Marnus Labuschagne scored his 3^RD successive Test century, putting hosts Australia in the driver’s seat on Day 1 of the opening Test against New Zealand team at the Perth Stadium on Thursday. New Zealand team bowlers plugged away and fought back late in the day by removing Steve Smith (43) and Matthew Wade (12). Before the start of play on Day 2, suffered a huge setback as quick bowler Lockie Ferguson, making his Test debut for the Black Caps, was ruled out of the rest of the match due to “a right calf muscle-tendon strain”.

Two grinding sessions in daylight saw Australia eke out 416 following the loss of early wickets before the pitch and the match burst into furious life in the 3^rd, floodlit session. Starc and Hazlewood blasted out Latham and Raval in their opening overs, only for Pat Cummins to be drafted into previous service before delivering his 9^th ball of the match.

Tayor and Williamson threatened to form a pivotal stand with bowling resources shorn by a quarter, only for Starc to coax an edge from New Zealand’s captain that was intercepted by the flying right hand of Smith diving into where 3^rd slip might have been.  Labuschagne and Travis had previously looked capable of dominating for the hosts, but both were dismissed in circumstances they would have been disappointed by as part of eight wickets shared between Wagner and Tim.