The weight of expectation was on the visitors to repeat their emphatic first test win, as round two, featuring the 100th tests for New Zealand’s Captain Tim Southee and runmaker Kane Williamson, got underway at Christchurch’s Hagley Park.
After being crushed resoundingly in Wellington, the Black Caps hoped for better after being inserted into bat by Australian Captain Pat Cummins.
Clear skies, a moderate zephyr, and a greenish-looking pitch met openers Will Young and Tom Latham, who showed early resistance against the new ball in helpful conditions for the quicks.
Aside from the usual “oohs” and “ahhs” from the slip cordon, the Kiwis looked relatively untroubled, blunting the new ball and reaching 57 before Young’s lack of returns at the top level continued when he failed to whip away a legside ball from Mitchell Starc, instead squaring up and scratching a delivery to Mitchell Marsh at first slip.
The wicket drew Starc level with the great Dennis Lillee on the list of Australia’s all-time best.
The early promise was curtailed and normal service resumed for the Black Caps when the impressive Hazlewood got one to straighten on Latham who edged through to Carey for 38 off 69.
Questions linger over whether the number 4 spot is the best place for Rachin Ravindra in test cricket despite some good knocks over the summer. His pattern of inconsistency continued when he failed to get the feet moving and nicked a wide ball from Hazelwood to Usman Khawaja at second slip for 4.
Resuming after lunch at 71/3, Daryl Mitchell, who looks to be searching to regain the form of the 2022/23 summer, also came and went after Hazlewood produced a diamond of a delivery inducing the edge as Mitchell looked to advance. Watching from the other end, Williamson had meticulously made his way to 17 before he uncharacteristically missed a straight one from Hazlewood and the ball thudded into the pads.
Given the gravity of Williamson’s wicket, the inevitable review followed which condemned the veteran, who upon seeing the TV replay, duly walked off before the umpire had raised the finger to reiterate his decision.
Tom Blundell threatened a score before Cameron Green and Starc dispatched him and Glenn Phillips. Scott Kuggelijn had his toe smashed in front by Starc for a first-ball LBW to leave New Zealand reeling at 107/7.
Sensing total capitulation, Matt Henry was at his cavalier best in unorthodoxy, smashing his way to 29 off as many balls before becoming Hazlewood’s fifth victim. Captain Southee showed some resistance in typical stand-and-deliver fashion before top-edging Cummins.
The score of 162 was never going to be enough, but Steve Smith’s lean run continued via an awkward leave off debutant Ben Sears which was adjudged to be clipping the off stump leaving the Black Caps cock-a-hoop.
It became 32/2 when a fired-up Matt Henry, undoubtedly the pick of New Zealand’s attack, wrecked Khawaja’s leg stump in a three-card trick that had seen the previous two balls cause the left-hander similar, if not fatal, distress.
Marnus Labuschagne, who came into the game under a form cloud, held resolute at one end but lost first-test century-maker Green to a nice piece of bowling from Henry on 25.
Travis Head made a quickly-compiled 21, before playing an unnecessary shot off a short ball well outside off and succeeded in sending a small edge through to Blundell to give Henry his third.
Nightwatchman Nathan Lyon managed to keep his job overnight surviving 8 balls, to leave Australia 124/4 setting up an intriguing contest on day two.
