With the tourists still needing 200 more to avoid the follow-on, they face a mammoth task to avoid heading to Perth trailing in the three-Test series, but their hopes of staving off defeat may well rest with Kane Williamson.
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Australia’s Usman Khawaja plays a shot during play on day one of the first cricket test between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane.
And time lost in New Zealand’s farcical abandoned tour match in western Sydney also seemed to catch up with No. 1 seamer Tim Southee (1-63) after flashes of brilliance.
Latham (47) and James Neesham (three) fell to Starc, either side of Johnson sending back experienced duo Ross Taylor (nought) and Brendon McCullum (six) as New Zealand crashed to 118 for five.
“It was a tough day’s cricket”, Watling said.
Starc brought about the beginning of the end with his fourth delivery with the new ball to take out Southee’s off stump before an inswinger induced Williamson into an inside edge which Peter Nevill claimed behind the stumps.
The Black Caps bowled better lines and their field placements returned to traditional settings early on the second day after Thursday s battering by Australia. There are times we will go for runs, but we’ve got 550 on the board.
Williamson batted defiantly for 140, scoring his first test century against Australia and 11th overall, but was the last man out as New Zealand was dismissed for 317 – a deficit of 239 – after adding 160 to its overnight total of 157-5.
The pugnacious vice-captain put the Australians firmly in command after winning the toss to post his ton off 141 balls with 14 fours and a six.
Australia’s opening combination of David Warner (163) and Joe Burns (71) could have set the tone for a dominant three-game series, forging a 161-run stand for the first wicket.
A run-out chance when Burns flirted with calamity in the 10th over and another which Khawaja, on 60, survived with a dive for the crease at full stretch were rare clear-cut opportunities for the Black Caps.
Smith leads a brand new-look aspect after the retirement of Clarke, Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris pressured quite a lot of modifications to the Australia staff.
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“We’ll definitely be reminding them that we’ve bowled them out for 150 and 180 on very good wickets”, the left-armer said.
