Aussies on the back foot
20 November, 2008

Tim Southee A spurned century from Michael Clarke was the only highlight for Australia on day one of the first 3 Mobile Test at the Gabba after New Zealand rolled the home side for 214 in front of 12,498 fans.

Clarke stayed at the crease for almost five hours in a gutsy knock of 98 off 216 balls, but the vice-captain was the only batsman to offer resistance of any real substance to a fired-up Black Caps pace attack that made the most of a lively green pitch.

New Zealand openers Jamie How (two not out) and Aaron Redmond (three not out) had a nervous time seeing out five overs before the umpires offered bad light, but were able to make it through unscathed, with the score 0-7.

Australia's best hope for a wicket came in the fifth over when How survived a very confident lbw appeal from Brett Lee.

Spearheaded by talented youngster Tim Southee, who ripped apart Australia's top order to see the home side crash to a dire 3-23 partway through the first session, New Zealand was well on top when tea was taken with Australia restricted to 7-152.

The visitors then kept the pressure up and it wasn't long before Southee had his fourth victim when keeper Brendon McCullum completed an excellent one-handed diving catch to see Lee back in the stands.

The wickets continued to tumble and NZ captain Daniel Vettori, who earlier won the toss and had no hesitation in electing to bowl, came to the party when he deceived Mitchell Johnson.

The score was 9-183 at that stage and Clarke, as he had done for the majority of the match, continued to look at ease while he formed a fighting 31-run stand with Stuart Clark.

His ninth Test match century beckoned, but the medium pace of Jesse Ryder proved too much and he was clean bowled by the part timer.

Southee started the day in fearsome fashion, playing his first Test match against Australia and his third overall, as the rookie put the new ball to good use to see Australia's top three batsmen back in the stands after just over half an hour of play.

Southee was an unexpected starter in the Black Caps XI when he relegated the more experienced Kyle Mills, one of only five players in the New Zealand squad to have played a Test match against Australia, to drinks duty.

He quickly proved selectors right though as he extracted good bounce and movement to clean up Matthew Hayden (eight), Simon Katich (10) and Ricky Ponting (four) in quick succession, en route to claiming innings figures of 4-63 from 18 overs.

Mike Hussey (35) worked hard to rebuild the damage in an important 73-run partnership with Clarke, but his dismissal, when he shouldered arms and was trapped lbw by Chris Martin, was the beginning of the end.

Andrew Symonds (26), Shane Watson (one) and Haddin (six) all departed quick, although Symonds' short but lively stay at the crease was a head-turner.

While his vice-captain was patiently peeling off the runs as he crafted a well-made half-century, Symonds took a more direct approach in his comeback match after a three-month absence for disciplinary reasons.

The all-rounder, after carefully watching 21 deliveries and nudging the ball around, exploded with three consecutive boundaries off all-rounder Grant Elliot's seventh over.

He maintained his aggressive mindset and after presenting Redmond with a tough chance he couldn't grasp, notably grabbed eight runs from one delivery when he and Clarke ran four and the visitors conceded a further four overthrows.


Iain O'Brien was suitably unimpressed but would have the last laugh when two balls later Symonds was caught behind after timidly poking at a sharp delivery.

Soon after, the score was 6-139 when Watson attempted to cut, but instead edged a wider ball from O'Brien, handing the 32-year-old his second wicket for the match.

Haddin then went on the last ball before tea when he could not resist a wider delivery from Ryder.

The wicketkeeper's ill-fated expansive drive resulted in an edge that How calmly accepted at second slip.

Clarke was unaffected by the wickets rapidly falling around him and persisted to play his strokes and keep the score ticking as he personally took the fight up to the New Zealand bowlers and ensured the Australian total would nudge past 200.

Aussies stumble again
21 November, 2008

Simon Katich Australia rolled New Zealand for the cheap total of 156, but again failed to fire with the willow on day two of the 3 Mobile Test at the Gabba, reduced to 6-131 at stumps, with an overall lead of 189 runs.

11,886 fans were on hand to see an action packed, topsy-turvy day where ball well and truly dominated bat, with 16 wickets in total falling.

Mitchell Johnson (4-30) led from the front with the ball to bring about the Black Caps downfall and see Australia claim an unlikely first innings lead of 58 runs.

Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey then all fell in quick succession as the home side crashed to be 3-40, before Simon Katich (67 not out) notched a gutsy half-century as he rebuilt after the damage.

But Chris Martin (3-52) grabbed two late wickets in Andrew Symonds (20) and Shane Watson (five) to ensure the Black Caps would head into the third day with more than a fighting chance.

Brad Haddin (six not out) is the other unbeaten man for the home side after they lost six wickets in a turbulent final session.

Australia started their second innings in disastrous fashion when Hayden completed a Test to forget, falling for a golden duck when he copped a fantastic delivery from Martin first-up after the innings break.

Hayden was all at sea, edging a swinging ball that was short of a length straight to keeper Brendon McCullum.

Ponting (17) showed glimpses of his best but after surviving an lbw shout from Tim Southee, a mistimed pull shot was the end of the Australian captain in the ninth over.

Ponting attempted to heave a delivery from outside off stump but instead sent the ball skywards and straight to Aaron Redmond to hand Iain O'Brien his first wicket.

O'Brien had Hussey back in the stands for a duck four balls later, but in far more fortunate circumstances.

The Black Caps went up enthusiastically in an appeal for caught behind and umpire Rudi Koertzen gave Hussey his matching orders.

Replays indicated the ball missed the bat by some margin and instead shaved Hussey's pads.

Michael Clarke's time at the crease was then cut short by a skillful direct hit from Redmond at square leg that found him short of his ground.

Symonds initially steadied the ship in a determined 56-run partnership with Katich, before an ill-fated hook shot to a shorter ball gave the visitors a late boost before the end of play.

Earlier the Black Caps could only last a mere 50 overs, with Jesse Ryder (30), Ross Taylor (40) and Daniel Flynn (39 not out) the only batsmen to show any of the stubborn resistance required against an on-target Australian pace-attack.

Johnson cleaned up the visitors' bottom order and was on a hat-trick at one stage, with NZ No.11 Martin on strike.

Martin, who has a Test match average of 2.38 and 23 ducks to his name, managed to deny Johnson the personal honour, but the 28-year-old still finished with figures of 4-30 to be the pick of the Australian bowlers.

Brett Lee (2-38), Stuart Clark (2-46) and Shane Watson (2-35) all provided able support for Johnson.

New Zealand resumed the day at 0-7, but got off to the worst start possible when Redmond was dismissed by Clark with the first ball of the day.

Clark made a moving delivery jump at Redmond and the NZ opener failed to deal with it, awkwardly edging to Ponting who completed a diving catch at second slip.

Burly Ryder slammed five boundaries in his blusterous knock of 30 but came unstuck when he attempted a loose cut shot off Watson, with the edge being comfortably snaffled by Haddin after the keeper had earlier dropped Ryder on 11.

Australian then struck an all-important blow the very next over when Johnson brought about the end of danger-man McCullum (eight).

The hard-hitting NZ keeper gave Ponting his second catch for the match when he misjudged an angled ball from Johnson to see the Black Caps crash to 4-73 and hand the home side the ascendancy.

Taylor was defiant, and in impressive fashion, taking up the mantle of aggressor from Ryder he stroked seven boundaries in his knock of 40 that came off 51 balls.

But the end was nigh when Lee made the vital break through in the first over after lunch, trapping Taylor lbw with a ball that kept low.

Lee failed in his bid for an elusive 300th Test wicket as a tenacious Flynn denied the Australian attack in his four-hour long stay at the crease, but the wickets continued to tumble around him at a furious pace.

Black Caps skipper Daniel Vettori (two) went limply when he popped up a shorter ball from Johnson straight to Symonds at point.

Southee (zero) and O'Brien (one) also fell cheaply to Johnson before Clark wrapped up the New Zealand innings when he yorked Martin (one).

Kiwis on the ropes
22 November, 2008

Brett Lee A sterling unbeaten century from Simon Katich, who became the 10th Australian opener ever to carry his bat though a Test innings, has helped put his side on top of New Zealand at stumps on day three of the 3 Mobile Test at the Gabba.

A crowd of 11,347 were on hand to see Katich's classy 131 that boosted Australia to a second innings total of 268, setting the Black Caps a difficult 327 for victory partway through the second session.

Australia snagged two wickets before tea and then four in the final session, including two momentum-shifting scalps on the eve of stumps, as the visitors were reduced to 6-143 at the end of play, still needing a further 184 runs to claim an unlikely victory.

