Following a wild first day of the first Test in Wellington, where New Zealand's speed assault caused mayhem, Cameron Green saved Australia with a counterattacking century.
With a tenacious 103 not out, his best Test performance since being selected as the No. 4 player, the West Australian vindicated the selectors' faith by leading the tourists to a 9-279 final score at stumps on the opening day at the Basin Reserve. On a day when the bowlers controlled proceedings, no one else in the Australian team scored more than forty.
After smashing three boundaries in the last over, Green reached his second century in Test cricket on the penultimate delivery of the day. In just 46 deliveries, he went from fifty to triple figures, finding the boundary rope 16 occasions during the knock that defined your career.
Green remarked, "It feels really good," at the stumps.
"That was a challenging wicket to be on."
"I was relieved that I was the one who had to step up and take the lead,"
The youthful all-rounder demonstrated on Thursday afternoon why Australian selectors were sure that Green remained one of the six finest batsmen in the nation, even though he was axed from the Test team last year following a lackluster six months on the international scene.
Australia was 4–89 behind after being sent in, but Green, with help from captain Pat Cummins and fellow all-rounder Mitchell Marsh, began to rebuild the innings.
Prior to this, Australia's top order was thoroughly embarrassed by Black Caps quick Matt Henry, who took 4-43 from 20 overs, including the vital wickets of Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja. Despite some errant bowling throughout the day, fellow seamers Will O'Rourke and Scott Kuggeleijn—both in their second Test—chimed in with two wickets apiece.
With a healthy covering of grass on the Basin Reserve surface on Thursday morning, it was hardly shocking when Black Caps captain Tim Southee won the toss and elected to bowl first under cloudy skies.
Prior to this, Australia's top order was thoroughly embarrassed by Black Caps quick Matt Henry, who took 4-43 from 20 overs, including the vital wickets of Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja. Despite some errant bowling throughout the day, fellow seamers Will O'Rourke and Scott Kuggeleijn—both in their second Test—chimed in with two wickets apiece.
With a healthy covering of grass on the Basin Reserve surface on Thursday morning, it was hardly shocking when Black Caps captain Tim Southee won the toss and elected to bowl first under cloudy skies.
After the drink break, the hosts lost all patience and reviewed an LBW shout against Khawaja that was easily sliding down leg. Late in the morning session, though, Henry finally produced the much-needed breakthrough when Smith edged through to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for 31 after fending in the channel.
Australian openers Khawaja and Smith put together a patient 61-run partnership that included several nervous moments, surviving the opening ninety minutes unscathed. Smith once stumbled while retreating in the middle of the pitch and had to scramble frantically to regain ground at the non-striker's end.
After the drink break, the hosts lost all patience and reviewed an LBW shout against Khawaja that was easily sliding down leg. Late in the morning session, though, Henry finally produced the much-needed breakthrough when Smith edged through to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for 31 after fending in the channel.