Black Caps have day in the sun

Southee rips through top order

The New Zealand bowlers have done their job magnificently at the Gabba, now it is the batsmen's turn.

After a stirring day's cricket inspired by 19-year-old Tim Southee the underdogs have their noses in front after shooting Australia out for 214 on a lively but certainly not unplayable pitch.

But before anyone gets too carried away about the possibility of the biggest test cricket upset in recent memory, difficult times definitely lie ahead with the bat particularly given the attacking instincts of New Zealand's middle order.

The fact that Daniel Vettori won first use of the sporting pitch put New Zealand in the contest, but few expected the damage that was to take place at a venue sporting a few cracks of its own after another violent overnight storm.

At lunch, Australia was 60-3, by tea they had slumped to 152-7 and when Jesse Ryder went through Michael Clarke's gate the world champions had been rolled in 77 overs, with Clarke's 98 in five hours the only notable contribution.

New Zealand had plenty of opening-day stars.

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum took four fine catches, Iain O'Brien was demanding, Chris Martin full of spirit and Southee ripped out the top order in a crazy 15 minutes.

That Southee was the day's star was a surprise on two fronts - first that he was actually in the playing lineup ahead of Kyle Mills, and second given his recent form.

The son of a Northland farmer has a bright future but like any young quick bowler he has ups and downs, and recently for him, it has been the latter.

He struggled for consistency in the one-day series in Bangladesh, was overlooked for the two tests there then had a match analysis of 1-111 in last week's warm-up against New South Wales.

But Mills has been as flat as a pancake with the ball lately and the on-tour selectors decided to take the plunge on youth. They would have been justified to shout each other a few drinks last night to celebrate after Southee ended with 4-63 from 18 overs.

Southee shared the new ball with a colleague just about old enough to be his father in Martin and it was soon evident it was going to be his day.

When it rains it pours with Southee.

In a performance remarkably similar to his test debut against England in Napier in March, he had the ball on a piece of string with his clever mix of seam and swing.

In Napier he took three wickets in his first three overs, here at the Gabba he took three in eight balls. Matthew Hayden was his first victim, pushing away from his body, Simon Katich nibbled one behind to McCullum as well, then Ricky Ponting got a brute that climbed off the green surface and grabbed a leading edge and flew high to the safe hands of Jamie How at second slip.

Clarke and a watchful Mike Hussey (35) then set about rescuing Australia from the brink of disaster with a 63-run partnership before Martin prised a leg-before decision out of Rudi Koertzen.

New Zealand were lifted at the removal of "Mr Cricket" and the persistent and hugely impressive O'Brien then struck during one of the more bizarre overs at this level.

In the space of four balls, Symonds was dropped at mid wicket by Aaron Redmond and scored an eight after he ran four then got four overthrows. But just as O'Brien was about to pull his hair out he had his man.

Shane Watson and Brad Haddin were gone in a flash, Haddin to Ryder after Vettori backed a hunch and gave the Wellington batsman the last over before tea.

Australia's tail wagged them through to 214.

New Zealand responded with 7-0 in five overs before stumps.

First-day honours to Vettori's men. Who would have thought that?

- © Fairfax NZ News