Zealand 55-5 (Anderson 0, Watling 0) Peter Siddle bowls another maiden; the only difference is that this one doesn’t include a wicket.
“As an Australian fan,” begins David Shepherd, “never has the observation “don’t judge a pitch until both teams have batted on it” seemed so apt.” Indeed, though you’d expect the pitch to get easier as the day progresses. What New Zealand don’t really want is a noble 170-ball 40 from Watling.
13th over: New Zealand 55-5 (Anderson 0, Watling 0) Since you asked, Australia lasted 18.3 overs on that first morning at Trent Bridge. Anderson, scorer of a 36-ball ODI hundred, has faced 13 here without getting off the mark. There are four byes off Hazlewood’s last delivery when the stretching Nevill can’t stop an errant bouncer.
12nd over: New Zealand 51-5 (Anderson 0, Watling 0) If New Zealand lose another quick wicket, McCullum should declare. I’m not being entirely flippant. The scary thing about this morning for New Zealand is that their score includes three overs of nervous rubbish from Jackson Bird. The combined figures of Hazlewood and Siddle are five for 25. They have done nothing spectacular, just adhered to the fundamentals in helpful conditions. It’s a lot harder than it looks. Terrific stuff from Siddle, whose figures are 3-2-4-2.
WICKET! New Zealand 51-5 (Nicholls c Nevill b Siddle 8)
What were we saying about Trent Bridge? Australia have five wickets before drinks, with the debutant Nicholls the latest man to be caught in the cordon. It was a similar dismissal to Latham’s: a defensive push at a ball that could have been left on line, and a simple edge through to Peter Nevill.
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11th over: New Zealand 51-4 (Nicholls 8, Anderson 1) Nicholls times Hazlewood pleasantly through mid-off for three.
“Poor New Zealand,” writes Livia Soprano Robert Wilson. “People have the wrong idea about petards. They think it all sounds like some quite amiable kind of pulley system because of that whole hoisting thing. A petard was a bomb. Thus being hoist by your own petard is not much fun at all. Green pitches are always a hostage to fortune. What if you lose the toss and the other blokes are quite good at, you know, cricket? You can end up looking like a right plonker.”
Quite. And then there’s a whole other level of stupidity – knows in some cultures as ‘Englishness’ – that involves preparing a fast, uneven pitch for the West Indies at Edgbaston in 1995 and a vicious turner for Murali at the Oval in 1998.
10th over: New Zealand 47-4 (Nicholls 5, Anderson 0) Nicholls, who has started serenely in the circumstances, plays out a maiden from Siddle. New Zealand are in big trouble already. One thing in their favour is that they have been here before – they were bowled out inside 60 overs on the first day of the last two Tests at Wellington, and they recovered to draw famously against India and to hammer Sri Lanka. Australia, of course, are a different challenge in these conditions.
9th over: New Zealand 47-4 (Nicholls 5, Anderson 0) Hazlewood hedged his bets by going up for the LBW as the ball looped up towards gully. As soon as Warner took the catch, the umpire’s finger went up. Australia have taken four wickets in the first nine overs! Hazlewood, who is surely on a fast track to greatness, has figures of 5-0-18-3.
WICKET! New Zealand 47-4 (McCullum c Warner b Hazlewood 0)
McCullum has gone for a duck! This is turning into a nightmare for New Zealand. McCullum got a big inside-edge to a nipbacker from Hazlewood that looped to Warner at third slip.
Shaping as a good power-play for nz! Nothing like moving the game forward when confronted with a pitch with a tinge!! Good viewing
— Stephen Fleming (@SPFleming7) February 11, 2016
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8th over: New Zealand 44-3 (Nicholls 2, McCullum 0) That was an unusually poor shot from Williamson, and has left New Zealand in big trouble after only 40 minutes of the match. The new batsman is Brendon McCullum, playing his 100th Test, and he gets a standing ovation on his way to the crease. He has got his team out of trouble on this ground in the past, but usually in the third innings. They need something from him today.
WICKET! New Zealand 44-3 (Williamson c Nevill b Siddle 16)
Peter Siddle takes the big wicket of Kane Williamson with his second ball! Williamson plays a loose drive outside off stump and gets a thick inside edge that is taken brilliantly by the keeper Peter Nevill, diving a long way to his left.
7th over: New Zealand 40-2 (Williamson 12, Nicholls 2) Henry Nicholls is the new batsman. There are tougher circumstances in which to make your Test debut – ask Ken Rutherford – but not many. He gets off the mark first ball with a clip off the pads for two.
WICKET! New Zealand 38-2 (Guptill c Smith b Hazlewood 18)
Another one for Hazlewood! Guptill is turned round by an excellent delivery, full and moving away just enough to take the edge, and Steve Smith takes a smart catch at second slip.
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6th over: New Zealand 38-1 (Guptill 18, Williamson 12) A second no-ball from Bird, who has started pretty nervously. Williamson gets consecutive boundaries with a classy flick wide of mid-on and a gorgeous drive down the ground. Bird has figures of 3-0-25-0, and I’d imagine Siddle will replace him at that end.
Astonishing events at the Basin Reserve as a front foot no-ball is called in a Test match.
