Oz rookies take first-day honours

Australia’s new-look attack did exactly what would have been expected of them, limiting New Zealand to 176/5 on a rain-truncated first day at the Gabba. Somehow the Kiwis conspired to give the greenhorn Oz attack a chance on a day when the visitors should have had the upper hand.

Instead it was the Australians who held the upper hand before bad light and rain brought an end to play after just 54 overs. The familiar figure of Dan Vettori was holding Australia at bay, this after left-arm debutant Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle had made the initial breakthroughs.

This is the Black Caps’ best chance in a quarter century to beat Australia; chances are it will end as other attempts have done, despite the weakened Oz lineup. — Staff Reporter, SportsCentral

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