New Zealand were skittled for 202, but hit back with the key wicket of David Warner on an eventful opening day of the historic day-night Test in Adelaide yesterday.
In a ringing endorsement for the pink ball concept, 47,441 fans thronged into the Adelaide Oval for the first ever day-night Test.
It was the biggest international crowd at the Adelaide Oval since England’s headline-grabbing 1932-1933 Bodyline series in Australia.
Photo: AP
Mitchell Starc, the new leader of Australia’s pace attack, and new-ball partner Josh Hazlewood claimed three wickets each, before Starc was forced from the field and was later diagnosed with a stress fracture of the right foot.
The Black Caps fought back with two wickets, including the prolific-scoring Warner for just 1, to have the home side battening down against the swinging pink ball under lights.
At the close, Australia were recovering at 54-2, with skipper Steve Smith 24 not out and Adam Voges on 9.
“It was a great day. Everyone who came and witnessed what went on will be very impressed with the whole experience,” senior Australia paceman Peter Siddle said. “I think for cricket in general it would have been supported well here and it would have been on TV all over the world. For cricket, it’s definitely been a great day.”
Starc put the skids under New Zealand, removing in-form Kane Williamson (22), skipper Brendon McCullum (4) and debutant Mitchell Santner (31) as the Black Caps succumbed in 65.2 overs, but the left-arm speedster was forced from the field before the dinner break and went for scans.
The tourists never recovered from losing three wickets in 11 balls and were all out in the final night session with Hazlewood claiming two late wickets to finish with a three-wicket haul.
Tom Latham was out attempting to cut spinner Nathan Lyon and was caught behind by Peter Nevill for 50. Ross Taylor, who amassed the highest score of 290 by a touring batsman in Australia in last week’s drawn Perth Test, followed seven balls later.
Taylor edged the recalled Siddle to Nevill for 21 and skipper Brendon McCullum’s miserable scoring series continued when he was out to an injudicious slash outside off-stump.
Starc’s delivery was wide, but McCullum went after it and gave a healthy snick for Nevill’s third straight catch for just 4.
Starc then bowled Santner for 31, reducing the Black Caps to 142-6 before leaving the field.
Mark Craig was bowled by a sharply turning Lyon delivery nearing the dinner break for 11.
Australia mopped up the tail, with B.J. Watling caught in the slips off Hazlewood and Doug Bracewell spooning a catch to Joe Burns to give Siddle his 200th Test wicket.
Hazlewood wrapped it up when Tim Southee was caught in the deep for 16.
New Zealand lost the key wicket of the in-form Williamson in the first session, after being trapped leg before wicket by Starc.
Starc, who has taken over as the leader of the Australia bowling attack after last week’s retirement of Mitchell Johnson, hit Williamson’s pads with a yorker in front of the stumps with the fourth delivery of his second over in his second spell.
However, Australia endured a torrid time against the hooping pink ball in their turn to bat under lights and Trent Boult had Warner caught at third slip, before Doug Bracewell bowled Joe Burns for 14.
“It was great to be part of it. It was an exciting day, there was an electric atmosphere out there,” Boult said. “A few wickets tumbled. The game is well and truly progressed now. Definitely a pretty good first day.”
New Zealand, unbeaten in their past seven Test series since 2013, will have to win the historic Test to draw the series after Australia won the Brisbane opener and the second Test in Perth finished in a draw.
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