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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Sport
Martin Pegan and James Wallace

New Zealand v Australia: first Test, day one – as it happened

Australia New Zealand the Black Caps Pat Cummins Wellington Basin Reserve
Australia’s Cameron Green raises his bat
Australia’s Cameron Green raises his bat on day one of the first Test against New Zealand at Basin Reserve in Wellington. Photograph: Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images

Cameron Green brought up an unbeaten ton off the second-last ball of the day while guiding Australia to a 279-9 as Matt Henry took four wickets for New Zealand.

Catch up on more with the day one report from the first Test at Basin Reserve:

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STUMPS - Australia 279-9

A rollicking day of Test cricket to start the much-anticipated series between New Zealand and Australia, as Cameron Green answered the call from his side with a memorable ton and Matt Henry was the hosts’ pick of the quicks.

Black Caps captain Tim Southee won the toss and sent Australia in on a greentop but the tourists’ openers Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja edged to 61 without loss. Smith’s dismissal for 31 soon became two as an out-of-sorts Marnus Labuschagne (1) again missed out, while Travis Head (1) also failed to make a start.

Green was content to play a support role as Mitch Marsh (40) counter-attacked, but New Zealand were back in command when the latter was dismissed to make it 156-5. Australia’s new No 4 picked up the pace as he started to run out of partners and would eventually bring up his second Test century with three boundaries off the last over of the day to finish unbeaten on 103 with the score at 279-9.

New Zealand will be disappointed that they couldn’t restrict Australia’s total to something closer to 200, but an even day sets up another that will be well worth watching tomorrow.

Check back then as we follow every over from Basin Reserve in Wellington.

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85th over: Australia 279-9 (Green 103, Hazlewood 0) Green accelerated through the final over of the day to ensure he notched a second Test century before stumps. Three boundaries off O’Rourke allowed Green to raise his bat for an important ton in tricky conditions.

CENTURY! for Cameron Green

Cameron Green brings up a stirring century – his first since being handed the opportunity to bat at No 4 and only his second Test ton overall – with a devastating cut to the boundary. It has been an impressively patient knock from Green as the 24-year-old seemed to know when to hold fire and when to attack, and he arrived at three figures from 154 balls. Green made sure he’d reach a ton before stumps, with No 11 Josh Hazlewood at the non-striker’s end and O’Rourke bowling the last over of the day, with three scintillating boundaries.

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84th over: Australia 267-9 (Green 91, Hazlewood 0) Green is motoring along now and cuts Henry away over the slips cordon for four, then adds another three with a stylish drive through mid-wicket. But Lyon is unable to bat out the over and Australia have only Josh Hazlewood to come while Green eyes a second Test ton.

WICKET! Lyon c Blundell b Henry 5

Henry steams in and with the perfect pitch finds an edge off Lyon who didn’t have much choice but to play at that one.

83rd over: Australia 260-8 (Green 84, Lyon 5) HOWZAT! Southee and the rest of the Black Caps clan cry for lbw against Lyon but the umpire is quick to wave them away. New Zealand somewhat reluctantly use their last review, but while the straight delivery crashed into Lyon’s pads around the knee roll it always looked too high. The unflappable Lyon later finds four runs with a stylish drive past Southee.

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82nd over: Australia 256-8 (Green 84, Lyon 1) No surprises that Henry is next to take the second new ball. Yet again Green takes an early single but Lyon looks happy to deal with anything pitched up. A leading edge off the last ball of the over has mid-off scrambling but it sails over his head.

81st over: Australia 254-8 (Green 83, Lyon 0) Southee returns to take the second new ball and it looks like Green has been waiting for it just as much as the Black Caps. The towering Australian sends the first two balls to the rope, starting with a powerful straight drive then pushing the next through point. Lyon is trusted with the last two deliveries and that should’ve been enough for New Zealand. Southee found an edge but Williamson grassed a decent chance at third slip while diving to his right. A warning there for Green and Australia that he should probably be farming the strike from here.

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80th over: Australia 245-8 (Green 74, Lyon 0) Green shows full confidence in tailender Nathan Lyon with a single off the second ball, as the Australian veteran the digs in to keep out four deliveries from Mitchell. New ball now available and surely the Black Caps take it.

79th over: Australia 244-8 (Green 73, Lyon 0) Cummins goes after Ravindra and calmly slogs a wide ball outside off back over the spinner’s head. But Ravindra has the last laugh two balls later when he sends the Australian captain on his way with his 10th Test wicket.

WICKET! Cummins lbw b Ravindra 16

Cummins leans forward to defend a good length ball but misses the line and is hit on his back pad. The finger goes up straight away, while the Australian captain calls for a hopeful review but starts to walk as soon as replays show there was no slight edge to save him. A useful innings from Cummins but you feel it’s all over to Green now.

