New Zealand v Australia, first Test: Cameron Green century seals fightback on day one
Australia’s senior stars fell away in a stunning 4-18 collapse - before an almighty Cameron Green-inspired rebuild saved their blushes on on a rollercoaster series-opening day against New Zealand.
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Cameron Green silenced the doubters with a fighting century - his most significant Test innings to date - to anchor Australia on a day that had threatened at various stages to get nasty for the tourists.
The all-rounder’s opening day century against New Zealand steered the Aussies to 9-279 at stumps on day one of the first Test, after being sent in by New Zealand captain Tim Southee on a green Basin Reserve wicket and against a four-headed Black Caps pace attack.
Steve Smith (31) and Usman Khawaja (33) blunted the new ball but fell either side of lunch to Matt Henry. Marnus Labuschagne’s poor run continued as he edged Scott Kuggeleijn to first slip on one, while Travis Head backed up a king pair against the West Indies in Brisbane by nicking off to Will O’Rourke for one.
United with his fellow West Australian at 4-89, Mitch Marsh blasted a typically counterattacking 40 at better than a run a ball before top-edging to become Henry’s third victim.
Alex Carey drove Kuggeleijn straight to Kane Williamson at cover for 10, leaving Green to fend with the tail at 6-176.
Aided by handy support from Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins, Green reached what was his highest Test score since a maiden ton in Ahmedabad last March.
Nathan Lyon was dropped by Williamson off Southee before scoring but fell to Henry for five, by which point Green was on 91 and joined by No. 11 Josh Hazlewood.
Green took the long handle to O’Rourke, striking three boundaries in the day’s final over including a slash through backward point to reach 103 not out at stumps, before Hazlewood had even faced a ball.
The innings vindicated the selectors’ desire to recall Green in a revamped top six following David Warner’s retirement, as well as the decision to allow Green to play in the Sheffield Shield for WA before this series rather than join Australia’s Twenty20 squad.
RE-LIVE ALL THE ACTION FROM DAY ONE BELOW
STUMPS: GREEN FIRES AUSTRALIA BACK INTO CONTEST
On a day where not many of his teammates looked all that comfortable, Cameron Green has played one of the finest knocks of his career to give Australia day one honours in the first Test.
Green thundered three boundaries in the final over of the day to reach his second Test century to steer Australia to 9-279.
Speaking after the day’s play, Green said he felt New Zealand were still on top in the match – but the home side might disagree, after letting Australia recover from 6-176 late in the day.
Only openers Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja, who put on 61 for the opening wicket, and Mitchell Marsh – who hit a quickfire 40, gave much work for the scorers on Thursday.
Matt Henry, meanwhile, was the pick of the bowlers, finishing the day with 4-43.
4.30PM: CENTURY! GREEN NOTCHES SECOND TEST TON
Wow.
Cameron Green goes bang-bang after watching the end of Nathan Lyon, thumping two boundaries off Will O’Rourke to move from 91 to 99 in quick time.
The field is drawn in, for what is the last over of the day, as Green chases a single for his second Test century.
Instead, he gets a boundary off a bruising cut shot for four. What an impressive innings.
His first century batting No.4 for Australia, and that is a giant monkey off his back. It couldn’t have come at a more important time, either, with Australia on the ropes several times during his innings.
He gives Australia a huge boost late in the day, steering them to 9-279 at stumps - and giving the bowlers something to work with tomorrow.
4.25PM: WICKET! HENRY STRIKES WITH ANOTHER ABSOLUTE GEM
Nathan Lyon looked quite at home out there today – hit a peach of an off-drive too – but that ball from Matt Henry was far too good for him.
Perfect length, shaping away, it takes the edge and gives Henry his fourth wicket of the day.
He has been the pick of the New Zealand bowlers and deserves a five-wicket haul, which could come before stumps today with Josh Hazlewood coming to the crease.
Meanwhile, Cameron Green is receiving attention from an earlier blow to his forearm. He’s on 91 – his second highest Test score.
How much trust does he have in Hazlewood?
4.10PM: GREEN EYES CENTURY AS NEW BALL ARRIVES
There’s 20 minutes left in the day, and it could be a nasty little spot for Australia’s tail – because the new ball has just arrived.
Tim Southee has the rock in his hand, and the skipper will be dead keen to knock over these last two weeks to drive home New Zealand’s advantage on day one.
