The first day of the Basin Reserve test was bossed by Australia as the pacers made the most of the conditions. Electing to bowl first on a lush green pitch, Steve Smith’s bowlers responded in style as they reduced the New Zealand batsmen to a paltry 51-5. New Zealand could have been bundled out for below the three figure mark, had the lower order not contributed.
Pacer Josh Hazlewood had a field day as he grabbed four crucial wickets to dent the New Zealand batting lineup. After the day’s play, Hazlewood spoke to the media and said that taking wickets in the second innings would be a tad tougher as the conditions would get easier for batting.
“I think while the ball is new at any stage it’s going to do a little bit, once the shine and the hardness of the ball is gone it’s quite a good wicket for batting,” Hazlewood said. “It didn’t turn much and once our ball got older it didn’t seam much, so I think it’s going to hold together pretty well. The next ten wickets that we need will be quite tough to get,” he said.
He also praised the contribution of experienced pacer Peter Siddle as the latter too took 3 vital breakthroughs for Australia. “It does make a big difference, bowling in partnerships,” Hazlewood said. “He’s done a great job, not only this Test but throughout his whole career of just drying up one end and building those dots and that pressure which obviously ends in wickets, eventually. He was outstanding again today,” Hazlewood added.