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78th over: Australia 237-7 (Green 72, Cummins 10) The Black Caps are really holding out for the second new ball now, as Daryl Mitchell returns to the attack. A wicket here would suddenly look like an ingenious move to lure Australia into a loose shot, but Green and Cummins are instead able to pick off ones and twos with ease.

77th over: Australia 234-7 (Green 71, Cummins 8) New Zealand persist with Ravindra even as the young spinner fails to add much of a threat. The Australian pair pick up a single each to keep the scoreboard ticking over.

76th over: Australia 232-7 (Green 70, Cummins 7) The enthralling battle between O’Rourke and Green continues. The New Zealand quick is still pounding away with plenty of venom, but Green is now in the zone where he knows whether to leave, defend or attack. Maiden over.

75th over: Australia 232-7 (Green 70, Cummins 7) SIX! Cummins picks up the flight of the ball, takes a step forward then sends it straight down the ground for arguably the shot of the day so far. Ravindra isn’t getting much help from the surface and New Zealand might question whether it was the right call to allow Cummins to get his eye in against the young spinner.

74th over: Australia 223-7 (Green 68, Cummins 0) Green goes after O’Rourke and punishes a pair of wide deliveries for two boundaries. He’s driving with confidence now and adds three more runs through cover.

73rd over: Australia 212-7 (Green 57, Cummins 0) New Zealand finally turn to spin with Rachin Ravindra thrown the ball. The left-arm spinner starts around the wicket to Green who sweeps for a single. Cummins stays in his crease to defend the remaining five balls, as the Black Caps choose to give their pacers a spell with the second new ball not too far away.

72nd over: Australia 211-7 (Green 56, Cummins 0) Starc’s dismissal brings Pat Cummins to the crease for his first Test innings on New Zealand soil. The Australian captain looks at home straight away even as a fired-up O’Rourke bounds in with a series of deliveries hovering around the 140 kmh mark.

WICKET! Starc c Latham b O’Rourke 9

Starc is caught at second slip off a thick edge. He didn’t have much choice but to play at that, while O’Rourke has earned the scalp with some fast and furious bowling since tea. Starc took 33 balls to reach nine runs in a composed innings that helped Australia past 200 when even that mark looked uncertain when he arrived at the crease.

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71st over: Australia 211-6 (Green 56, Starc 9) Green again gives New Zealand reason for hope with a mis-timed pull shot that grabs the top edge but lands safely. Kuggeleijn goes short to Starc but doesn’t cause too many problems.

70th over: Australia 206-6 (Green 53, Starc 8) A pair of boundaries from Green - the first a punch to the leg-side, the second almost within reach of the bowler Southee - takes Australia past 200. It has been a confident response from this duo, with Green leading the way, since Carey’s dismissal as Australia look to rebuild.

FIFTY for Cameron Green

Cameron Green momentarily has his heart in his mouth when a straight drive back to Tim Southee almost lands in the Black Caps skipper’s hands. But Southee can’t respond in time and the ball races away for four, allowing Green to lift his bat to acknowledge the polite applause for what has been a truly fine knock.

The all-rounder now has seven half-centuries (and one ton) from 27 Tests, as he looks to cement his spot batting at No 4.

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69th over: Australia 197-6 (Green 44, Starc 8) The volume has been turned up to 11 at Basin Reserve as chin-music maestro Neil Wagner takes his place in the field. Kuggeleijn pays homage to his fiery Black Caps teammate with a couple of short balls to Starc as Australia make it through to drinks without further loss.

68th over: Australia 196-6 (Green 43, Starc 8) Starc finds a boundary off the only ball of the over pitched just back of a good length as Southee concentrates on his preferred spot just outside off-stump. The Australian almost makes it back-to-back boundaries with a straight drive but Green can’t leap high enough to get out of the way and apologises to his teammate.

67th over: Australia 192-6 (Green 43, Starc 4) Green is finding his range now, sending a full delivery straight back past Kuggeleijn with only Starc’s helmet likely to slow its trajectory on the way to the boundary. Green shows little interest in the three bouncers sent down through the over, casually ducking under each of them.

66th over: Australia 188-6 (Green 39, Starc 4) Southee takes over from O’Rourke and starts around the wicket to Starc. Like Kuggeleijn in the previous over, Southee seems to be bowling to a definite plan with Starc as he targets the fifth stump outside off. Starc deals with the inevitable short ball for a single, then Green takes over and now looks comfortable whether cutting or knocking the ball to the leg-side.

65th over: Australia 184-6 (Green 36, Starc 3) Kuggeleijn is pitching at a good length just outside off to Starc, perhaps trying to tempt the big-swinging Australian into a loose shot. Starc finds a single through the leg-side.

64th over: Australia 183-6 (Green 36, Starc 2) O’Rourke smells blood and is on the attack with a stretch of short balls to Starc. A wild delivery comes from nowhere and flies out of the reach of Starc and keeper Blundell for five wides, but Southee won’t mind the intent from O’Rourke.

