A sigh of Relief for Steve Smith
Australian batsman Steve Smith surprised everyone by not scoring a single run after playing 38 balls for 45 minutes. The crowd roared after Steve Smith got his first run on the 39th ball he played.
Smith, who came in to bat at no.4 position, n the 40th over’s second ball bowled by Neil Wagner, picked up his first run by hitting the ball through the leg side.
Loud Cheers for Smith
This 30-year old Australian batsman got a big cheer in the Sydney Cricket Ground for his first run.
He surprised everyone and seemed like Indian former batsman Rahul Dravid for this type of play. New Zealand bowlers struggled to break the partnership of Steve Smith and Marnus Labuschagne.
Smith hits his 29th International Test fifty
Smith scored 63 runs in 182 balls, which included 4 fours. He got out in the 84th over of the day bowled by New Zealand all-rounder Colin de Grandhomme. He built 150+ partnership with Labuschagne.
Australia captain Tim Paine won the toss and elected to bat first.
Grandhomme was the bowler of the day
Colin de Grandhomme picked the 2 main wickets of Australia. He picked up dangerous Steve Smith and opener, Joe Burns, in his bowling spell. N. Wagner bagged the wicket of David Warner.
Kiwis team without Kane Williamson
Tom Latham was the new skipper for the New Zealand team as Williamson missed the match. There were also many changes in the visitor’s squad. New Zealand key face bowlers Trent Boult and Tim Southee are not playing this match.
Twitter reacts on Wade and Labuschagne partnership
After Smith got out, both Wade and Labuschagne changed the batting gears and got the scoreboard ticking. They put on a partnership of 32 runs in 6.5 overs. Wade got praised on Twitter for his tough resistance against Wagner.
Highlights of the match:
Labuschagne hit a ton and stood unbeaten on day 1 stumps.
Getting off the mark off your 39th ball? A sigh of relief for Steve Smith! #OhWhatAFeeling @toyota_aus | #AUSvNZ pic.twitter.com/U3t0oS6aTn
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) January 3, 2020