After the Black Caps collapsed to 4-49, Ross Taylor (67 not out) and Daniel Flynn (29) offered stubborn resistance in a fighting 84-run partnership, ensuring New Zealand would live to fight another day.

But their hard work was undone when Flynn, who initially showed more of the same stodginess that was on display in his unbeaten first innings score of 39, played on to Mitchell Johnson in the fourth last over of play.

There was to be even more drama though, with a wicket falling on the last ball of the day, when Grant Elliott (0) shouldered arms to a swinging ball from Stuart Clark that knocked back his off stump.

Earlier, Brett Lee took little time to claim his 300th Test wicket after the innings break, guaranteeing New Zealand would start its chase in disastrous fashion.

The paceman struck in the first over, removing Jamie How for a golden duck when How attempted to drive, but instead edged a swinging delivery to Ricky Ponting at second slip.

The dismissal triggered jubilant celebrations from Lee, who joined the exclusive company of Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Dennis Lillee as the only Australians to clock up 300 Test victims.

Clark then came to the party in the 10th over when he completed a juggling caught and bowled chance after Aaron Redmond (10) hammered a fuller ball straight at Clark.

Jesse Ryder (24) again unveiled some impressive shots but once more went early in the piece, trapped lbw by Johnson in the second over after the tea break.

Ten minutes later things went from bad to worse for the Black Caps when dangerman Brendon McCullum went meekly for three, adjudged lbw by umpire Rudi Koertzen after he shouldered arms to a shifting ball from Clark.


Taylor rebuilt and looked at ease compiling his fourth Test half-century, stroking nine boundaries, but his efforts were spoiled by the two late wickets that severely dented New Zealand's hopes of claiming what would be a remarkable triumph after Katich earlier grabbed the match by the throat.

Katich, who started the day on 67, added vital runs as he sustained his dogged innings, finishing unbeaten on 131 to become the first Australian opener to carry his bat since Mark Taylor's 169 not out at Adelaide Oval in 1998.

Katich's resolute ton, brought up with a hearty pulled boundary, was his sixth Test century and will no doubt be fondly remembered by the 33-year-old after he spent over five hours at the crease to help add respect to a scorecard dearly needing some.

The knock could well prove to be a match-winner, with Johnson the only other Australian batsman to make it past 20 for Australia in a below par second innings.

Katich elegantly controlled the tempo in his 245-ball stay at the crease, although he was given two lives by the visitors.

Iain O'Brien failed to complete a caught and bowled opportunity while Katich was on 70 before Ryder grassed a chance when he was 14 runs shy of his first Test century at the Gabba.

It was NZ skipper Daniel Vettori who created the second chance, deceiving Katich, who produced an inside edge that popped up to Ryder at short leg.

The burly batsman had to hurl himself to make it to the edge, but still got one hand to the leather, only for the ball to spill out and drop safe.

Katich survived and along with the contributions of tailenders Johnson (31) and Clark (18), who Katich combined with for handy partnerships of 53 and 29 respectively, gave Australia a strangle hold of the match.

Earlier Vettori led from the front for the Black Caps, with his left-arm spin doing all the damage in the morning.

The home side resumed play at 6-131 after a tumultuous second day where 16 wickets fell, and after initially offering some much-needed resistance, Brad Haddin (19) fell to Vettori's arm-ball.

The delivery snuck through the gap between Haddin's bat and pad to clean bowl the Australian keeper.

Lee (seven) fared just as well as Vettori continued to bowl with great flight to finish with figures of 2-46, but he could not bring about the downfall of Katich quick enough and his side paid full price.

23 November, 2008

Mitchell Johnson Mitchell Johnson has claimed a maiden five-wicket haul as Australia took little time to wrap up a comfortable 149-run victory over New Zealand early on day four of the 3 Mobile Test at the Gabba.

Johnson make light-work of the Black Caps batting order, chiming in with career-best figures of 5-39 as the visitors failed to last an hour, falling for 177.

The Black Caps resumed the day at 6-143, still 184 runs away from an unlikely victory and needing huge performances from the pair at the crease, Ross Taylor and Daniel Vettori.

Taylor, who started the day on 67 after notching a fluent half century on day three, and Vettori, who was yet to spend a minute in the middle, were the last recognised batsmen in the visitor's misfiring order.

