Clarke ignores turmoil, posts century

BY MARK GEENTY

Michael Clarke soaked up a standing Basin Reserve ovation then doffed his cap to his ex-fiancee as he ground New Zealand's bowlers into submission in the first cricket test in Wellington today.

Australia's vice-captain bounced back from the media frenzy surrounding his relationship breakup to plunder his 14th test century and lead the tourists to an imposing 316 for four at stumps.

Clarke, 100 not out, and Marcus North, 52 not out, added an unbroken 140 for the fifth wicket and on a pitch getting better and better, will have 500 in their sights tomorrow.

An impressive debut from 31-year-old New Zealand seamer Brent Arnel, who removed Phil Hughes, 20, with his fifth ball and later fellow opener Simon Katich for 79, saw the hosts in command at 176 for four but it slipped away fast in a hectic final session.

It was all about Clarke, after he quit the tour to spend a week in Sydney, then returned last Monday having split with high-profile model Lara Bingle.

"It (century) was certainly better than being on zero. My first 10 runs took a hell of a long time today," he said.

"It's a very special feeling any time you make a hundred. It's been a tough couple of weeks, but the support I've had from family and friends, and the support from Lara as well has been tremendous. Without her support, I certainly wouldn't have been back over here."

Clarke was awful early on, taking 16 deliveries to get off the mark before reaching his half-century off 102 balls. The next 50 took just 39 balls as he reached his century in the day's final over after hitting 10 fours and two sixes, raising both arms to acknowledge a generous ovation.

"I got to a stage about 80 when I said to (North) 'I can't stop thinking about my hundred' and he said 'if you see it mate, just hit it'.

"I played some horrible shots from 50 to 100 and I had a little bit of luck. I'm really happy I got there, I wouldn't have slept too much if I was on 98 or 99."

Arnel was the pick of the bowlers, seaming the ball both ways early on, although he suffered in the final session as batting became easier.

Chris Martin, one for 63 off 19 overs, took the only other wicket when his outswinger removed Michael Hussey for four.

BJ Watling did the honours there with a sharp catch at third slip, after he'd run out captain Ricky Ponting, 41, with a direct hit from cover when the hesitant Katich pushed and ran.

When Arnel trapped Katich in front, ending a vigil of 261 minutes and 191 balls, New Zealand had a spring in their boots. An outstanding middle session saw the tourists restricted to 70 for two off 28 overs.

Captain Daniel Vettori homed in with 21 overs but couldn't snare a wicket while Daryl Tuffey conceded just 35 off 16 but couldn't break through, and Tim Southee was expensive in conceding 55 off 13.

Said Arnel: "We let ourselves down quite a lot. The first two sessions were exactly what we wanted and we were happy with that.

"We knew what we had to do going into the third session and we didn't execute the plans. We needed to put the pressure on but Clarke and North came out quite positive and wanted momentum before the next new ball and they got it. We were pretty disappointed."

Even a streaker couldn't help New Zealand's cause but it gave the solid opening day crowd a sight.

With "Nana told me not to" written on his back, he darted across the ground, sidestepped four converging security guards and with a clean break hurdled the picket fence and dashed out of the ground at the south-western corner, untouched.

TEAMS

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling, Peter Ingram, Ross Taylor, Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Daryl Tuffey, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, Chris Martin, Jeetan Patel (12th man).

Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Phil Hughes, Simon Katich, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Marcus North, Brad Haddin, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Ryan Harris, Doug Bollinger, Phillip Hughes, Clint McKay (12th man).

Umpires: Ian Gould (England), Asad Rauf (Pakistan).

SCOREBOARD

Scoreboard at stumps on the first day of the first cricket test between New Zealand and Australia at the Basin Reserve here today:-

AUSTRALIA

First innings

P Hughes c Taylor b Arnel 20
S Katich lbw b Arnel 79
R Ponting run out 41
M Hussey c Watling b Martin 4
M Clarke not out 100
M North not out 52
Extras (2b, 12lb, 2w, 4nb) 20

Total (for 4 wkts, 90 overs) 316

Fall: 25 (Hughes), 104 (Ponting), 115 (Hussey), 176 (Katich).

Bowling: C Martin 19-1-63-1 (2nb), T Southee 13-2-55-0 (1nb), B Arnel 20-3-70-2 (1w), D Tuffey 16-6-35-0 (1w), D Vettori 21-2-69-0 (1nb), M Guptill 1-0-10-0.

- NZPA