Australia vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 2: Steve Smith and Marnus out in ‘dirty’ sight

Australia dominated New Zealand on day two but a pair of ugly dismissals to Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne ended the day on a sour note.

Australia dominated the second day of the first Test against New Zealand in Wellington, but it was soured by the ugly dismissals of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne just before stumps.

Cameron Green (174 not out) and Josh Hazlewood piled on the pain in the morning, combining for a 116-run 10th wicket partnership — the 16th highest in Test cricket history and fourth highest for Australia.

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After Australia were eventually bowled out for 383, their fast bowling attack ripped through New Zealand’s top order.

Admittedly they were helped out by Kiwi superstar Kane Williamson running himself out for a duck, colliding mid-pitch with a teammate in a piece of car crash cricket.

Nathan Lyon took 4/43 to mop the tail and as Australia bowled out New Zealand for 179, more than 200 runs behind the Aussies.

Australia didn’t enforce the follow on but the Kiwis made it tough in the eight overs before stumps.

Lyon was forced to pad up and endure a nervy few overs as nightwatchman when Steve Smith chopped onto his stumps for a duck as he tried to work a ball through the off-side that most traditional openers would have let go.

Marnus Labuschagne was caught down the legside for two, continuing his horror run of form and ensuring his average dips below 50 for the first time in over four years.

The Kiwis could have had another wicket had Tim Southee held onto a catch in the slips when Matt Henry found Lyon’s edge in the last over of the day.

But Australia are still well on top, leading by 217 runs with Usman Khawaja not out on 5 and Lyon unbeaten on 6. The Aussies are 2/13 heading into Day 3, a lead of 217 runs.

Marnus was filthy with himself. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

4.15pm – Marnus’ horror run continues

Marnus Labuschagne has been caught down the leg side for two, continuing his horror run of form with a soft dismissal.

Labuschagne hasn’t scored a century since last year’s Ashes in England and his average has fallen below 50 for the first time since 2019.

New Zealand veteran Tim Southee has taken both early wickets.

3.59pm – Smith out for a duck!

Steve Smith is out for a duck after chopping a wide delivery from Tim Southee onto his stumps when he could have let the ball go.

Smith survived the new ball period in the first innings and scored 31, but his back-and-across technique that exposes his stumps might have brought him unstuck there.

Smith carried his bat for a score of 91 against the West Indies this summer and while Cameron Green moving to No. 4 appears to be a masterstroke, the jury is still out about Smith’s move to the top of the order.

A duck for Smith! Bit of a dirty drag on #NZvAUS

— Daniel Brettig 🏏 (@danbrettig) March 1, 2024

Remarkably, both Smith and Kane Williamson have been dismissed for ducks on Day 2 of the first Test.

Steve Smith chopped on in an ugly dismissal. Photo: Fox Sports.

3.46pm – New Zealand all out

New Zealand have been bowled out for 179, trailing Australia by 204 runs. It could have been even worse if not for Glenn Phillips’ half century and Matt Henry’s rearguard knock of 42 off 34 balls.

Nathan Lyon mopped up the tail with figures of 4/43 — a fair effort on a green pitch.

Australia will bat again, opting not to enforce the follow-on.

3.32pm – Key Kiwi out

Danger man Glenn Phillips is out for 71 off 70 balls after he played a Josh Hazlewood bouncer straight to Mitchell Starc at deep square leg. New Zealand are 8/161.

2.50pm – GOAT strikes twice

Nathan Lyon was brought into attack and has dismissed Tom Blundell for 33. The ball caught the outside edge and ballooned up to Travis Head.

Lyon had Scott Kuggeleijn out for a duck and suddenly New Zealand were 7/113 after losing two quick wickets.

Glenn Phillips has reached his half century and is playing a lone hand.

“New Zealand have lost wickets in triples and pairs today and that is an absolute killer,” a commentator said.

Glenn Phillips played a lone hand for New Zealand. (Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images)

2.36pm – Kiwis pass 100

Tom Blundell (26) and Glenn Phillips (44) have steadied the ship for New Zealand after a top order collapse, bring up the 100 early in the final session.