The pair, two of only three batsmen in the New Zealand side to have a Test century to their name, initially showed some fight, but the resistance lasted less than half an hour when Johnson removed the duo.

A soaring Andrew Symonds pulled down a one-handed catch at point to see the end of Vettori after the NZ skipper played a loose drive to a wide ball from Johnson.

Johnson struck in his next over when Taylor failed to negotiate an angled delivery from the left-armer, edging to a diving Brad Haddin as a defiant knock of 75 came to an end.



Stuart Clark, who picked up figures of 4-43 to be the other star with the ball, then made it three wickets in fifteen minutes when he removed Iain O'Brien with a slower ball.

With the end nigh, Tim Southee decided to show off his free-wheeling talents with the willow, slamming two booming sixes off Clark to make a dent in the New South Welshman's figures.

It mattered little though as the match came to a premature end with Johnson claiming his five-for when he removed Chris Martin's middle stump.

Johnson, who removed dangermen Jesse Ryder and Daniel Flynn on day three, made light work of the visitors.

His was rewarded with man-of-the-match honours after his efforts of 4-30 in the first innings and a handy second innings knock of 31.

The match ebbed and flowed and Australia's meager totals of 214 and 268 were propped up by brave knocks of 98 from Michael Clarke in the first innings and a remarkable unbeaten 131 from Simon Katich in the second.

Katich became the 10th Australian opener ever to carry his bat though a Test innings to help ensure the result.

Aussies have the edge
28 November, 2008

New Zealand's batsmen have frustrated Australia but the hosts still managed to take the honours on day one of the second 3 Mobile Test at Adelaide Oval.

At stumps the Blackcaps were 6-262, adding 2-66 to their tea time-score.

A dour but important 34-run, final-session partnership between Brendon McCullum (30) and Daniel Vettori (12) ensured the touring side has something to work with on Saturday.

McCullum smashed a six through cover early in his knock but played with more control as the afternoon progressed while Vettori started his innings in cautious fashion and took 17 minutes to get off the mark.

After winning the toss and electing to bat, Vettori said a total of 350 would be the pass mark for his team. It means he and his deputy have plenty of work ahead of them if they are to achieve that target.

Meanwhile Australia knows it’s only a wicket away from bowling at a tail which produced just 30 runs in two innings at the Gabba.

Nathan Hauritz, who was brought into the side after Jason Krejza rolled his ankle on Wednesday during a training drill, had a rollercoaster ride of a day and took 2-63 while Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson and Andrew Symonds chipped in with a wicket each.

Johnson was the most effective quick, bowling with rhythm and finding the edge on several occasions.

The Kiwis got on the front foot by reaching 1-101 at lunch. But from that point wickets fell at regular intervals as a number of players threw away their wickets.

Aaron Redmond’s dismissal was the most disappointing. The opener bullied Hauritz in the first session and raced to 65 at lunch.

He continued his aggression and was steaming towards his maiden Test century before he attacked Hauritz one too many times.

The slog sweep, which saw him smash consecutive sixes off the spinner to bring up his half-century, was his downfall with Symonds catching him at deep midwicket. Before that error in judgement he hadn’t looked troubled by the Aussie attack.

He was eventually dismissed for 83 runs with 68 of his tally coming from boundaries and sixes.

Jamie How, Jesse Ryder and Peter Fulton also got themselves out after working hard to get a start.

It was a day of extremes for Hauritz who was smashed for 29 runs off three overs before lunch and then hit back with the wickets of Ryder and Redmond.

And he could have had a third scalp but Matthew Hayden dropped Peter Fulton at first slip early in his innings.

But just when he thought his luck had changed, the New South Wales player was injured as he tried to field a ball in the outfield.

He was helped off the ground and television coverage showed him in the change rooms with his ankle strapped. Ironically it was an ankle injury that kept Krejza out of the action in this Test.


New Zealand began the final session at 4-196 with Ross Taylor looking good on 40 runs. But he added only four more to his tally before he was adjudged lbw to a ball that hit him high up on the pad.

It was then 6-228 when Daniel Flynn was beaten by pace and bowled by a Lee delivery. His dismissal saw Vettori and McCullum join forces to steady the ship.

Earlier, New Zealand built momentum beautifully in the first session after its openers made a cautious start to the day.

