Australia vs New Zealand Second Test: Steve Smith’s bizarre brainfade

Australian opener Steve Smith has been slammed by fans after a truly bizarre moment on the opening day of the second Test.

Australia ripped through the New Zealand batting line-up before a late comeback from the Kiwis saw Australia finish the day 4/124, 38 runs behind the hosts after the first day of the second Test in Christchurch.

After Pat Cummins won the toss and sent the Kiwis in, the hosts reached 47 without loss before the collapse began.

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Josh Hazlewood continued his rich recent form, finishing with 5/31 from 13.2 overs as the hosts were decimated for just 162.

Mitchell Starc added three scalps, with opener Tom Latham’s modest 38 the top score in a disappointing display with the bat.

Australia has won seven straight Tests against the Kiwis dating back to 2015 and hasn’t tasted defeat on New Zealand soil since 1993.

But a match that looked like another strong Aussie win was pegged back when the Kiwis picked up four wickets before stumps.

A dejected Steve Smith walks off after being dismissed on day one. Photo by Kai Schwoerer/Getty Images

Steve Smith (11) was hammered for his decision not to offer a shot to a Ben Sears delivery that cannoned into his pads, made worse by his call to review it. More on that below.

Usman Khawaja (16), Cam Green (25) and Travis Head (21) also fell fairly cheaply, with the tourists reaching stumps at 4/124.

One encouraging sight was Marnus Labuschagne reaching the close on 45 not out as he scratches for runs and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon will resume with him on Saturday on one not out.

The match in Christchurch is the last in a massive touring cycle for Cummins and his troops that began with six Tests in England in 2023, including the World Test Championship final, the one-day Cricket World Cup in India, five more Tests on home soil against Pakistan and the West Indies, a T20 series against the Windies and the T20s and Test against the Kiwis.

Despite that heavy workload, particularly for Australia’s bowling attack this summer, Australia named an unchanged team from the one that won the first Test by 172 runs.

Catch a recall below of how the day unfolded (all times AEDT).

Marnus Labuschagne will be hoping for a long stay at the crease on Saturday. Photo by Sanka Vidanagama / AFP

4.40pm – Stumps and the Kiwis are back in it

With an hour or two of cricket left on day one, Australia looked like finishing the day well on top.

But with Steve Smith, Usman Khawaja, Cam Green and Travis Head all back in the pavilion, New Zealand fought back well.

Marnus Labuschagne will be delighted to reach stumps 45 not out, Nathan Lyon is with him on one and Australia is 4/124 in reply to the host’s 182 all out.

“Obviously it didn’t go our way with the bat, but there’s a long way to go,” Kiwi quick Matt Henry told Fox Cricket at stumps.

“We created some pressure from both ends and got some key wickets.

“It’s good to see the back of Green after the last game and Travis had been looking good too.

“Hopefully tomorrow we can start well.”

Matt Henry starred late for the hosts. (Photo by Sanka Vidanagama / AFP)

4.25pm – Kiwi quick causing carnage

Australia was relatively comfortable at 2/81 chasing down New Zealand’s first innings of 182 all out.

Enter Matt Henry, a 32-year-old right-arm quick who has dragged the hosts back into the contest.

Having bowled Usman Khawaja earlier in the innings, he then bowled the in-form Cam Green (25) and then produced an inside edge from Travis Head (21) to reduce Australia to 4/116.

Marnus Labuschagne is 38 not out as he battles to find some form and nightwatchman Nathan Lyon is yet to score as the first day nears its conclusion.

Henry has 3/32 from his 12 overs.

“This is just superb bowling from Matt Henry,” Brendon Julian said in commentary.

3.45pm – Marnus desperately seeking runs

Marnus Labuschagne has been struggling with the willow, managing scores of just one and two in the otherwise successful first Test for Australia.

Once the world’s top-ranked batter, Labuschagne’s average has slipped under 50 and he is starting to feel the pressure as the team’s No. 3.