1.43pm – NZ five down at tea

New Zealand are 5/42 at the tea break with Tom Blundell (5) and Glenn Phillips (8) trying to survive the onslaught from Australia’s fast bowling trio.

1.22pm – Kiwis fall in a heap

Oh dear.

Daryl Mitchell and Will Young showed some brief resistance before they fell in quick succession as the Kiwis collapsed to be 5/29.

Pat Cummins had Mitchell feathering an edge through to Alex Carey, before Mitch Marsh strangled Young down the leg side.

A commentator exclaimed: “Oh my god. Incredible, first ball from Marsh. It is falling apart deluxe.”

12.31pm – Kiwi top order collapses

New Zealand’s top order has collapsed to 3/12 within 10 minutes as any hope of a Test fightback went up in smoke.

After Kane Williamson ran himself out, New Zealand’s second best batter Rachin Ravindra drove a ball from Josh Hazlewood straight to Nathan Lyon at point. He was out for a three-ball duck.

New Zealand's batting order collapsed in a heap.

12.24pm – Williamson run out in Kiwi nightmare

Oh dear, what a nightmare.

The Test is as good as over after Kiwi superstar Kane Williamson was run out for a duck in one of the ugliest dismissals you’ll ever see.

Williamson nudged a Mitchell Starc delivery down the ground and ran down the pitch for a single that was never on in an attempt to get off the mark.

But Will Young was caught ball-watching and unsure whether or not to run.

In a piece of car crash cricket, Young bumped Williamson into Starc, and Marnus Labuschagne easily threw down the stumps at the nonstrikers’ end.

Despite the farcical collision that was horrid call and was always going to be out with a direct hit #AUSvNZ

— 🎙️QUENTIN HULL (@QuentinHull) March 1, 2024

That run-out sums up New Zealand's mindset when playing against Australia for the last 30 years

— Oliver Caffrey (@ollycaffrey) March 1, 2024

Kane Williamson just stood around around the dugout, had a chat with the fourth umpire & only walked off after he’d watched a couple of replays on the big screen. Drama at the Basin Reserve #NZvAuspic.twitter.com/iy9oRSjTwM

— Bharat Sundaresan (@beastieboy07) March 1, 2024

Brendon Julian said on Fox Cricket: “I cannot believe it. A direct hit. How has that happened? Williamson, trying to get off the mark, is on his way.

“That sums it up for the Kiwis. A calamity out there in the middle.”

Another commentator said: “I can’t believe what I’ve just seen here. Oh no, bang bang they run into one other. That is just a disaster for New Zealand.”

Williamson has been in superb form, striking three centuries in the recent two-Test series against South Africa.

Tied on 32 Test centuries with Steve Smith, Williamson had a chance to leapfrog his Aussie counterpart if he reached triple figures.

Kane Williamson is run out in disastrous scenes. Photo: Fox Cricket.

12.19pm – Starc strikes first

It didn’t take long for Australia to break New Zealand’s opening partnership.

Mitchell Starc beat Tom Latham for pace and the Kiwi opener chopped on to his stumps for five.

New Zealand are 1/12 and their best player Kane Williamson has come out to the crease.

11.22am – Kiwis finally get last wicket

New Zealand have finally bowled Australia out for 383 after Matt Henry dismissed Josh Hazlewood for 22, his highest Test score since 2016.

Cam Green remained unbeaten on 174 and could have scored even more had he not wisely farmed the strike.

Green and Hazlewood combined for 116 for the 10th wicket.

Lunch has been taken, and it is now a long way back for the Kiwis in this Test.

Josh Hazlewood has scored more runs today than Marnus Labuschagne has managed in his previous five Test knocks combined.#NZvAUS

— Nic Savage (@nic_savage1) March 1, 2024

11am — It’s turned into a black day for New Zealand

Cam Green and Josh Hazlewood have smashed the record for Australia’s greatest 10th wicket partnership against New Zealand.

The pair have pushed New Zealand to breaking point having survived the first two hours of play without a loss of a wicket.

The pair have put on more than 100 — also the highest 10th wicket partnership at the Wellington venue.

