First Test day one LIVE: Australia aim to keep stranglehold on Trans-Tasman Trophy

Steve Smith is the first player dismissed in this Test, brilliantly caught behind by a diving Tom Blundell in front of first slip. It was an excellent delivery from Matt Henry which left the former skipper off the pitch and took the edge. Smith made 31 in an opening partnership of 61 with Usman Khawaja.

Steve Smith and Usman Khawaja have added 50 together first the first time since Smih moved up to open the batting in place of the retired David Warner midway through the summer. Their best opening partnership in the two-Test series against the West Indies was 25.

Usman Khawaja has survived a leg before wicket review on 18, with Australia 0/44, after being struck on the pad by a full, late inswinger from Scott Kuggeleijn. The DRS showed the ball continuing down the leg side. Later in the over Khawaja cut and pulled successive boundaries from balls that were too short put pass Steve Smith’s score.

After a difficult start Usman Khawaja pulled Tim Southee for the first six of the Test. However Southee beat Khawaja outside the off stump next delivery as the ball continues to seam off the green pitch.

The first four days of the Wellington Test have been sold out, with similar keen interest for the second and last Test in Christchurch. The level of interest is no surprise given Australia have not played a Test series in New Zealand for eight years. This is simply not good enough for a nation which trumpets they wants to be a “good global citizen.” And Australia have not played a three Tet series in New Zealand for almost two decades. Cricket Australia CEO Nick Hockley recently said that Test series should be a minimum three Tests. Australia should start by doing it against the Kiwis.

Scott Kuggeleijn, the fast bowler who has cost Neil Wagner a place in the New Zealand attack, was given his first opportunity after the drinks break. At 32 he’s a late bloomer who has a slightly unusual slinging action which allows him to bowl outswing at a lively pace. His one bouncer for the over hurried up Steve Smith, who dragged the ball into midwicket for a single.

It’s been a bit scratchy in the first hour for Australia, with Usman Khawaja finding things particularly difficult against Matt Henry. But having been sent in, survival is a big part of the play early on. In the 12th over in 2016 on a similar pitch, New Zealand were already 5-51. The Black Caps have bowled well, but have been a little too reticent to get the ball up into the driving zone - Smith has crunched a couple of drives when the ball was floated fuller, but bowlers need to risk those shots in order to find edges that will carry on a slow pitch. The closest the hosts came to a wicket before drinks was when Steve Smith was sent back by Khawaja and slipped over in mid-pitch, before scrambling home.

Steve Smith has been forced to dive for the crease after dashing off for a quick single only to find that Usman Khawaja wasn’t interested. The ball had dropped close to Khawaja after defending. He was as surprised as the New Zealand fielders when Smith came charging down the pitch and was forced to retreat.