But the new ball often presents opportunities for runs. It can race along the ground and fly off the bat.
Cameron Green tests it out with a pair of boundaries off Southee to move into the 80s. He’s up to his third highest Test score right now.
4.00PM: WICKET! CUMMINS TRAPPED IN FRONT
Just as Australia were starting to eye off a solid partnership to finish the day, New Zealand find another twist.
Pat Cummins was looking comfortable in the middle and had peeled off a handy 16 as part of a 33-run partnership with Cameron Green.
But, despite a review, he’s been sent on his way, lbw to Rachin Ravindra.
He looked dead to rights, but reviewed anway – recognising the importance of his partnership with Green, perhaps. However he only needed one replay before he started shuffling towards the boundary rope.
Australia are nearly done late on day one, with just Josh Hazlewood left in the sheds. They’re 8-244
3.45PM: GREEN’S CRUCIAL INNINGS VALIDATES SELECTORS
At risk of going off early, this feels like a really important innings in Cameron Green’s career.
The big all-rounder came to the crease in the middle of a furious spell of bowling, as wickets fell around him, and with big question marks surrounding his promotion to No.4 in the Australian order.
And, while he’s scored 100 against India in Ahmedabad, and produced some crucial half-centuries in the past, to do so with Australia firmly on the back foot must feel like a major confidence booster.
And not just for Green – for the selectors as well.
He’s moved to 69 late on day one, with Australia 7-231. It’s his seventh highest Test innings.
3:30PM: WICKET! STARC GONE, AUSSIES ON THE ROPES
Cameron Green will be key to Australia posting a respectable total as Mitchell Starc makes his way back to the pavilion.
Starc played a mostly safe innings, with just one boundary in his nine runs, but misjudged a nice piece of bowling from Will O’Rourke to send it straight to the slip cordon.
Tom Latham took it comfortably, leaving Australia at 7-211 as captain Pat Cummins strode to the crease.
Cummins can bat, but New Zealand’s attack has found the right length and created plenty of opportunity to have Australia well on the back foot.
3:20PM: FIFTY! GREEN HITS BIG
Ooft, Cameron Green, please.
Green has raised the bat after reaching his half-century but not before making Australian fans a tad nervous with his shot selection.
He sent it straight back at Tim Southee, who got his hands up but not quite high enough to get a finger on the ball, as it whizzed by and ran to the fence.
It was the eighth boundary of an innings in which he started nervously and under siege by a bowling attack which smelled blood.
He’s managed to play his way through it and record the 7th half-century of his Test career to date.
Green (53* off 113) is currently in the middle alongside Mitchell Starc (8* off 29), and have put on a 30-run partnership as they took Australia past 200.
3.05PM: HAS NEW ZEALAND OPENED UP PITCH SECRET?
Since the lunch break, New Zealand have been bowling noticeably shorter. And it’s had a great impact.
Cameron Green has worn several shots on the body, while Will O’Rourke ripped a few through the defences of Alex Carey.
In truth, despite the green deck, they’ve had a bit more success since pulling back and attacking the body a bit more – rather than playing for the swing, as was the plan earlier on.
Have they unlocked the secret of the Basin Reserve pitch? And is there anything there that the likes of Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins – back of a length specialists – could be analysing for when they get their crack on this juiced up deck?
Starc is currently battling away with the bat, as Australia close in on 200 for their first innings.
2.45PM: WICKET! NZ STRIKES AGAIN AS CAREY FALLS
Alex Carey has picked out Kane Williamson perfectly at cover, and he goes for 10.
Was a fairly scrappy knock and it leaves Australia in an even bigger hole, at 6-176.
Kuggeleijn jags a second wicket, with a length ball outside offstump that is just creamed straight to Williamson.
It’s up to Cameron Green and the tail, now. In comes Mitchell Starc.
2.30PM: WHO HAS THEIR NOSE IN FRONT?
A fascinating final 90 minutes await us, with this first day’s play evenly poised.
Mitchell Marsh’s cameo momentarily stole the momentum away from New Zealand, but the home side will feel pretty good about themselves after sending Australia in on a seaming wicket.
At 5-170 early in the final session of the day, this one could go either way. But one more wicket, with Alex Carey having joined Cameron Green in the middle, would expose the tail and swing things firmly in favour of the Black Caps.
For Green it is a terrific chance to quiet the chatter around his space in the Australian middle order.