The partnership is further evidence the Aussie cricket team lives rent free in the heads of their Kiwi opposition.

Geoff Lemon said on ABC Radio: “This is extraordinary.”

How has Hazelwood lasted 40 balls? Not sure I’ve ever seen him at the crease this long

— Jomboy (@Jomboy_) February 29, 2024

If you're a believer New Zealand have a complex playing Australia, then this revival by Australia will come as no surprise. Since 2000, NZ have won one of 25 Tests v Australia. Lost several key World Cup games as well. #NZvAUS

— Andrew Wu (@wutube) March 1, 2024

10.25am – Cam Green reaches 150

Cameron Green has brought up his 150 with a six.

It is the first time the all-rounder has reached 150 and the New Zealanders have been powerless to stop him on Day 2.

SEN commentator Gerard Whateley said: “This is one hell of a moment for a young man in his Test journey”.

Cameron Green of Australia celebrates his 150. Photo by Hagen Hopkins/Getty Images.

10.05am – Sheer misery as Kiwis fall apart

Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood have the Kiwis tearing their hair out with their 10th wicket partnership reaching 68 runs at the drink’s break on Day 2.

Green was pushing towards 150 while New Zealand continued their tactic of trying to find a way to get Hazlewood on strike while gifting free runs to Green.

Pushing the total well beyond 300 is the last thing New Zealand wanted with the game beginning to get away from them.

Australia was 9/332 when the second hour of play resumed.

9.15am — Aussie run is a complete shambles

Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood had no idea what was going on when the pair almost came unstuck early on Day 2.

Hazlewood had turned a ball nicely towards the fence for a comfortable single and was just metres from reaching the bowler’s end crease before suddenly turning back and running back to where he started.

Cam Green and Josh Hazlewood had no idea.

Green had been farming the strike to protect Hazlewood from facing the Kiwi attack.

The pair had smiles on their face after going so close to disaster.

“That looked bad,” Aussie great Brendan Julian said.

A Kiwi commentator responded: “I don’t think I’ve seen that”.

Hazlewood got so close to the nonstriker’s end crease that the umpires needed to consult the video umpire to see if Hazlewood had completed the run.

8am — Michael Clarke says Kiwis should have done better

Michael Clarke says New Zealand made a big mistake on Day 1 of the First Test.

Clarke said on Friday morning Australia was “well and truly on top”.

“Definitely Australia’s day,” the former Test captain said on Sky Sports Radio.

“Green wicket. Sent into bat. It seamed and swung all day. If New Zealand get it right they bowl Australia out for 200, or 220 max.

“I thought they were too short, especially in that first two-hour period before lunch.

Former Australian cricketer Michael Clarke. Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images.

“Little rule we have when we’re playing, certainly at that level that if it looks good on TV, it’s generally a foot too short. When the batsman is playing and missing regularly it looks brilliant when you’re watching from the couch and you’re saying, ‘Oh how has he not nicked that’.

“But generally when you’re playing against good opposition that means you’re a foot short. You want them actually looking to drive the ball on a pitch like that while the ball is new.”

7am — Marnus run verging on ‘terminal’

After a scratchy summer against Pakistan and the West Indies, the pressure is on Australia’s batting line-up to score runs in the last two Tests before a blockbuster series against India next summer.

Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head in particular are struggling for runs, putting pressure on all-rounders Mitch Marsh and Cam Green to rescue the innings.

Labuschagne looked shaky in a 27-ball knock of 1 run, feathering an edge to first slip in the first innings against New Zealand.

Since scoring 111 against England in Manchester, Labuschagne has scores of 9, 13, 16, 2, 63, 4, 60, 62*, 10, 1*, 3, 5 and 1.

The 29-year-old looked out of sorts against the New Zealand pacemen and eventually edged a delivery from Scott Kuggeleijn to first slip. He scored one run off 27 balls.

“He looked very tentative,” Fox Cricket’s Brendon Julian said in commentary.

“Just sort of sat in the crease.”

Originally published as Australia vs New Zealand 1st Test, Day 2: Steve Smith and Marnus out in ‘dirty’ sight