Key events
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Fewest runs scored in three consecutive Test innings by Aussies at #5:
0 MWaugh
1 THead
2 SKatich
3 VTrumper, AVoges
4 VRichardson, DWalters, MRenshaw— Ric Finlay (@RicFinlay) February 29, 2024
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