It was a more even second session with the home side taking 3-95.

Australia’s players wore black armbands to recognise the lives lost in Mumbai and the death of former Australian cricketer Paul Hibbert.

Aussies closing in
29 November, 2008

Ricky Ponting and Mike Hussey Australia needs a further 30 runs to take a first-innings lead in its 3 Mobile Test match against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval.

At stumps on day two, and chasing the Kiwis' 270, the Aussies were in a strong position at 3-241.

Mike Hussey is 69 not out and Michael Clarke is unbeaten on 43.

Daniel Vettori bowled tirelessly over the final two sessions and finished with figures of 1-54 off 28 overs while Iain O'Brien took the important wicket of Ricky Ponting only minutes after the tea break and has 1-63.

Hussey and Clarke controlled the final session with some patient but stylish batting and have put on 86 for the fourth wicket.

Clarke strode to the crease and got off the mark with a text-book straight drive. Hussey also played some memorable strokes with his sweeping and pull shots a feature.

It followed the critical 106-run stand between Ponting and Hussey which was the highlight of the second session.

The Australian skipper made batting look easy and smashed an amazing 11 boundaries by the time he reached his half century.

But the Kiwis dried up the runs and he was out pulling a ball to midwicket where he was caught for 79 by the towering Peter Fulton.

Despite its dominance, Australia made a shaky start to its run chase.

Matthew Hayden began his first knock in his 100th Test in style by hitting Chris Martin for a leg side boundary but a combination of bad calling and ball watching saw him run out for 24.


The big Queenslander took off for a single but was stranded as Simon Katich stayed anchored at the non-striker's end.

In the morning session Brett Lee ripped through New Zealand's lower order to see the tourists bowled out for 270.

Lee took 3-6 in a 27-ball spell and finished with first-innings figures of 4-66 while Mitchell Johnson took the other day-two wickets and finished with 2-56.

A change of pace saw Lee dismiss the dangerous Brendon McCullum. He also had Iain O'Brien caught behind before knocking Martin's middle stump out of the ground to deliver the No.11 another duck.

On day one, New Zealand wasted opportunities to be 6-262 at stumps.

The Kiwis got on the front foot by reaching 1-101 at lunch. But from that point wickets fell at regular intervals as a number of players threw away their wickets.

Aaron Redmond's innings was a highlight with the opener bullying Nathan Hauritz in the opening session.

He was eventually dismissed for 83 runs with 68 of his tally coming from boundaries and sixes.

McCullum and Vettori frustrated the Aussies with a gritty partnership in the afternoon but there was little resistance once the stand was broken early on day two.

Aussies have big lead
30 November, 2008

Brad Haddin A blazing maiden test century by Brad Haddin has Australia in total control of its 3 Mobile Test match against New Zealand at Adelaide Oval.

Australia was bowled out for 535 late on day three with Haddin's knock of 169 the highlight. The wicketkeeper scored 108 of those runs from 24 boundaries and two sixes during his 222-delivery stay at the crease. Michael Clarke also had a memorable day after posting 110.

New Zealand trailed by 265 after its first innings of 270 but have whittled that difference down by 35 runs after a positive nine-over stint before stumps.

Aaron Redmond is not out 15 while Jamie How is unbeaten on 13.

Brett Lee found the edge on a few occasions but went for 16 runs off his first over and has figures of 0-25.

The Kiwis would've taken some heart from their openers' stand but Sunday belonged to Haddin and Clarke.

They put on 181 runs for the sixth wicket after coming together when Mike Hussey and Andrew Symonds were dismissed in quick succession in the morning. Haddin was the aggressor while Clarke played a more measured but just as effective innings.

Clarke, who was bowled for 98 in the First Test at the Gabba, gave his fans a scare as he closed in on triple figures.

He pushed the ball out onto the leg side, hesitated mid pitch before completing the single that notched up his ninth Test century.

The 178-centimetre right-hander was eventually dismissed when he slashed at a wide one and was caught by Jesse Ryder in the gully. His 239-ball innings featured 11 boundaries.

Haddin didn't ease his ways into the nineties, smashing three boundaries off four Ryder deliveries to race to 97 before he scored his ton with a mid-wicket four a couple of overs later.

He staged the biggest celebrations of the series moments later, raising his bat in gusto on several occasions.