The Western Australian has a phenomenal first-class record, but is yet to truly stamp himself as a bona-fide Test batsman.
He’s worn a nasty bouncer from O’Rourke on the bicep, but is refusing to show any pain. But can he convert the bravery into a big score?
2.05PM: WICKET! MARSH FALLS AFTER AUSSIE ATTACK
Cameron Green must have spent the tea break watching highlights of Mitch Marsh’s start given the way he came out for the final session – but it didn’t take long for things to go south.
Green was on 23 from 61 balls at the break, but smacked two boundaries with the first over after tea as he and Marsh (40) took nine runs off Scott Kuggeleijn.
Both we well timed shots, one very deep wicket and another past long on, as commentators warned they can’t let Green get going.
Two balls later, the heads were back down, after Marsh miscued a pull shot to send it skyward, with wicketkeeper Tom Blundell taking an easy catch to send him on his way for an exciting 40.
That brings Alex Carey to the crease with plenty of work to do, with Australia at 5-156 and New Zealand back into a good position.
1.40PM: TEA! MARSH FIGHTS BACK IN WILD SESSION
Caught your breath? It’s fair to say the first Test kicked up a notch or two after lunch in Wellington.
After Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja crept along incredibly successfully, right up until the stroke of lunch, all hell broke loose.
While Smith was dismissed just before lunch, he triggered a collapse of 4-18 as Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head fell cheaply, and Khawaja’s stand came to an end.
It had the potential to go pear-shaped very quickly, but Mitchell Marsh stepped up with a brutal blitz.
Going at better than a run-a-ball, Marsh finished the session 39 off 36 to steer Australia out of trouble at 4-147 at tea, with Cameron Green unbeaten on 23 and a partnership of 58 - and counting.
All up, it was New Zealand's session though with Australia scoring 3-85.
1.20PM: MARSH FIGHTS FIRE WITH FIRE
That’s one way to stop a collapse.
Mitchell Marsh has come out all guns blazing after Australia lost 4-18 – with Australia’s T20 captain going into T20 mode, scoring 27 off his first 24 balls to stem the bleeding of the middle order collapse.
While Cameron Green has compiled a very patient 12 off 43, Marsh has a different mindset to push Australia past the 100 mark.
The tourists are 4-124.
12.50PM: WICKET! AUSTRALIA IN ALL SORTS AS HEAD DEPARTS
New Zealand are cooking with gas, and Australia are officially in dire straights.
Travis Head goes for just 1, nicking behind to Blundell off O’Rourke – his first wicket of the day.
In no time, this game has been turned on its head with Australia losing three quick wickets after lunch in addition to the Steve Smith exit just prior to the lunch break.
That continues a lean run for Head, who had a rough series against the West Indies.
That wicket, which brings the equally aggressive Mitchell Marsh to the crease, adds to a collapse that now totals 4-18.
Australia need something special from their pair of all-rounders right about now.
12.40PM: WICKET! KHAWAJA FALLS TO A RIPPER
Oh boy. What an absolute sizzling delivery from Matt Henry, who has been the pick of New Zealand’s bowlers.
He gets one to swing back late and through the defences of Usman Khawaja who has his middle stump rocked back.
He falls for an incredibly patient 33 – but had fallen into somewhat of a rut, scoring just six runs from his last 51 balls.
After a promising start, Australia have lost 3-17 either side of lunch and suddenly find themselves in a spot of bother.
Cameron Green has scratched his way to 5. Meanwhile, Travis Head joins him at the crease.
And you know that when Head is on strike, life will be anything but dull – he’ll look to attack.
12:25PM: KIWIS TURN THE SCREWS
Usman Khawaja’s pace has slowed as he fights to lead Australia out from under an impressive patch of bowling by New Zealand.
The Aussies lost 2-4 either side of the lunch break, with Marnus Labuschagne’s cheap dismissal (1 from 27 balls) bringing Cameron Green to the middle in the crucial role of No.4.
New Zealand’s bowlers gave Green no time to get comfortable.
Scott Kuggeleijn and veteran Tim Southee asked plenty of questions of an erratic Green, who was tempted by numerous deliveries as the Kiwis poke and prod for a third scalp.
It hasn’t come easy for Khawaja, who scored his first 27 runs from 67 balls but just 6 from his next 43.
11.58AM: WICKET! MARNUS GOES CHEAPLY
Oh dear. The end of a painful innings from Marnus Labuschagne, out nicking off for 1 from 27 balls.