63rd over: Australia 177-6 (Green 36, Starc 1) Mitchell Starc is at the crease as the change of ends works perfectly for Kuggeleijn and New Zealand. Starc is looking to get bat on ball straight away but only finds a run with an inside edge off the last delivery.

With Carey gone and Australia still well short of 200, there is no doubting this would be the ideal time for Cameron Green to make his mark with a big score.

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WICKET! Carey c Williamson b Kuggeleijn 10

Kuggeleijn swaps ends to replace Henry and immediately claims an Australian wicket for the first time – with thanks to a loose shot from Carey. It was almost like Carey picked out Williamson at cover for catching practice, as the former Black Caps skipper barely had to move to grasp the simple catch.

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62nd over: Australia 176-5 (Green 36, Carey 10) O’Rourke has impressed since tea and is now finding something in the wicket to trouble Carey. The first delivery strikes Carey on the shoulder and he seems happy to get off strike. An overly short ball sails over Green and Blundell isn’t even close to reaching it as Australia pick up four byes.

61st over: Australia 171-5 (Green 36, Carey 9) Henry to Green as the tension continues to build. Green is trying to find a way onto the front foot but Henry almost finds an edge from the final delivery until there is a touch too much movement off the seam. Maiden over.

60th over: Australia 171-5 (Green 36, Carey 9) Green cops another nasty blow off the bowling of O’Rourke, this time from a short ball that pummels into his left arm. No hiding the pain this time as Green shakes it off. The New Zealand pacers are on top here but Tim Southee will need to have one eye on the over-rate with the 60th over just bowled well after tea and World Test Championship points potentially at risk.

59th over: Australia 170-5 (Green 36, Carey 9) CHANCE! Henry is on song at Basin Reserve and almost has Carey caught at slip. The Australian slashes at a wide ball but can only get an edge, as even Glenn Phillips – widely and rightly considered one of the best fielders in the game – leaps high but only enough to get fingertips to it. The touch ensures the ball doesn’t quite reach the boundary and Carey picks up two, then adds another couple with a more composed nudge through gully.

58th over: Australia 166-5 (Green 36, Carey 5) O’Rourke is at the top of his mark as New Zealand make a change while trying to press home their advantage. The seamer angles three balls across Carey until the Australian keeper finds a gap wide of point. Green ducks under a bouncer but has more trouble fending away the next delivery as it strikes him on the right hand - he refuses to show any signs of pain but his hand had jumped off the bat with that blow.

57th over: Australia 165-5 (Green 36, Carey 4) Henry is bang on his favoured line and length with each ball pitched up and sitting just outside off-stump. Carey guides one through point to pick up a couple of runs, then finds another single off an inside edge.

56th over: Australia 162-5 (Green 36, Carey 1) New Zealand captain Tim Southee sticks with second-Test pacer Kuggeleijn rather than bringing himself back into the attack with Australia on the back foot. Green drives a slightly wide delivery past Kane Williamson at cover off the first ball, then blocks out the over. A good one in the end from Kuggeleijn.

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55th over: Australia 158-5 (Green 32, Carey 1) Henry has his just reward after being the pick of the New Zealand bowlers, now with 3/27 from 15 overs. Alex Carey comes to the crease with Australia in trouble and immediately gets off the mark with a nudge to the leg-side off a good length.

WICKET! Marsh c Blundell b Henry 40

The break in play leads to a big breakthrough for the Black Caps! Henry lures Marsh into a pull shot despite the ball landing a touch too full, and a top edge flies skyward as Blundell barely has to move for it to settle in his gloves.

An entertaining knock from Marsh, with 40 runs flowing from 39 balls with six boundaries and a six, but he’ll be disappointed with that dismissal.

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54th over: Australia 156-4 (Green 31, Marsh 40) Kuggeleijn takes the ball for the first over after tea but hangs his head as Green smacks back-to-back boundaries. The first is a classic pull shot over mid-wicket, the second a superb drive through mid-on.

It feels harsh to question Travis Head after his heroics at monumental moments throughout 2023, but this calendar year hasn’t started quite as well.

Tea - Australia 147-4

53rd over: Australia 147-4 (Green 23, Marsh 39) Daryl Mitchell – what have you done? New Zealand have a chance to run out Marsh but the Black Caps bowler isn’t at the stumps to collect the throw as the Australians scamper back for a second run.

That wicket would’ve placed the second session firmly in the hosts’ favour, but as it stands they’ll have to be content with three wickets for 85 runs. The green deck that might have had viewers adjusting their TV / computer monitor / mobile phone screen hasn’t troubled Australia too much but movement in the air is, as usual on their home turf, the key weapon for New Zealand. It’s all set up for a cracking third session… back soon.