New Zealand wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum shook his hand after the achievement while Adam Gilchrist was in the stands to applaud the innings.

Haddin had some luck with Daniel Flynn dropping the simplest of catches at mid-on when he was on 72 while an appeal for a bat-pad catch was turned down.

He continued to dominate after tea and used the slog-sweep to bring up his 150. He then smashed 17 off one Redmond over but was caught on the midwicket fence soon after.

Iain O'Brien finished with 3-111 while Redmond, Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin all collected two wickets each. Vettori was the workhorse of the Black Caps attack and bowled 59.4 overs for figures of 2-124.

Australia started day three on 3-241. They were momentarily put on the back foot when Martin took two wickets in an over with the new ball.

Hussey miscued a pull shot and was caught by Redmond at square leg while Andrew Symonds was caught behind for a third-ball duck.


Day Two featured a bustling innings of 79 runs by Ricky Ponting and a solid partnership between Hussey and Clarke which steadied the ship in the final session.

Brett Lee also played a part in his team's strong position, ripping through New Zealand's lower order to see the tourists bowled out for their below-par tally early on Saturday.

On day one Redmond's innings was a highlight. He was dismissed by Nathan Hauritz for 83 runs with 68 of his tally coming from boundaries and sixes.

Aussies wrap up win
01 December, 2008

Brett Lee Australia has completed a 2-0 Trans-Tasman Trophy whitewash against New Zealand thanks to its emphatic performance in the second 3 Mobile Test match at Adelaide Oval.

Australia won by an innings and 62 runs after running through a disappointing Black Caps batting line-up on day four.

The Kiwis lost their final two wickets after tea and were bowled out for 203. It followed their first-innings tally of 270 and left them well short of the Aussies' first dig of 535.

Brendon McCullum smashed 17 off Brett Lee's final over and was unbeaten on 84 but the contest was brought to an end when Chris Martin was bowled for his second duck of the match.

McCullum marshalled the lower order and was involved in a defiant 50-run partnership with Iain O'Brien and a 22-run stand with Martin without the other batsmen adding a run.

He struck 14 boundaries and two sixes but couldn't save his side from an embarrassing defeat.

Apart from the brief McCullum punishment, Lee had an excellent day taking 5-105. Four of those scalps came in the morning session when New Zealand had a slim chance of salvaging a draw. He finished with match figures of 9-171.

Mitchell Johnson took the final wicket and finished with 3-29 while Nathan Hauritz bowled with monotony into the footmarks and finished with deserved figures of 2-32.

Brad Haddin was named man of the match for his dynamic 169 on Sunday while Michael Clarke was named 3 Mobile man of the series for his 98 at the Gabba and his 110 in Adelaide.

The Black Caps lost 3-84 in the second session to be 8-167 at tea.

Before lunch, New Zealand slumped to 5-83 with some self destructive efforts by some of its batsmen and Lee's probing bowling causing the collapse.

Aaron Redmond squirted a ball out to Michael Clarke at point on the second ball of the day while Jesse Ryder scooped a cover drive to Andrew Symonds.

Overnight batsmen Jamie How was perhaps the only unlucky player with Ricky Ponting's diving catch at second slip ending his knock.

Peter Fulton was bowled by Johnson after the break and when the Daniel Vettori/Brendon McCullum connection was broken by Hauritz the writing was on the wall.

Australia's dominant position was due partly to a blazing maiden test century by Haddin on Sunday.

Australia was bowled out for 535 late on day three with Haddin's knock of 169 the highlight.

The wicketkeeper scored 108 of those runs from 24 boundaries and two sixes during his 222-delivery stay at the crease.

Haddin and Clarke put on 181 runs for the sixth wicket after coming together when Mike Hussey and Andrew Symonds were dismissed in quick succession in the morning.


Iain O'Brien finished with 3-111 while Aaron Redmond, Daniel Vettori and Chris Martin all collected two wickets each.

Vettori was the workhorse of the Black Caps attack and bowled 59.4 overs for figures of 2-124.

Day two featured a bustling innings of 79 runs by Ricky Ponting and while Lee cleaned up the tail in the morning session to keep the Kiwi’s to a modest total.

On day one Redmond's innings was a highlight. He was dismissed by Nathan Hauritz for 83 runs with 68 of his tally coming from boundaries and sixes.