Kuggeleijn gets the ball to creep away from the right-hander, takes the nick and Blundell takes another fine catch.
In truth, Labuschagne did not look himself today. Hasn’t looked himself for quite some time, really.
From a steady base, Australia’s innings has fallen apart a little bit. A wicket before an after lunch has reduced the tourists to 2-65.
In comes Cameron Green. Another great opportunity for the giant all-rounder to cement his spot as Australia’s No.4 – while another failure will add to the numbers of doubters about his credentials.
11.40AM: PLAY RESUMES AFTER LUNCH
The players are back out in the middle for the second session on day one in Wellington – and it should be a big session for Marnus Labuschange.
The former world No.1 Test batsman, Labuschagne had a disappointing 2023.
He’s scored just one century – 111 against England in Manchester last year – in his past 35 Test innings, and will be desperate to reverse a shocking start to the calendar year.
After scoring twin half-centuries against Pakistan in January, the Australian No.3 had scores of 10, 1 not out, 3 and 5 against the West Indies.
Australia certainly needs the Marnus of old to return, with a huge Test summer on the horizon against India at the end of the year.
He resumes on 1, with Usman Khawaja 28 and Australia 1-62
11.20AM: KHAWAJA JOINS TUGGA IN TWO-MAN CLUB
Usman Khawaja is closing in on further history in his remarkable latter day career resurgence.
Left on the cutting room floor for more than two years by national selectors between 2019 and 2022, on Thursday Khawaja became the second Australian to amass more than 2500 Test runs after turning 35.
At lunch on day one against New Zealand, Khawaja’s Test tally since turning 35 stood at 2504 runs at an average of 56.90. Only Steve Waugh, with 2554 at 53.20, has scored more Test runs after turning 35 for Australia.Waugh’s haul came across 40 Tests, while Khawaja is only playing is only playing his 28.
Among the 13 Australians with more than 1000 Test runs after turning 35, Khawaja boasts the third best average, behind Don Bradman (1903 runs at 105.72) and Adam Voges (1485 at 61.87).
11.00AM: LUNCH! SMITH FALLS IN LATE AUSSIE BLOW
A tough session of Test cricket, that.
Australia would’ve been delighted about 15 minutes ago, but the late Steve Smith wicket will change the mood in both dressing rooms at the major break on day one.
Smith (31) and Khawaja put on 61 for the opening wicket, but more importantly had blunted the Black Caps attack after being sent in to bat on a typically green New Zealand wicket.
The Smith wicket, however, shakes things up. It has brought Marnus Labuschagne – a man in desperate need of Test runs – to the crease, and makes the middle session a very interesting proposition.
Khawaja has played a typically stoic knock – outside of a two-over period where he plundered half of his 28 runs, from a six and two boundaries – and will be the foundation on which the Australian innings is built.
10.50AM: WICKET! SMITH DEPARTS JUST BEFORE LUNCH
A huge breakthrough for New Zealand, who have toiled without success all morning.
But right on the stroke of lunch, Matt Henry gets the huge scalp of Steve Smith – nicking off for 31.
This one was a touch shorter, and it squares Smith up – playing off the back foot, he nicks through to the keeper Tom Blundell, who dives in front of first slip to take a great catch.
Smith doesn’t bother looking back to see if the catch is taken. He knew the outcome before it was even safely pouched in Blundell’s gloves.
Australia 1-61, and after a slow first session, New Zealand will enjoy their lunch a great deal more now.
10.30AM: KHAWAJA SURVIVES DESPERATE NZ REVIEW
Scott Kuggeleijn gets one to hoop back into Khawaja from around the wicket – and a desperate Tim Southee asks for the third umpire to have a look.
It is a wasted review, because that has done far too much and it missing leg stump by some distance. A good decision from Marais Erasmus, a bad review from the Black Caps.
Truth be told, it has been slow going at Basin Reserve this morning – but that will be just fine for Australia.
They’re half an hour from the lunch break, and priority No.1 for this pair would’ve been to get through the opening session without any damage to the scoreboard.
This opening session will likely be the trickiest condition across the five days, with the wicket at its juiciest and some nice overcast skies for the seamers.
The runs? They will come in time. But they’ve not flowed this morning. After 21 overs of seam bowling, Australia are 0-54.
Steve Smith (25 off 60) started brightly, but has eased off. Khawaja (27 off 67) started slow, but smacked a six and two boundaries in consecutive overs to have overtaken his partner.
