WELLINGTON: Cameron Green stepped up as Australia’s No.4 with a brilliant century to defy New Zealand’s all-out pace on a tough Wellington surface on an impressive opening day of the first Test. In just his fourth innings after being recalled to the team, Green pushed through the cramp to reach his second Test ton with a boundary over backward point on the second last ball in front of the stumps. He put the tiring New Zealand attack to the sword late on and finished unbeaten on 103 off 155 balls. In their first Test in New Zealand since 2016, Australia’s rocky innings endured a collapse of 4 for 28, including the failure of Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head, after a half-century opening partnership between Usman Khawaja and Steven Smith.
Between Green and Mitchell Marsh, who struck 40 off 39 balls, leveled Australia, who ended the opening day of the two-match series happy with a comeback after being sent out. Green got off to a nervous start before settling in, combining strong defense with attractive drives. He was resourceful too, countering Matt Henry’s prodigious movement by sweeping away the crease. Green, who is batting at No.4 for Western Australia in the Sheffield Shield, reached his half-century in risky fashion when he almost offered a reverse catch to Tim Southee as the ball went through his hands and raced to the boundary.
The decision to kick Green into the line-up after David Warner’s retirement and also prepare for this series in the Shield instead of playing T20 cricket was justified. Henry bowled tirelessly outside the off stump and made good use of the pitch and his position. a performance of 4 for 43 from 20 overs was highlighted by a spectacular delivery that was bowled by Khawaja at middle stump. The remarkably green surface picked up speed as the day progressed and there was also some uneven bounce as Will O’Rourke continued his strong start to Test cricket with a powerful short bowling that chipped away at one length.
New Zealand, who have beaten Australia just once in 29 Test matches since 1993, stuck to a heavy seam attack by including Scott Kuggeleijn and opting against the recall of left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner. Australia started unchanged from the side that suffered an eight-run shock. defeat against the West Indies at the Gabba last month, with the same front-line attack for the sixth Test in a row. In a new era following the departure of the fiery Neil Wagner, who reappeared as a substitute fielder later in the day, New Zealand’s new-look fast bowlers looked set to make an early breakthrough against Australia’s new top order, which is still settling into place following Warner’s departure.
Continuing a long trend of captains opting to play at Basin Reserve, Southee had no hesitation in sending Australia in amid overcast skies. With a brisk breeze at his back, Henry bowled a probing spell for six overs with the new ball and was locked in a compelling battle of patience with Khawaja. In his first Test innings as an opener away from home, Smith got off to a nervous start before a boundary drive on a rare loose Southee delivery came as a confidence booster. But after being dismissed on strike, Smith became noticeably nervous again and went for a dodgy single, only to be sent back by Khawaja as he scrambled to the non-striker’s end. Australia looked set to get through the first session unscathed before Smith, his third Test since moving up the order, claimed Henry to finish on 31 off 71 as New Zealand carried the momentum into the second session.