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Green and Marsh 50-run partnership

52nd over: Australia 140-4 (Green 21, Marsh 34) Kuggeleijn changes ends and has Green defending intently on the brink of tea. But the Australian eventually can’t help but punch a drive in the air and a little too close for comfort past mid-on to pick up three and bring up the 50-run stand. It already looks like a critical partnership after the Black Caps claimed a couple of quick wickets.

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51st over: Australia 136-4 (Green 18, Marsh 33) Daryl Mitchell is a surprise addition to the attack as he looks to add to his three Test wickets and improve on a bowling average of… 111! Green looks comfortable as he waits for a bad ball and when a short one lands it is dutifully dispatched to the boundary.

50th over: Australia 130-4 (Green 13, Marsh 32) Green and Marsh are more watchful as they face Southee looking to angle the ball into their pads and with tea not much more than 10 minutes away. Both batters pick up a single when the Black Caps seamer strays just a little wide of off-stump.

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49th over: Australia 128-4 (Green 12, Marsh 31) Scott Kuggeleijn is handed the ball after putting together 0/23 from his first eight overs against Australia in any format. Marsh takes a good look at the right-armer then pummels the last ball of the over past cover with a typically eye-catching blend of power and precision. After a blazing start, a confident Marsh is again showing that he is equally adept at settling into an innings when needed.

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48th over: Australia 124-4 (Green 12, Marsh 27) Southee is out there doing what he does best; pushing the batter back and moving the ball around. Marsh looks solid in defence and can only pick up the one single off his pads.

47th over: Australia 123-4 (Green 12, Marsh 26) Henry and Green play out an intriguing over – the batter looking to use his feet, while the bowler pegs him back with plenty of variety. Maiden.

46th over: Australia 123-4 (Green 12, Marsh 26) SIX! Southee comes into the attack and Marsh goes straight after a shorter ball, but a top edge sends the ball over the keeper and over the rope. The New Zealand pacer turns to targeting the pads and immediately finds some swing, while Marsh is fortunate when a thick edge goes wide of third slip for a boundary. Thirteen runs off the over, but a promising one from Southee.

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45th over: Australia 110-4 (Green 12, Marsh 14) New Zealand nearly had another as Green again steps down the pitch but this time decides to defend. A thick edge flies towards the cordon but falls short of Tim Southee at third slip. The ball trickles away for a single, as Henry bowls out a neat over to a more cautious Marsh.

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44th over: Australia 109-4 (Green 11, Marsh 14) Marsh is back on the attack, sending the first ball of O’Rourke’s over pitched just outside off for four through point. He adds another boundary through gully and has already reached the rope three times from nine balls faced. This already looms as a gripping partnership, which ever way it goes.

43rd over: Australia 99-4 (Green 11, Marsh 4) Green looks comfortable despite the chaos around him, moving his feet to deal with anything full from Henry. The towering Australian takes a big stride down the wicket to smash a boundary through mid-wicket, and then adds a couple through square leg.

42nd over: Australia 93-4 (Green 5, Marsh 4) Mitch Marsh comes to the crease and responds to the rising pressure the only way he knows how - with a powerful strike past square for four off his first ball. But O’Rourke answers back with a full delivery that move away late, luring Marsh into a shot. Huge appeal! But the umpire nods his head and New Zealand decide not to review. Replays show it was the correct decision – but there was a whisker in it.

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WICKET! Head c Blundell b O’Rourke 1

Australia are suddenly on the ropes as Travis Head edges a delivery sliding across his body. The ball flies off the shoulder of the bat for Blundell to take a simple catch.

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41st over: Australia 89-3 (Green 5, Head 1) Henry has dragged New Zealand well and truly back into the contest with his second wicket, and after dismissing Khawaja with a cracking delivery almost sent Green packing as well with another corker to wrap up the over.

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Thank you Jimbo. I might be jumping friendship levels a bit there, but after living in the UK for 15 years I know you’d expect nothing else from someone sending a fist bump from Down Under.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the Tasman Sea, the Australian batting lineup started very much the way we’ve come to expect when they face their friendly foes New Zealand.

But the Black Caps have fought back well and the match is evenly poised in front of a packed and parochial crowd at Basin Reserve.

I’ll be guiding us through to stumps. Please do send me your thoughts - on Email - whether you have a birds-eye view from Wellington, or are following from other parts of New Zealand, Australia or any corner of the globe.

With that wicket it’s time for me to hand over to Martin Pegan and bid you farewell. Thanks for your company, I’ll be back on the tools tomorrow for day two. Over to you for the rest of the day, Martin!

41st over: Australia 89-2 (Green 5, Head 1)

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WICKET! Khawaja b Henry 33

The pressure tells! Henry gets an in-ducker through Khawaja who goes for a drive but connects only with fresh Wellington air! New Zealand have been excellent in the hour post lunch and they’ve removed the Aussie lynchpin. Game on!