10.00AM: UZBALL TAKES OVER FIRST TEST
An hour down in Wellington, and it’s been pure UzBall.
The Australian opener is crawling along with a strikerate of 18 – the absolute antithesis of Bazball – as he blunts New Zealand’s seam-bowling attack on a juicy wicket.
As a result, Australia are just 0-27 after the opening 15 overs, with Steve Smith doing the bulk of the damage to be 17 not out, and Usman Khawaja on 8 from 44.
Smith has a very dirty jumper after a shocking mix-up nearly ended up in a comical run-out .
Smith scampered for a quick single, but Khawaja was unmoved. Smith was halfway down the pitch when he turned – and slipped – to appear stranded mid-pitch.
Somehow, he recovered and dived to make his ground before New Zealand were able to throw down the stumps.
But that has been the only real chance outside of a Khawaja edge which fell short of the slips. A productive morning for Australia, so far.
9.35AM: SECRET BONUS BEHIND SMITH’S OPENER MOVE
Eight overs down, and there’s been not a single short ball from New Zealand. This was an underrated aspect of Smith’s ascension to the opening role.
It’s not secret that Smith has struggled in recent times as teams operated a relentless barrage of short-pitched bowling to stifle his brilliant runscoring.
In fact, it was New Zealand’s Neil Wagner who employed the tactic to enormous success on Australian soil. Wagner, of course, retired from international cricket this week so he’s not here to torment Smith any longer.
But with Smith moving to opener, teams are more reluctant to ‘waste’ the new ball by banging it into the pitch. New Zealand have certainly decided that they’ll get more value out of it by pitching it up and letting the swing do the damange.
And the Black Caps quicks are making things happen regardless, mind you. Matt Henry draws an edge from Khawaja, who is on the back foot and playing defensively, but it drops inches short of the slips cordon.
9.20AM: SMITH’S WARNER-ESQUE START
Steve Smith is filling the opening boots of David Warner in more ways than one right now.
Not only has he jumped in to fill the gap, but he’s taken a leaf out of Warner’s book when it comes to aggressive cricket.
Warner famously liked to take the attack to the opposition from ball one, putting the pressure on bowlers before they were properly settled.
Smith has started off in similar fashion, leading the charge for Australia as he raced to 13 from 17 inside the first five overs.
9.10AM: SMITH, KHAWAJA BATTLE IN OMINOUS CONDITIONS
Australia’s new-look opening partnership of Usman Khawaja and Steve Smith have a battle on their hands this morning.
After losing the toss and being sent in, Australia’s batsmen will face a four-strong Black Caps pace attack on a veritable green monster.
The wickets in New Zealand always have a healthy cover of grass, but it never gets old – and it’s always a joy for fast bowlers.
However, in commentary, champion Australian keeper Brad Haddin said the key to batting on New Zealand wickets didn’t have a great deal to do with the surface of the wicket.
You’ve got to look up – at the cloud cover – rather than down, at the green-tinged wicket, to know how the ball will react.
Either way, the ball has moved both ways in the early overs. The first hour will be crucial for Smith and Khawaja.
9.00AM: HAZLEWOOD BATTLES COVID BOUT
The anthems are done - and they’ve brought a tidbit of news, as is often the case these days.
Josh Hazlewood stood apart from the rest of the Australian squad at the national anthem as he is coming off a recent bout of Covid-19.
Josh Hazlewood shooed Cameron Green away in Brisbane. Looks like he is the one having to keep his COVID distance today! #NZvAUSpic.twitter.com/J5OuUTS8VD
— Daniel Davini (@davvers605) February 28, 2024
8:30AM: NEW ZEALAND WIN THE TOSS
- Daniel Cherny
Tim Southee has won the toss for New Zealand and decided to bowl.
It means Australia’s revamped top six will face a tough challenge on a green Wellington wicket that has been under covers in recent days.
New Zealand has included paceman Scott Kuggeleijn over spinner Mitchell Santner as part of a four-pronged seam attack.
Devon Conway hasn’t come up after a blow to his thumb last week.
The Aussies are unchanged as expected. Australian captain Pat Cummins says he would have bowled first too but is “not too upset.”
