Milestone moment marred
Josh Hazlewood morphed into the gatecrasher on Kane Williamson and Tim Southee’s big party day in Christchurch.
With their loved ones watching on in the Hagley Oval pavilion as they joined the sixstrong Black Caps’ 100-test club yesterday, New Zealand produced another batting stinker against Australia.
Both deservedly received standing ovations from the Hagley faithful as they strolled out to bat. By the time Southee made his way to the middle, New Zealand were in ruins at 107-8.
Williamson and Southee deserved much better in their milestone match, but Matt Henry and debutant Ben Sears revived the mood late in the day.
For much of yesterday it threatened to be a Hagley horror show with New Zealand crumbling again with the bat.
Kiwi cricket nuffies haven’t experienced a home test win over Australia since 1993 at Auckland’s Eden Park. New Zealand’s day one batting didn’t do much to try to help them snap that drought.
Henry, who shone with 3-39, and Sears, who snaffled a wicket with his third ball, showed plenty of fight late in the final session, but it was Australia’s day. They went to stumps at 124-4, trailing by 38 runs.
For the third straight innings in this series, New Zealand were rolled for less than 200 as Australia again feasted.
The Black Caps haven’t posted 260 in nine straight innings against Australia, going back to their last series, contested in late 2019-early 2020 across the ditch.
It was ugly stuff in front of a sold out Hagley crowd of about 7000, who were packing out the grass bank more than hour before the first ball.
New Zealand were rolled inside two sessions for 162 in 45.2 overs – a total that could have been much lower had it not been for a 55-run ninth wicket stand from Southee and Henry.
“[The batting is] not a concern. Looking at our batting lineup we’ve got world-class players there,” Henry said.
“They’ve been fantastic for a number of years and there’s no part that I’ve got any doubt that they’ll be great and fine moving forward. It’s day one of a test match and the ball is allowed to move around and guys are allowed to bowl well.”
The wickets tumbled after openers Tom
Latham and Will Young had got through the first hour after being sent in by Pat Cummins, going on to add 47 for the first wicket.
Australia even had to revert to plan B, turning to offspinner Nathan Lyon, who captured 10 wickets in Wellington, inside just 12 overs.
Then the Australian fireworks began. New Zealand lost their next eight wickets for 60 runs with Hazlewood causing chaos, mixed with several meek dismissals.
By that stage the smattering of Australian fans on the grass bank, most who have headed over in sports tour groups, were crowing loudly.
Hazlewood’s figures in the first test probably didn’t reflect how well he bowled (capturing 4-74 for the match).
He was on another level to his team-mates yesterday, constantly attacking off stump and bowling impeccable line and length. Loose deliveries were few and far between.
“Watching him go about his work was probably a bit of a blueprint for how we wanted to bowl out there as well,” Henry said.
“It was a matter of being accurate for a long period of time and creating pressure and he did that beautifully and thankfully we managed to do that for periods [in the final session] as well and to get a few poles.”
Hazlewood registered his 12th five-wicket bag in tests, finishing with 5-31 from 13.2 overs, his sixth best figures in an innings.
The tone was set early for Hazlewood, who asked questions of Young and regularly beat the bat.
There was plenty of anticipation leading into a supposed mouthwatering two-match home series against Australia. The first four days of both tests sold out well in advance, but the form guide has gone as so many have in the past with Australia bossing the Kiwis.
Put up a fight? No, these Black Caps again toppled over like a stack of dominoes with the bat.
Take nothing away from Hazlewood who was exceptional.
Daryl Mitchell trudged back to the dressing room almost nodding his head, knowing he couldn’t do much more with one he edged through to wicketkeeper Alex Carey.
There was no fairytale ton in the first innings in test No 100 for Williamson, who was struck plumb in front by Hazlewood for 17. Others were their own worst enemy.
Rachin Ravindra started the rot in what turned out to be the last ball before lunch, throwing his wicket away.
In just his seventh test, Ravindra had a brain fade, chasing a wide delivery outside off stump from Hazlewood.
He should have been in defence mode an over before lunch with New Zealand two down, but fell recklessly.
Learning his craft at test match level, it’s these tough days Ravindra will draw on and make him a better cricketer in the long run.
Latham looked in some touch getting to 38, seeing off the new ball. He struck several beautiful cover drives and would have been disappointed he edged through to Carey, when he could have left outside off.
The Cantabrian had done all the hard work and could have been set for a memorable day at his Hagley home.
Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips didn’t exactly cover themselves in glory, both edging through to Carey down the leg side.
When Blundell went, New Zealand had lost three wickets in four balls, slumping to 107-8.
With the ball, they’ll need to keep striking often on day two and get rid of Marnus Labuschagne early, who is due after a lean run of form.
Fail to do that and Southee and Williamson’s celebratory test could turn into a fizzer.