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40th over: Australia 88-2 (Khawaja 33, Green 5) Better stuff from O’Rourke – he scrambles the seam and leaves Green groping for a ball outside off stump. A layer of lacquer away. A maiden to follow up his untidy previous over. Australia are becalmed.

39th over: Australia 88-2 (Khawaja 33, Green 5) The pitch is just starting to spit a bit, a few balls have climbed quickly off a good length since lunch. Close! Henry nearly cleans up Green with a ball that moves back late, Green shouldered arms but it was a late decision and his stumps were very much in play.

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38th over: Australia 87-2 (Khawaja 33, Green 5) Wild stuff from Will O’Rourke! A loose ball down the leg side clips Khawaja’s thigh and runs away for four leg byes. The bowler then whangs down a short ball that slides past Blundell behind the stumps and away for five wides. Matt Henry is coming on, this’ll be a test for Cameron Green.

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37th over: Australia 78-2 (Khawaja 33, Green 5) Green eases a full bunger by Kuggeleijn for a couple. Oooft. Another yorker is just jammed down on in time by Green – if he missed that then he was done done done.

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36th over: Australia 76-2 (Khawaja 33, Green 3) The camera pans to a mournful looking Marnus on the team balcony in his slippers. Test cricket seemed like such an easy game to play yesterday eighteen months ago. Southee replaces himself with O’Rourke and it’s a tidy over apart from four byes speared down the leg side off the final ball. Australia will take them any which way, their scoring rate has been prettay pedestrian so far today.

35th over: Australia 72-2 (Khawaja 33, Green 3) Scott ‘Koogz’ has started to hit his straps after lunch. He keeps Khawaja honest with a maiden that includes a snorter that climbs off the pitch and flies past the helmet - Blundell is leaping to haul it in behind the stumps. Where did that come from?!

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34th over: Australia 72-2 (Khawaja 33, Green 3) Southee to Green. Four balls are left alone or defended by the big man. The fifth is driven on the up in the gap for a couple. Rippah! Southee scuds one past the edge with his final ball. New Zealand have looked more dangerous after lunch even though the conditions look better for batting.

33rd over: Australia 69-2 (Khawaja 33, Green 1) Kuggeleijn chugs in, an inswinger is worked off the pads for a single by Khawaja. Green then gets ofg the mark with a scampered single, three strides and he’s completed the run. ‘Koogywoogy’ (did I mention it is late here?) slams one down the middle of the pitch, getting his Wagner on you might say. Umpire Marais Erasmus deems it too short and calls wide.

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32nd over: Australia 66-2 (Khawaja 31, Green 0) Cameron Green is the new man, striding to the wicket in his new berth at number four. Khawaja clips Southee off his pads to bring Green on strike for one ball. A lunge forward and a leave alone by Green. The stadium PA blasts out a bit of REM. Just turned 1am here in London, this one feels appropriate:

I am the screen, the blinding light
I’m the screen, I work at night

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WICKET! Labuschagne c Mitchell b Kuggeleijn 1 (Australia 65-2)

Khawaja gets off strike off the first ball of the over to leave Labuschagne the rest. Watchful stuff from Marnus. He leaves the ball outside off stump and defends a shorter ball well – getting in and behind it, riding the bounce. He’s got one run off 27 balls … and he’s GONE on his 28th! Kuggeleijn makes the pressure count – nicking off Marnus, a fab low catch taken by Daryl Mitchellin the cordon. A rather torturous knock comes to an end as Labuschagne’s battting woes continue.

31st over: Australia 65-2 (Khawaja 31)

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30th over: Australia 64-1 (Khawaja 29, Labuschagne 1) Southee sends down some scrambled seam deliveries that kick off the pitch. Khawaja takes a single and then the Kiwi skipper hangs the ball outside off stump, daring Marnus to have a flirt. He resists, for now.

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29th over: Australia 63-1 (Khawaja 28, Labuschagne 1) Scott Kuggeleijn starts from the other end. Khawaja swivels his hips to pull a single into the off side. Marnus cloths a short ball wide of off stump, that was a gimme and an in form Labuschagne would have pummelled it to the fence without a second thought. Another scratchy start from the Aussie number three – he has just a solitary run from eighteen balls, but he’s still there and scrapping.

28th over: Australia 62-1 (Khawaja 27, Labuschagne 1) Southee steams in, blue skies and sunshiiine in Wellington now. A maiden to begin with. There was a nice feature with Rachin Ravindra and Tom Blundell at lunch, both seem like thoroughly nice blokes. Looking forward to watching Ravindra bat later on, he’s had a stellar past six months and has all the shots in his locker. Also - a big fan of his lusciously tousled curls.

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Here come the players for the afternoon session. Tim Southee will start with the ball and he’s got three slips and a gully in place for Marnus Labuschagne.

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“Dear James, 62 runs in the session at a run rate of 2.30 runs per over. It’s not exactly Bazball…”

Don’t mention the B-word Michael Meagher!