Teams
Australia: Steven Smith, Usman Khawaja, Marnus Labuschagne, Cameron Green, Travis Head, Mitchell Marsh, Alex Carey (wk), Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins (capt), Nathan Lyon, Josh Hazlewood
New Zealand : Tom Latham, Will Young, Kane Williamson, Rachin Ravindra, Daryl Mitchell, Tom Blundell (wk), Glenn Phillips, Scott Kuggeleijn, Matt Henry, Tim Southee (capt), William O’Rourke
BLACKCAPS’ SURPRISE VISIT FROM AFLW PREMIERSHIP WINNING COACH
AFLW premiership coach Bec Goddard was an unlikely guest at New Zealand training on the eve of the first Test.
Goddard, who coached Adelaide to a flag in the first season of the national women’s league before later coaching Hawthorn across its first two years in the competition, watched the Black Caps go through their paces in the Wellington nets the day before their series against Australia starts at the Basin Reserve.
The former Australian Federal Police superintendent is in New Zealand for a multi-sport study tour organised by the AFL Coaches Association’s Ron Watt. She has been joined by Western Bulldogs AFLW assistant coach Matt Skubis.
The pair spoke at length with NZ coach Gary Stead while his players trained.
Goddard retired from coaching late last year at the conclusion of the Hawks’ AFLW season.
“Having been a lifelong Hawthorn supporter, it was a dream come true to lead the club as its first AFLW senior coach,” Goddard said at the time.“I’ve been very fortunate to work with an incredible group of players, coaches, and staff across the past two seasons, and I would like to thank all of them for their support, love and care.
“The time is right for the club and myself to embark upon new directions, and I leave Hawthorn proud of everything we achieved.”
Goddard is just the latest of several AFL identities who have bobbed up in the nets ahead of Australian Tests across the past 12 months.
Former Geelong captain Joel Selwood was an onlooker ahead of the Lord’s Ashes Test, while sacked Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew hung around the Aussies later in the series, arriving barely a week after losing his job.
“The boys loved having him around,” said Australian gloveman Alex Carey of Dew’s time with the team.“I think it’s like anything, anyone you grew up watching it, and you’re able to have a kick with him. You still find it pretty cool. So yeah, he was he was awesome to have around. I think his dad came over as well.”
PREVIEW:AUSTRALIA NOT WORRIED BY GREEN DECK
Like opening batter Usman Khawaja did the day before, Australian Test captain Pat Cummins declared green New Zealand wickets were not “as scary” as they looked as he backed his star-studded bowling attack for a sixth straight game.
Cummins will lead an unchanged line-up from Australia’s last match, a shock loss to the West Indies at the Gabba, into Thursday’s clash with the Kiwis in Wellington.
That means Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Mitch Starc and spin star Nathan Lyon will do the bowling for the Aussies for a sixth straight game.
The only changes to the line-up in that time have been veteran opener David Warner out through retirement, with Cameron Green coming in.
New Zealand will have to make at least two changes to the XI that played South Africa, with seamer Neil Wagner retiring and gun opener Devon Conway out with a hand injury.
Cummins said bowling first was a “live option” given the always-friendly conditions in New Zealand, but he wasn’t afraid of the wicket either.
“Coming from Australia, it’s rare to turn on the TV and see a green wicket … but over here, it’s pretty normal,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s as scary as perhaps what it looks. Seems like there’s been plenty of first innings scores that have been big.
“The range goes from 180 to 550 or something like that. We’ll have a look tomorrow and make up our mind.”
The last time Australia fielded a different attack was the final Test of the Ashes campaign at The Oval, when Todd Murphy was filling in for injured spinner Nathan Lyon.
“We’ve had a good run. It’s always nice to have a full contingent to pick from,” said Cummins who is playing his first Test in New Zealand.
“We feel in a really good position. The last couple of years we have been successful with these guys. We feel like if anything happened we are pretty well placed.
“There is a real calmness around the group, everyone has played a lot of cricket, it doesn’t feel like we need to reinvent the wheel.”
Cummins conceded the batters would have to “shift” a few plans after the surprise pre-match retirement of Kiwi fast bowler Neil Wagner, who had tormented Steve Smith with short balls the last time the two teams played.
The skipper said he had not bowled too much in the lead-in after a “massive” workload in the past 12 months.
“It’s the balance being fresh and ready for this series,” he said.
“Having a lighter last two or three weeks really helped.
“Everyone is in a really good spot.”
The Australian cause was helped by New Zealand ruling out star batter Devon Conway who injured his hand in the T20 series.
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