A second test century from Cameron Green saved Australia’s blushes on day one of the first test against New Zealand after the Kiwi’s impressive display of seam bowling saw them grab nine wickets at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
Australia lost the toss and were inserted by New Zealand skipper Tim Southee who opted for a pace quartet of himself plus Matt Henry, the recalled Scott Kuggeleijn, and wunderkind Will O'Rourke who took nine wickets in his recent test debut against South Africa.
There was no room for veteran Neil Wagner who’s hand was forced into retirement after being omitted from the XI on Tuesday.
Under clear skies and accompanied by Wellington’s famous wind, Australia’s opening pair Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja made a confident start on a greenish pitch, and as the game’s first hour ticked by, the pair looked comfortable in reaching 61 without loss as lunch loomed.
Smith then fell after nicking the day’s most impressive performer Henry to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for 31.
After a circumspect start to the second session, Marnus Labuschagne was neatly taken at first slip by Daryl Mitchell off Kuggeleijn for a single and was followed back into the hutch by Khawaja who was castled by a Henry inswinger for a laborious 33 off 118 deliveries.
One run later Travis Head became O'Rourke’s first victim edging to Blundell putting Australia in a precarious position.
Henry continued to probe the corridor of uncertainty but came away unrewarded as Mitchell Marsh, who was at his belligerent best, counter-attacked the quicks smearing the Black Cap’s attack to all parts in a nearly run-a-ball 40 which included 6 boundaries and a maximum.
Green played his part too, pasting log-hops and taking on the field, and together the pair put on 67 to reconsolidate the Aussie’s innings. The resurrection came to an end on 156, when March mistimed a pull shot of Henry which brought ‘keeper Alex Carey to the crease.
Carey, who averages a shade over 31, is not yet fully guaranteed his place in the red-ball format and looked troubled offering an early chance to Glenn Phillips at second slip, who despite his Olympian-like athleticism, failed to rein in the chance.
Carey’s stay of execution was only halted briefly however when he misdirected a full-blooded drive off Kuggeleijn to Kane Williamson in the covers to make it 176/6.
Mitchell Starc joined Green who accelerated against some ineffective bowling in particular from Southee who looked toothless as the sidelined Wagner watched forlornly from his seat outside the boundary.
The pair reached 211 before Starc edged a good-looking length ball off O'Rourke to occasional keeper Tom Latham who expertly pouched the opportunity.
Pat Cummins played some nice shots as he and Green elevated the total to 244/7, before spinner Rachin Ravindra, brought on to sneak in a few overs before the second new ball, got one to turn and straighten, trapping the Australian captain on the back pad adjacent with off stump, making an easy decision for umpire Marais Erasmus.
Spinner Nathan Lyon joined Green and shellacked a four down the ground before Henry, coming around the wicket, forced him to play a good-length rock that took the edge and was gobbled up by Blundell.
The threat of Green being cut off from his hundred by an ever-decreasing tail prompted the big allrounder to open his shoulders as the last man Josh Hazlewood lent nervously on his blade. In the 85th over Green bludgeoned O'Rourke for 3 boundaries bringing up his ton in the nick of time.
Ending on 279/9, learned observers felt that honours were even. It is up for debate whether a sub-300 score is sufficient on a track that historically flattens out by day 3 offering plenty of opportunity for batters to fill their boots.
The Black Caps should get their opportunity to build a first-innings lead sometime tomorrow morning—but Australia, undoubtedly, have other plans as an intriguing contest looms.