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Lunch: Australia 62-1

27th over: Australia 62-1 (Khawaja 27, Labuschagne 1)

That’s the end of the session. It looked like it was firmly Australia’s until Matt Henry prised out Steve Smith ten minutes before lunch. Australia played watchfully, 62 runs in the session at a pedestrian run rate of 2.30 runs per over means that they haven’t got away from the home side.

26th over: Australia 62-1 (Khawaja 27, Labuschagne 1) O’Rourke is working up a head of steam, buoyed by the wicket at the other end. He’s up at 143 KPH but the radar is a bit all over the show. Labuschagne only has to play at two deliveries in the over.

25th over: Australia 62-1 (Khawaja 27, Labuschagne 1) Marnus Labuschagne is the new batter and he is under some pressure in this series after having a quiet Ashes series and home summer. He gets off the mark with a clip to fine leg and chews his gum with unbridled ferocity at the non strikers end.

WICKET! Smith c Blundell b Henry 31 (Australia 61-1)

My oh my did New Zealand need that! Matt Henry gets the breakthrough and it’s a really good ball that sees the end of Steve Smith. Full and shaping away, squaring Smith up and talking the shoulder of his blade. Props to Tom Blundell who took a brilliant diving catch behind the stumps, snaffling the ball straight in front of first slip.

24th over: Australia 60-0 (Smith 29, Khawaja 27) O’Rourke has a leg slip in place for Smith and the trap nearly works… a short ball at the ribs is fended round the corner but evades keeper and fielder. Twenty minutes or so until lunch.

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23rd over: Australia 58-0 (Smith 29, Khawaja 27) Matt Henry back into the attack – he’s been the most potent looking of the NZ bowlers this morning. His side need a wicket but there’s nothing doing off this over, the batters rotate and take a single each. Sun beating down in Wellington, pitch flattening out by the second…

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22nd over: Australia 58-0 (Smith 29, Khawaja 27) Smith picks up a couple of twos off O’Rourke. All too easy for the visitors, New Zealand’s attack has looked a bit samey so far this morning.

21st over: Australia 54-0 (Smith 25, Khawaja 27) New Zealand lose a review as they send an LBW shout upstairs but Kuggeleijn’s full ball was sliding down past Khawaja’s leg stump. Shot! Khawaja responds with a flashing drive past backward point to pick up four and then follows up with a pull for four more to bring up the fifty opening stand for Australia.

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Away from cricket. Just seen the news about Richard Lewis. Tried and failed to find a ‘clean’ clip but this just made me chuckle. One of the great non-double-double-acts of the last 25 years.

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20th over: Australia 44-0 (Smith 24, Khawaja 18) Pick that out! Southee drops short and Khawaja pulls away nonchalantly for SIX! Southee responds with a beauty that zips away late.

19th over: Australia 37-0 (Smith 24, Khawaja 11) Kuggeleijn is up at 135 KPH (mid-eighties MPH) and beats Smith with a full ball that nips away late. He’s not as accurate as Southee or Henry but you feel he’s got wickets in him, even if he does go for a few. A short ball is flayed by Smith but Glenn Phillips flings himself across the turf at backward point to stop a certain boundary.

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18th over: Australia 34-0 (Smith 23, Khawaja 9) Shot! Steve Smith drives Southee on the up and straight back past the bowler for four. Imperious.

17th over: Australia 30-0 (Smith 19, Khawaja 9) Kuggeleijn starts perkily, he goes full and short – unsettling Smith with a searing short ball and nearly sneaking a yorker through too. Three singles off the over but a more threatening one from the fourth seamer.

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16th over: Australia 27-0 (Smith 17, Khawaja 8) Southee starts again after a slurp of something luminous. I reckon New Zealand need to be a bit braver here and risk going for runs in search of wickets. They could be a bit fuller, Smith and Khawaja are happy to hang back and play from the crease, it’s all a bit too comfortable. Here comes the whippy Scott Kuggeleijn. If Paul Adams was the ‘frog in a blender’ then Kuggeleijn’s action is reminiscent of a snake in a salad spinner - limbs spraying in all directions during the delivery stride. I’m all for it.

15th over: Australia 27-0 (Smith 17, Khawaja 8) O’Rourke joins the dots to make it eight maidens in the first hour. Time for a drink. Australia have been watchful and New Zealand frugal but lacking in penetration. Still nothing in the wicket column for the Kiwis after winning the toss and bowling first.

14th over: Australia 27-0 (Smith 17, Khawaja 8) Southee replaces Henry, he’s full and at the stumps and pads. Khawaja gets down the wicket but hits the fielder with a lovely looking flick to midwicket. Now then! Steve Smith slips over after being sent back by his partner but New Zealand were slow to react in the field… Rachin Ravindra eventually threw to the non-strikers end with Smith sprawling for his crease but the throw was weak and wide. A let off.

