Ball on top on first day of historic day-night Test

He’s hit centuries in each of the first two tests in Brisbane and Perth and is up to world No 2 batsman in test cricket, equal with Australian skipper Steve Smith and behind only South African star AB de Villiers.

However, New Zealand would be disappointed as the ninth and tenth wicket partnership of 74 and 34 respectively between Peter Nevill, Nathan Lyon and Mitchell Starc allowed Australia to take a lead of 22 runs.

Starc may not be able to bowl on his bad ankle but he can still swing a bat, clobbering 24 runs including two sixes before Nevill was caught by Santner off Bracewell to end the innings. New Zealand appealed for a catch at slip after a Mitchell Santner ball ricocheted off Lyon’s upper arm during an attempted sweep shot and then called for a review after it was turned down.

Australia hold a one-nil lead entering the third and final Test but McCullum said he was highly motivated to win the historic fixture – and lead from the front.

New Zealand suffered an early setback after winning the toss when Martin Guptill fell lbw to Josh Hazlewood in the fourth over of the day. The “Hot spot” technology showed a mark on Lyon’s bat but “Snicko” showed no audio evidence of a nick, leaving third umpire Nigel Llong to deliberate at considerable length.

“We’ve got enough bowling in our lineup to take the 10 wickets (in New Zealand’s second innings)”.

Australia seamer Peter Siddle declared the occasion a “great day” for cricket after nearly 50,000 fans flocked to the Adelaide Oval – the most for a Test at the venue since England’s Bodyline series in 1932-33.

The Australians had slumped to eight for 116 after losing six wickets in the span of 63 runs in today’s opening session.

Tim Southee and Brendon McCullum celebrate the dismissal of Shaun Marsh, Adelaide, 2015.

The good news for Smith is that conditions should favor batting during the daylight hours on Saturday.

Marsh drove Southee to mid-off where McCullum made a sprawling save only to throw down the stumps at the bowler s end with the batsman well out of his ground. In 28 Test innings Marsh is averaging 31.96 and it was the 12th time he has been dismissed in single figures.

Marsh’s younger brother Mitchell fared scarcely better, adding only four runs before being caught behind having prodded needlessly at a Doug Bracewell delivery.