Australia v New Zealand: First Test, day five

Lyon (2/33) looms as the key on a bouncy Gabba wicket when the Kiwis resume at 3/142 chasing 504 for victory.

The Australian fans may be feeling a small amount of satisfaction for the Rugby World Cup final result as the Trans-Tasman rivalry continues.

“It’s always important to get that first Test hundred and to feel like you belong a little bit, more than anything”, he said.

There are other concerns for New Zealand as well.

The tail was cleaned up quickly after McCullum’s departure, but there was an ugly incident involving Mitchell Starc towards the end, an incident for which the young fast bowler has been reprimanded by his captain Steve Smith in the post-match conference.

“We’ve achieved a few special things of late and it is going to take a special effort over the next couple of tests to come out with the spoils”.

“I felt I was playing ok and pretty determined to ensure we were able to keep batting deep into the afternoon”, McCullum said.

Marsh forced the batsman onto the back foot with a low delivery and although umpire Nigel Llong raised his finger in response to a loud appeal for caught behind, television replays suggested there had been no contact with McCullum’s bat. Their batsmen, Kane Williamson excepted, also need to lift a notch for them to be competitive in Perth after they suffered their ninth defeat from their last 11 overseas test series openers. He’d used up the Black Caps’ second challenge and they had to wait till the 80th over to get them back.

McCullum hopes that his men will be better for the experience come the second Test in Perth, but now they enter that game 1-0 down. Offering a big swing at a ball swinging away from him, Southee appeared to brush the ground with his bat, but was given out and then saw the decision upheld by the third umpire S Ravi.

“I thought Tim bowled very well for us on that first day and he battled through a pretty tough back injury as well”, McCullum said.

The 25 year-old Williamson however was out when Lyon got him out lbw when he missed a straight forward pull shot, and shortly thereafter the players went off for tea and never returned.

Skipper Brendon McCullum top-scored with 80 before a contentious dismissal, while spinner Nathan Lyon took three wickets for 63.

The half of the workforce most Australians weren’t involved about earlier than the check was the tempo assault, however Smith prompt Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood wanted to up their recreation for the Perth check, which begins on Friday.