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The Age

Friday November 21, 2008

Alex Brown, Brisbane

A DEFIANT innings from Michael Clarke saved the hosts from total embarrassment, but did little to dampen the notion that this is an Australian team on the wane.

Clarke's determined, if not classical, innings of 98 was not enough to steer Australia through the day, nor to save them from the ignominy of posting their lowest completed total against New Zealand in Australia since 1985. It did, however, keep the Australians in the match, though in a manner somewhat short of the emphatic.

Ricky Ponting's luck at the coin toss continued to desert him, leaving Australia's batsmen to contend with a Gabba surface enlivened by overnight rain and a New Zealand bowling line-up well suited to the heavy conditions. The circumstances may not have been ideal, but the Australians did little to help their cause with occasional poor shot selection and a general failure to readjust from the skid of the subcontinent to the bounce of Brisbane. A total of 214 was presumably not in Ponting's script.

New Zealand, fielding a similar attack to the one which struggled against a second-string NSW side last week, pinned Australia on the ropes from the outset. The gamble to play teenager Tim Southee (4-63) for the more seasoned Kyle Mills paid immediate dividends, with the swing specialist removing Australia's first three batsmen inside the first session, then returning later to remove Brett Lee after the tea break.

Cameo performances from Iain O'Brien (2-44) and Jesse Ryder (2-7) ensured Australia little breathing space, and only Clarke's determined efforts went any way to sparing the hosts' blushes. The importance of Lee and Stuart Clark in today's exchanges cannot be overstated.

Australia have insisted for months that any regression in standards would be slight, but evidence of a steeper fall is mounting. Moves to dismiss the series defeat in India as an aberration lost ground yesterday, as Australia's batsmen struggled in their own climes, against an opponent placed seventh in the Test rankings.

Matthew Hayden began Australia's unconvincing performance with an uncommitted wave of the bat to a Southee delivery that veered back ever so slightly. The 19-year-old then coaxed Simon Katich into an outside edge to a ball that held its line, and dismissed Ponting with a shorter ball that surprised the Australian captain for bounce and pace. The home side was 3-23, and in desperate need of a hero.

That role was capably filled by Clarke, though trusty sidekicks proved hard to come by. Michael Hussey's innings of 35 and Andrew Symonds's bizarre knock of 26 which included a dropped catch, an eight-run ball (four all-run, plus four overthrows) and a dismissal in the one O'Brien over titillated but ultimately failed to deliver, while Brad Haddin (6) and Shane Watson (1) did little to ease the pressure on their spots.

Clarke has played more fluent innings, but few as important in preserving Australia's overall standing in world cricket. The Australian vice-captain twice edged Southee through a vacant fourth slip, and was beaten on several other occasions, but held his nerve in the challenging conditions to post his 10th Test half-century. Clarke's hopes of triple-figures eroded with each falling wicket and, as if in keeping with the theme of the day, fell just short in the failing evening light.

For New Zealand, the true test lies ahead. Openers Jamie How and Aaron Redmond barely survived a torrid five-over duel with Lee and Clark before stumps, and will be relied upon to set the foundations for the Black Caps innings today. New Zealand's batting has proved an Achilles heel in recent seasons, but a strong performance today will go far to earning the forgiveness of their long-suffering fans.

The Australians will be acutely aware that anything short of a victory against New Zealand will send their stocks tumbling faster than the ASX. Not since 1988 have Australia failed to register a win in five consecutive Tests, and to avoid such an inglorious place in history, they must dig themselves from the day-one hole they created for themselves. Cricket's star attraction can ill-afford to fluff its lines again.

Australia v New Zealand

STATE OF PLAY

DAY 1

THE TEAMS

AUSTRALIA: Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting (c), Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark, Jason Krejza (12th man).

NEW ZEALAND: Aaron Redmond, Jamie How, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Flynn, Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori (c), Tim Southee, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin, Peter Fulton (12th man).

THE SCORE

LUNCH: Australia 3-60

(Clarke 21, Hussey 16)

TEA: Australia 7-152

(Clarke 60)

STUMPS: New Zealand 0-7

(Redmond 3, How 2)

THE PITCH

The Black Cap seamers seized first use of the helpful conditions, which offered steep bounce and some sideways movement. Kevin Mitchell jnr and his team did well to produce a good wicket in spite of reduced preparation.

THE WEATHER

Start was delayed by 30 minutes after an overnight deluge and violent storm that damaged a section of the grandstand roof. Top of 30 degrees forecast for day two.

THE MOMENT

The surreal over in which returning "bad boy" Andrew Symonds was dropped, ran four and was awarded four more for overthrows, and then was caught behind for 26.

THE NUMBER

1988 The last time Australia endured five straight Tests without a win.

© 2008 The Age

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