A dream start by recalled BLACKCAPS paceman Tim Southee had Australia in strife at lunch on the first day of the first cricket test at the Gabba today.
Southee took three wickets in eight deliveries to reduce the hosts to 23 for three, before they fought back to be 60 for three off 20 overs at lunch after an abbreviated first session.
Vice-captain Michael Clarke, on 21, was leading the recovery mission alongside Michael Hussey, on 16.
The BLACKCAPS’ pacemen relished the damp, seaming pitch after captain Daniel Vettori did the right thing and won the toss under sunny skies.
Play was delayed by 30 minutes due to a damp portion of the wicket block after an overnight storm lifted parts of the covers.
Playing just his third test, Southee removed Matthew Hayden for eight, Simon Katich for 10 and captain Ricky Ponting for four, all to catches behind the wicket.
Hayden and Katich were both defeated by Southee angling the ball across the left-handers while Ponting received a nasty delivery which reared, and he ballooned a catch to Jamie How at second slip.
When he claimed the prized scalp of Ponting, the 19-year-old Southee had three for four in eight deliveries.
At lunch his figures were three for 34 off seven overs.
Senior paceman Chris Martin wasn't quite as accurate and had no wicket for 16 off eight, while Iain O'Brien made a strong start in his five overs, including striking Clarke a painful blow to the midriff.
The BLACKCAPS omitted paceman Kyle Mills from their 11, meaning allrounder Grant Elliott and Southee were each chosen for their third test appearances.
Australia omitted spinner Jason Krejza, meaning a four-pronged pace attack of Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson and Shane Watson.
BLACKCAPS: Daniel Vettori (captain), Jamie How, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ry der, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Daniel Flynn, Grant Elliott, Tim Southee, Iain O'Brien, Chris Martin.
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Michael Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark.
Umpires: Rudi Koertzen (South Africa), Billy Doctrove (West Indies).
NZPA