His average over the last 14 months is an ordinary 33.58.

He is finding runs hard to come by again in Christchurch, but he is still at the crease at least, currently 24 not out from 53 balls.

Cam Green has just been bowled by a super Matt Henry delivery for 25, with Australia 3/81 chasing down the poor Kiwi first innings of just 162.

3.25pm – Henry gets his man, Green comes in

Matt Henry claimed the wicket of Usman Khawaja with the final ball before a drinks break.

The New Zealand quick was throwing everything he had at the Australian opener with several deliveries in the over slamming into Khawaja’s pads.

But it was the final ball that did the trick.

As Khawaja stepped across his stumps looking to whip one away on the leg side, the ball beat him for pace and bounced off his thigh pad and into leg stump, sending the bails flying.

Cameron Green, who is coming off a monster ton in the first Test, has joined the under fire Marnus Labuschagne at the crease.

2.20pm – Steve Smith sent packing after brainfade

The first wicket has fallen with Steve Smith sent on his way after a bizarre moment from the Australian opener.

Debutant Ben Sears thundered one in and Smith elected to not offer up a shot as the ball slammed into his pads.

The Kiwis went up in unison as the umpire’s finger was raised to the heavens. Smith elected to review the call but was sent on his way with the system sticking with the umpires decision.

Third ball of his Test career and Sears gets a big one!pic.twitter.com/fsrHpoHgX3

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 8, 2024

Good review that... #AUSvNZpic.twitter.com/HgLiMXvu39

— Tim Michell (@tim_michell) March 8, 2024

1.20pm – Partnership finally broken

Tim Southee has been sent on his way after going for one big shot too many.

A shorter delivery from Pat Cummins was pulled away but sent high into the sky after coming off the top edge of Southee’s bat.

Josh Hazlewood watched it like a hawk before hauling in the catch in the deep to end the 55-run stand.

Hazlewood then cleaned up the innings in the very next over thanks to the faintest of edges off the bat of Matt Henry.

In bizarre circumstances it was only Cameron Green who put his hands up after hearing the noise.

Those young ears of Cam Green, they don't miss a thing! #NZvAUSpic.twitter.com/AxvhBr50kG

— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) March 8, 2024

1.15pm – Another Test, more tailender misery

It’s the same old story for Australia.

They ripped the heart of a rival and had a sniff at wrapping up an innings in devastating fashion.

But then came the tailenders to the crease and the bowling attack went away from what had put them in prime position.

After falling to 8/107 the Kiwis were in all sorts of trouble, but Matt Henry and Tim Southee had other ideas.

The fast bowling duo combined to flip the script and blast the Aussie bowlers to all parts of Hagley Oval. At the time of writing they’ve registered a 47-run stand, the equal highest partnership of the innings.

1pm — Kiwi’s middle order torn to pieces

New Zealand has suffered its second collapse, losing 5/29 during a horrible second session of play.

Josh Hazlewood was the chief destroyer with four wickets before Mitch Starc found himself on a hat-trick.

“It’s been quite the collapse to be perfectly honest,” Kiwi commentator Ian Smith told SEN.

“They’re reeling all right.”

12.45pm — Wheels falling off after Williamson’s desperate act

Josh Hazlewood has put New Zealand to the sword in the second session of play — and has taken the prized scalp of Kiwi hero Kane Williamson.

Williamson was given a standing ovation on his way out to the middle while playing in his milestone 100th Test — but it didn’t help him when Hazlewood started bowling hand grenades from the other end.

While capturing the wickets of Williamson, Tom Latham, Rachin Ravindra and Daryl Mitchell, Hazlewood suddenly had figures of 4/19.

His dismissal of Williamson was the biggest moment when the former Kiwi captain was trapped plum in front, but inexcusably elected to review the decision.

Josh Hazlewood was bowling hand grenades. Photo: Fox Cricket, Twitter and Getty.

After what seemed an eternity, Williamson called for the review, having looked directly at Hazlewood before making his decision.