— Jon Hotten (@theoldbatsman) February 11, 2016
5th over: New Zealand 28-1 (Guptill 17, Williamson 4) Williamson’s oldfangled ability to bat time makes him even more important than usual today. He gets off the mark with a beautiful push drive through the covers for four off Hazlewood.
4th over: New Zealand 24-1 (Guptill 17, Williamson 0) Bird has concentrated on a good length so far, and could maybe pitch it up a fraction more. Yes, I am giving bowling tips to a man with 177 first-class wickets more than me. Guptill mispulls a short ball safely for two and then works another boundary to move to 17 off 14 balls. He has clearly decided to play his natural attacking game, and get as many as he can before the pitch gets him.
3rd over: New Zealand 17-1 (Guptill 11, Williamson 0) If Australia get the great Kane Williamson early, they will happy as Larry, and New Zealand will be as happy as Larry David.
“Looks like an impressive crowd at the Basin Reserve - and there seem to have been good crowds in all the NZ matches I’ve caught this season,” writes Steven Larcombe. “ Has this been remarked upon? Is it a sign of McCullum-driven upswing in cricket’s popularity in NZ?” I’m sure it is, although it’s not just McCullum; New Zealand have some seriously exciting players.
WICKET! New Zealand 17-1 (Latham c Nevill b Hazlewood 6)
Yes, Latham is out. He pushed forward defensively at Hazlewood and seemed to get a routine edge through to Nevill. Australia did not so much appeal as celebrate; then, when it was given not out by Richard Illingworth, they reviewed straight away and continued to celebrate even before the third umpire had looked at the replays. Those replays confirmed the outside edge, so Hazlewood has an important early wicket.
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AUSTRALIA REVIEW! Latham not out 6
I think Latham is out there.
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2nd over: New Zealand 15-0 (Guptill 11, Latham 4) Jackson Bird, a horse for the New Zealand courses, shares the new ball. His first ball, to Guptill, kicks a bit from a length and takes a thick edge before landing short of point. An eventful over includes a pull for four from Guptill, a gorgeous leg-cutter that beats the outside edge, and an errant delivery that is flicked confidently wide of mid-on for another boundary. New Zealand are off to a breakneck start.
1st over: New Zealand 7-0 (Guptill 3, Latham 4) Josh Hazlewood will open the bowling to Martin Guptill. He has become one of the world’s best one-day openers, but hasn’t yet worked out a successful way to play in Test cricket. There were hints that he might be getting there with a fine 156 against Sri Lanka in December, easily his best Test innings. And he starts confidently here, driving the second ball crisply through extra cover for three. Tom Latham starts well too, clipping a poor delivery from Hazlewood off the pads for four.
Brendon McCullum says that anything over 300 would be a great score. The key for them is to stay in the game on the first day; Australia will be looking for Trent Bridge in reverse.
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The teams in full
New Zealand Guptill, Latham, Williamson, Nicholls, McCullum (c), Anderson, Watling (wk), Bracewell, Craig, Southee, Boult.
Australia Warner, Burns, Khawaja, Smith (c), Voges, M Marsh, Nevill (wk), Siddle, Hazlewood, Lyon, Bird.
The teams are as expected
Henry Nicholls makes his debut for New Zealand, while Jackson Bird returns to the Australian side for the first time since the 2013 Ashes.
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Australia have won the toss and will bowl first
That’s a big toss to win on a wicket that is expected to be greener than grass itself.
Two McCullum's at the toss today. Maya with her Dad at his 100th consecutive Test. Special… https://t.co/WHfC3nvCxG
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) February 11, 2016
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Preamble
Hello. These days, everything has to be the best or worst. This, for example, is literally the most pointless sentence in the history of the Guardian, a once proud newspaper. In such an environment, it can become hard to retain a sensible outlook. But even after a 17-hour stint viewing the world through the Guardian’s patented Perspective Specs, we reckon this might be the most keenly anticipated Australia/New Zealand series of all time.
The contests in the mid-to-late 1980s were memorable for all kinds of reasons, from the “catch of the century” to the catch that wasn’t, but even they did not engender the same level of excitement beforehand. This could be a classic: two relentlessly attacking teams, on lively pitches, with a heap of subplots that could legitimately demand a spin-off series of their own.
The most significant is the retirement of Brendon McCullum, New Zealand’s walking epiphany, after this series. To most his three years as captain have been a happy story with no catch - “the time of our lives”, as he said during last year’s World Cup. Not everyone would agree with that, as Jonathan Howcroft explains in this terrific piece, and it will be interesting to see the extent to which a feelgood mood prevails throughout the series.
New Zealand are a serious force these days – they haven’t lost a Test at home since March 2012 – and their seamers are likely enjoy the green, green grass of home. They have a great chance to win their first Test at home to Australia since 1992-93 (look at Shane Warne’s first-innings figures in that match by the way) and their first series against Australia anywhere since 1985-86.
We know how difficult teams have found it to win away from home in recent times. But as McCullum would doubtless tell you, every negative can be turned into a positive: a series win here would be a significant result for Australia’s young side. And it would put them back to the top of the ICC Test rankings.
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Rob will be here shortly. Time then to catch up on some team news, in case you missed it:
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