1st Test: New Zealand vs Australia at Christchurch

[acker]

Hamish Marshall 100 ! Congratulations son

The toast of the shaky isles

The decision to play Micheal Kasprowicz ahead of Brett Lee WAS THE WRONG ONE
Hang your head in shame Australian selectors

[bevo]

3/265

hamish marshall on 103 , astle on 29 , stumps

[Paoli]

Brilliant stuff, congrats Hamish...NZ have found themselves a new star with the bat it would seem, he has carried his ODI form into Tests. Craig Cumming played well, resolutely and a gritty 78 came his way...Vincent looked okay until he went out and Astle and Marshall should put on a bit more in the morning...And theres batting to come!!!

[John]

Good to wake up and see New Zealand doing well. Hopefully they can go and build a big total.

Thats partly why we watch for the underdogs to spring surprises.

[Andy Mellon]

After all my saying that the Kiwi line up for this test looked a bit weak, the new guys and the less experienced players have excelled themselves so far.

Based on his scoring rate, is Cumming a replacement for Rigor Mortis Richardson?

Still, at this stage in the game, the Kiwis are not running away with it, but have set themselves a good foundation to continue on day 2. It will be interesting to see if Marshall can build on his good start and whether the Kiwi middle order can provide some additional runs.

What score do you think the Kiwis will need to pressurise the Aussies. I think 400 would be a good first innings score at Christchurch against anyone other than the Aussies. If the Kiwis want to win, 500-600 is probably a necessity. I can't see them getting much more than 350-400 though.

Do you think Ponting's regretting putting them in?

[Ernest]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/shared/.../scorecard.stm

Tell you what Andy, I would settle for England being 265-3 at the end of the first days play.

The Kiwis have done well, they need about 450 I think to make a good game of it.

[Rachael]

I've not got any further than the scoresheet so far but at first glance it looks like good cricket on both sides today: the batsmen clearly emerged on top (few wickets fell) but despite being unable to make the inroads they would like the bowlers managed to keep overall control - 2.8 an over and just 265 runs off a full 94 overs (excellent over rate) means that the Aussies can sleep easy tonight knowing they are not in a real hole.

It's worth comparing the Aussie bowlers: McGrath went at 2.36... Gillespie at 2.67... Warne at 2.4... and Kasprowicz was found out.. going at 3.56.

If one compares this with the carnage wreaked yesterday in India.. where Sehwag scored at 6-7-8 an over without really taking risks (just punishing loose deliveries)... I think one sees just why this Aussie attack is so good: even when they are unable to WIN a game they don't serve up the sort of dross that will LOSE it!

[Chuck Palumbo]

A suprisingly good day from a weakened NZ side but you feel this Australian side will come out all guns blazing in the morning. I've seen it so many times where a team has had a good day against the Aussies, only for them to come out and rectify the situation the next day.

So it is vital that Marshall and Astle don't give it away in the morning because 1 early wicket could lead to a collaspe considering the depth of this NZ batting line up is not the greatest.

[Mr Kiwi]

Losing an established batsman early the next day has been a bit of a problem for the kiwis, and with macca and mccullum next in things could go from bad to worse, or completely blow out for the australians

i'd say that the kiwis can bat down to nine, but those batters tend to be hit (in a big way) or miss (miserably). that and mccullum always seems to get a shonky decision . . .

[Chuck Palumbo]

Well no early wickets lossed by NZ and they are moving along quite nicely. Marshall and Astle are both scoring freely and NZ have added 40 odd in just over 10 overs which is a good rate with Mcgrath and Gillespie bowling with the new ball.
These need two need to protect Mccullum and Mcmillan for as long as possible so they have a good platform to come into.

Its nice to see the Aussies not getting it their own way for once.