The replays showed the ball was nowhere near Williamson’s bat before it thumped low into his pads.

The ball-tracking technology indicated the ball was going to crash into middle stump.

Williamson’s wasted review did not go unnoticed.

“That’s an act of desperation,” Kiwi great Scott Styris said in commentary on Fox Cricket.

Ian Smith said on SEN Williamson knew straight away he was out before bizarrely going on with the review.

12pm — Hazlewood is on fire

Josh Hazlewood has struck again in his first spell after lunch to take his figures to 3/18.

There wasn’t a lot that Daryl Mitchell could do after Hazlewood got the ball seaming away from the right-hander.

His delivery left Mitchell needing to play on the back foot to a ball that was uncomfortably short of a length — and an outside edge went through to Alex Carey.

“It does not get any better than that from Josh Hazlewood. This is top-line, first class bowling,” Fox Cricket analyst Brendon Julian said.

“It is just quality bowling. Sometimes when someone is on, they are just on, and Hazlewood … is a handful for New Zealand.”

11.15am — Australia goes bang, bang, bang

Mitchell Marsh has snatched an absolute blinder to give Australia its first break through.

Marsh sent Young back to the pavilion after taking a classy, diving catch at third slip off the bowling of Mitchell Starc.

Young was trying to flick the ball onto the leg side, but could only get a thick edge between Marsh and second slip Steve Smith.

The Bison was never going to let it go. Photo: Fox Cricket.

“It is an amazing catch this from Mitch Marsh. He has got big mitts and was able to grasp it,” Fox Cricket analyst Brendon Julian said.

“He would have seen it blind off the bat and just reacted to it. Geez, that is a ripper of a catch.”

Starc’s dismissal was his 355th in Test cricket — taking him level with icon Dennis Lillee at No. 4 on the list of Australia’s greatest Test wicket-takers.

Just three overs later, Australia got its second wicket when Josh Hazlewood struck to dismiss Tom Latham.

Hazlewood had Latham caught at the wicket when a perfect delivery from around the wicket cut in a bit to make Latham play, and the tickle on the edge was easily taken by Alex Carey.

Hazlewood got his second wicket shortly after when Rachin Ravindra slashed at a wide delivery in the final over of the first session.

New Zealand had lost 3/24 in the final eight overs before lunch was called.

10am – Kiwis survive first hour as catch goes down

New Zealand has blunted Australia’s attack to reach 0/35 after the first hour of play.

Openers Tom Latham and Will Young are both still at the crease with young scoring just nine runs from 40 balls.

It didn’t help that Australia put down a tough chance to get an early wicket when Travis Head let a catch slip through his fingers at short leg.

The catch slipped through Head's fingers. Photo: Fox Cricket.

Cummins got a ball to dart into Young’s hip — and the Kiwi’s defensive flick edged onto his body and popped up several metres wide of Head.

Head threw everything to reach the ball but couldn’t pull it off.

“Oh no. He just put it down,” a Kiwi commentator said on Fox Cricket.

“He had a great look at that Travis Head.”

9am – Cummins calls for one final push

Australian captain Pat Cummins says his team is ready to go full bore for “the last big push” after naming the same XI for the fourth Test in a row, and the same bowling line-up for a seventh-straight match.

But Cummins is adamant his Test team, which has had just one change across the past eight matches, with Cameron Green brought in to replace retired opener David Warner, was primed for one final contest, with the opportunity to seal a 2-0 series victory, knowing a break will follow, driving them.

“We know this is the last big push for a while,” Cummins said.

“That’s been a lot of the focus … it’s all geared towards this being a big week and the last big week for a while.”

Naming the same team also means continued support for out-of-form batter Marnus Labuschagne and new opener Steve Smith, who has dropped to his lowest spot on the ICC Test batting ranking, falling to No.3.

New Zealand captain Tim Southee confirmed that quick Ben Sears would debut in Christchurch, making the race for the last place between Mitchell Santner and Scott Kuggeleijn.