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13th over: Australia 27-0 (Smith 17, Khawaja 8) Smith lines up a booming drive off O’Rourke but finds the fielder. And again – signs of a bit of frustration from Smith, he nailed those two but got nowt for ‘em. A maiden.

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12th over: Australia 27-0 (Smith 17, Khawaja 8) Runs! Khawaja clips a couple off his pads as Henry strays too straight.

“G’day James”

Back atcha Rowan Sweeney. “You’ve made it over from Ranchi in good time, living the jetsetting dream of the OBOer! How good is it to see two fast bowling captains? I love a bit of symmetry so I hope Cummins breaks with tradition and starts the first over when it’s NZ’s turn with the willow.”

Haha. My carbon footprint has only taken in the journey from my sofa to the fridge and back again, Rowan.

Updated

11th over: Australia 25-0 (Smith 17, Khawaja 6) O’Rourke is a bit too short and Smith cuts away for a couple. A few clouds roll over the Basin, Matt Henry is going to continue – Khawaja has soaked him up so far this morning, the seamer hasn’t had a delivery at Smith in his last four overs.

10th over: Australia 23-0 (Smith 15, Khawaja 6) Matt Henry is in fine fettle here. Another maiden, his third of the morning.

9th over: Australia 23-0 (Smith 15, Khawaja 6) Will O’Rourke replaces Southee and gets some steepling bounce in his first over. A skiddy, limby action, he’s an exciting talent and Southee is happy to get him into the game early. Smith glides a late cut wide of point for two runs.

8th over: Australia 21-0 (Smith 13, Khawaja 6) Close! Henry squares Khawaja up and takes the edge but the ball flicks the thigh pad on the way through which means it dies just before it gets to Tom Latham in the cordon! Eeeesht – that was close – replays show that Latham came as near as dammit to scooping that up on the dive, we’ve seen players celebrate those plenty of times before. Latham simply tossed the ball back round to the bowler, he knew it wasn’t clean.

Salt, meet wound. Khawaja gets a thicker edge on the final ball of the over and it flies away wide of the slips for a boundary.

Updated

7th over: Australia 17-0 (Smith 13, Khawaja 2) Southee’s turn to tie Steve Smith down at the other end. Smith defends stoically before a huge appeal off the final ball for an LBW… NOT OUT – an inside edge saves The Smudger from an early bath.

6th over: Australia 17-0 (Smith 13, Khawaja 2) Matt Henry works Khawaja over once again, pitching the ball on a postage stamp outside off stump. Usman is watchful, only playing when he really has to. A maiden ensues – proper criggit.

5th over: Australia 17-0 (Smith 13, Khawaja 2) Hear that? That’s the sound of a million Aussie cricket fans purring simultaneously. Southee overpitches a smidge and Steve Smith unfurls a classical cover drive that skims away in the gap for four.

“It’s a little chilly at the Basin, but blue skies advancing. No real movement, but a typical Basin wicket. All set fair.” Have a belter Paul Cockburn!

Updated

4th over: Australia 13-0 (Smith 9, Khawaja 2) Lovely maiden stitched together by Matt Henry. He gives Khawaja’s defensive tekkers and judgement a thorough working over but the batter is up to the challenge. There’s a decent amount in this wicket on early evidence, New Zealand will have to make it count before it flattens out.

“Time for business” writes Simon McMahon. “Evening / Morning Jim. Test cricket featuring fierce rivals on a green top on a Wednesday night in February. The night for Test cricket, among other things. Two handsome captains. It’s business time!”

3rd over: Australia 13-0 (Smith 9, Khawaja 2) Southee gets some nibble off the pitch, one nips away from the left-handed Khawaja and another decks back and narrowly misses off stump. There are only two types of leave eh Ussie… Khawaja clips off his toes to pick up a brace and get off the mark. Southee then sprays one well wide of keeper Tom Blundell that is given as byes. Who’d be a keeper.

2nd over: Australia 9-0 (Smith 9, Khawaja 0) Matt Henry shares the new ball and he takes the edge of Steve Smith’s bat twice in his opening over! Both times the Aussie is squared up by a length ball and both times the ball flies in the gap between slip and gully and away for four runs. Glenn Phillips is the fielder at gully, don’t mess with him, that guy is electric in the field.

1st over: Australia 1-0 (Smith 1, Khawaja 0) There’s a suggestion of movement in the air but nothing too dramatic off the pitch in the first over. Smith tickles the fourth ball off his hip and into the leg side to get the first run of the Test match. Beauty! Southee whizzes one off a length past the forward prod of Usman Khawaja. Sun peeping out in Wellington, the Basin Reserve looks a picture.

The players have belted out the anthems. Tim Southee is marking out his run, this is his 99th Test match. He’ll open up with the new orb to Steve Smith. Play!

