Australia tighten grip on Kiwis in Brisbane Test

New Zealand face an uphill battle to save the first Test in Brisbane where Australia have taken a firm grip on proceedings on day two.

Khawaja – playing in his first Test in over two years – was joined by Steven Smith when Warner eventually departed at the hands of James Neesham, and completed his maiden Test hundred shortly before the close to cap a superb opening day for Australia.

Mitchell Johnson was typically at the heart of the damage, removing senior duo Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum, and with Mitchell Starc claiming two more the Black Caps lost four for 16 in 26 balls.

Johnson finished the day with figures of 2 for 52 in 12 overs, while Starc had returns of 2 for 30 in 10 overs.

Despite a minor capitulation from New Zealand in the final session, they can take heart in the fact the pitch still looks as good for batting as it did when Voges and Khawaja were in.

Smith echoed opener David Warner when he derided New Zealand’s “nice guy act”, but he said hostilities would be put on hold – for one Test only – when the teams share a dressing-room beer after the Brisbane Test as part of Anzac commemorations.

Starc, who was heavily criticized when he wilted in the heat and humidity against India at the Gabba a year ago, said he and Johnson showed they could work well in tandem, despite recent skepticism from critics about combining the two left-arm quicks.

“David is someone I’d pay to watch play. Definitely in the series as well”, Starc said.

McCullum, meanwhile, who has encouraged a no-sledging policy among his team, said he had no hard feelings towards Smith, Warner or Johnson. “We’ll see how he scrubs up over the next couple of days in terms of his availability to bowl”.

New Zealand was dealt a further blow with paceman Tim Southee (1-70) leaving the field for scans due to a disc injury in his back.

His century is his 11th in just his 42nd Test and his first on Australian soil. He and Adam Voges, who ended unbeaten on 83, built a partnership of 157 after Smith was dismissed by a superb delivery from Trent Boult early in the day.

He waited until the eighth over of the morning for his first boundary, but rotated strike cleverly to ensure the New Zealand bowlers had to keep changing their lines. If his dismissal was disappointing – a mistimed reverse sweep off Kane Williamson’s occasional spin – there is little doubt that his 174 runs have secured him the number three test berth for a few time to come.