It's game on for the Black Caps

Heavens above. Our emerging players have knocked over Australia in their own backyard despite more dirty pool from Ricky Ponting's men and the traditional home-town umpiring.

The world's most unpopular sporting team was overwhelming favourite in Perth on Sunday but fell victim to a rookie New Zealand side that was disciplined with the ball, sharp in the field and held together with the bat by Ross Taylor, who grows more responsible as each day passes.

Australia fought hard to defend just 181 on a stopping surface. The cringe factor was high as the out-of-sorts Hussey brothers patted everything that moved and, after the innings break, it was wicketkeeper Brad Haddin's turn to be the villain.

Haddin plumbed new depths by disturbing the bails with his gloves without batting an eyelid.

Breaking the stumps when a batsman misses the ball is a stunt normally the domain of schoolyard bullies and Haddin would be wise not to watch a replay of his gamesmanship at the Waca. A good sport would have at the least asked for confirmation from the match officials.

New Zealand's conduct under some provocation was exemplary. Brendon McCullum bit his tongue when a dreadful leg-before decision went against him and Neil Broom sensed Haddin was up to tricks but accepted the umpire's raised finger.

What is it about Australian umpires? Simon Taufel was world class, Steve Davis generally sound and Steve Randell appeared to give it as he saw until it was discovered he had a few skeletons in the closet. But seemingly all the rest have tales to tell of the day they stitched up a touring side in the annual Aussie one-day tri-series.

The latest bloke, Bruce Oxenford, can probably bank on a street parade when he gets home after firing McCullum and then pretending he never saw Haddin's wicketkeeping gloves in front of the stumps. Oxenford was heavily criticised last summer for a series of dubious third-umpire decisions during the controversial Sydney test between India and Australia.

Thankfully, the more deserving team still prevailed yesterday morning in a clear example that low-scoring one-day matches are often far more exciting than run-feasts.

Suddenly the series that was supposed to be a whitewash has a sense of anticipation about it.

The Aussies are blowing up at Haddin's integrity being questioned and they will come hard at New Zealand in the second match, in Melbourne on Friday.

Losing Jesse Ryder is a blow to New Zealand's prospects but Martin Guptill is no slouch, Broom looks to have a little something about him and Taylor, Daniel Vettori and Kyle Mills are in the zone. Game on.

- © Fairfax NZ News