Updated

We’ve got about ten minutes til the start of play. It’s a cliche but the first hour is going to be imperative. New Zealand will want early wickets and Australia will want to alleviate any nagging doubts that their batting card is a bit out of nick, beady eyes particularly on Steve Smith at the top of the opener followed by Marnus and Cameron Green.

Updated

A word on Neil Wagner who hung his bowling boots up this week. Such a wholehearted and sinew straining cricketer. I for one will miss him whanging it down the middle of the pitch, not sure Steve Smith will though…

Updated

The first three days are a sellout in Wellington and there’s a great buzz around the place (that I can detect through my TV on my sofa in South London). The coverage started with a delightful Anchorman/Alan Partridge ‘stroll n talk’ towards the camera. Someone must be clipping it up as we speak.

Here are the confirmed teams:

Australian XI 1 Steven Smith, 2 Usman Khawaja, 3 Marnus Labuschagne, 4 Cameron Green, 5 Travis Head, 6 Mitchell Marsh, 7 Alex Carey (wk), 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Pat Cummins (capt), 10 Nathan Lyon, 11 Josh Hazlewood

New Zealand XI 1 Tom Latham, 2 Will Young, 3 Kane Williamson, 4 Rachin Ravindra, 5 Daryl Mitchell, 6 Tom Blundell (wk), 7 Glenn Phillips, 8 Scott Kuggeleijn, 9 Matt Henry, 10 Tim Southee (capt), 11 William O’Rourke

New Zealand win the toss and will BOWL first

Southee calls the coin correctly and sticks the visitors in on a green’un!

“We’ve played enough here to know it’s a good surface, it’s been under covers for the last 24 hours.”

Pat Cummins confirms he would have done the same but says he isn’t too disappointed as the wickets in Wellington tend to be decent. “I’m not too upset. Some first innings scores have been big here.”

Updated

Tim Southee and Pat Cummins have got their blazers on out in the middle… two of the most handsome chaps in world Cricket?

Kiwi pacer Scott Kuggeleijn has been spotted marking out his run up at the ground, so unless he is doing some Mitch Marsh esque jiggery pokery the smart money is on New Zealand going for an all out pace attack and resting the bespectacled tweak of Mitchell Santner.

The toss will be all important, with the pitch greener than a Goblin’s todg… erm ankle and some overhead clouds hanging around it has to be a bowl first morning? The Basin Reserve tends to flatten out though so make it through the first session and there could be runs to be had.

Updated

Fair to say there’s already been a bit going on in Wellington this morning… there’s been rain and the small matter of a 4.7 magnitude earthquake. That’s just a tiddler, apparently.

Adam Collins – sometime of this parish and all the time with the resplendent bouffant - is at the ground, it looks a bit mizzly but the forecast is good for the next few days at least.

Updated

Preamble

Hello and welcome to the day one OBO of New Zealand v Australia at the Basin Reserve in Wellington. ‘The War of the Ditch!’ as absolutely no one is calling it. This series is proper appointment viewing - Australia return to New Zealand to play Test cricket after an eight year gap. Eight years! Neither captain Pat Cummins or searing southpaw Mitchell Starc has hauled on the cream flannels for a match on the green green grass of New Zealand.

The two Test series (Boo!) is hotly anticipated, with ticket sales strong in both Wellington and Christchurch. This is perhaps a reflection on the fact that the Trans Tasman rivals don’t face up that often in the longest format (and aren’t scheduled to meet again until 2026/7) but also because they are two fine Test sides with stardust sprinkled across each XI.

…The New Zealand public, who have just watched the Black Caps beat an understrength South Africa side 2-0, are ready for the challenge of their noisy neighbours, despite the odds. Somehow, from a population of just over five million, most of whom are obsessed with rugby union, the New Zealand cricket side not only won the World Test Championship in 2021 but head the current table (with England languishing down in eighth).

But for all the outstanding, unexpected, success of the New Zealand Test team, the Australians are their brain fart, their soft underbelly, their recurring naked nightmare. The Black Caps have beaten Australia only once in a Test since 1993 – at Hobart in 2011. And they have have lost nine of their 10 home Tests against Australia in the 21st century. They followed on in the 10th, and saved it thanks to bad light and persistent rain rather than any memorable rearguard action.”

Jim here with you for the first few sessions, there’s so much to dig into over the coming hours and days and I for one am positively fizzing to get into it all. In the meantime, here’s one Tanya Aldred prepared earlier - this scene setter is well worth a read as we approach the toss and final team* news in Wellington.

Play gets underway at the Basin Reserve at 11am local/9am AEDT. Please do drop me a line on Email or tweet @Jimbo_Cricket with your musings, it’s always** a pleasure to hear from OBO followers around the globe. Righto, let’s do this shall we?

*Cummins has already named his XI a day early, the confident so and so.

**Almost always. Nudge, nudge, wink, wink.

Updated

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