Brendon McCullum: New Zealand skipper blasts fastest ton in Test history on Day 1 in Christchurch

 

The retiring legend's century against the Aussies came in just 54 balls in the 1st innings of the second Test in Christchurch.

Baz broke the record of West Indian great Viv Richards and Pakistan's Test skipper Misbah-ul-Haq.

Richards and Misbah got scored their tons against England and Australia respectively in 56 balls each.

McCullum's century took 79 minutes, the fourth fastest on time behind Jack Gregory who hit 100 in 70 minutes against South Africa in 1921.

It was the 12th hundred of McCullum's career and included 17 fours and four sixes.

The 34-year-old is playing in his final Test before retiring.

 

New Zealand vs Australia, 1st Test, Day 3: Visitors in total control after Adam Voges double ton

At stumps on the third day, New Zealand were 178-4 in their second innings, requiring a further 201 to make Australia bat again.

Test debutant Henry Nicholls was not out 31 with McCullum lbw to Marsh in the final over of the day for 10.

Voges' 239 was in part testament to how docile the pitch had become since New Zealand were rolled for 183 inside two sessions on the first day.

But there were still wickets to be had, as Nathan Lyon and Josh Hazlewood found as they chipped away at the top order.

For New Zealand there were memories of being on the ropes against India at the same ground two years ago and being rescued by McCullum's triple century.

The usually big-hitting captain was showing every sign of looking to dig in for a long stay with his 10 coming off 31 before he was out with three balls remaining in the day.

Martin Guptill (45) and Tom Latham put on 81 for the first wicket, New Zealand's best opening stand against Australia since 1993.

Kane Williamson fell for 22 while Latham grafted away for 63 before he tried to sweep Lyon to the leg side and skied the ball in the opposite direction to Usman Khawaja at mid-off.

It was Voges, though, who ensured Australia had a firm grip on the match.

He resumed the third day at 176 and added a further 63 before his marathon 504 minutes in the middle ended caught and bowled by Mark Craig.

It was 614 runs since he was previously dismissed in the pink-ball Test against New Zealand at Adelaide in November, easily bettering the previous record of 497 between dismissals set by India's Sachin Tendulkar in 2004.

It also settled Voges' Test average at 97.46 from 19 innings, after being ahead of Don Bradman's 99.94 before his wicket fell.

His double century -- coupled with Usman Khawaja's 140 -- also ensured a record first-innings lead for Australia against New Zealand in an innings where six Australians failed to reach double figures.

Latham and Guptill saw off the new ball but when they looked comfortable and settled, Guptill tried to smack off- spinner Lyon out of the ground and was caught by Marsh.

Hazlewood, Australia's chief destroyer in the first innings, tempted Williamson to prod at a ball outside off and it was nicked through to wicketkeeper Peter Nevill.

It was a chance for Nevill to make amends after he had dropped Latham when the opener was on 31.

A huge deficit is a situation New Zealand know well at the Basin Reserve, where they request a green wicket to suit their strike bowlers. But if they lose the toss, the advantage goes to the opposition.

Two years ago it required McCullum's 302 to secure a draw against India after New Zealand trailed by 246 on the first innings.

Last year New Zealand were 135 behind Sri Lanka after the first innings and ended up winning by 193 after Williamson (242 n.o.) and Watling (142 n.o.) put on 365 for the sixth wicket in the second innings and Mark Craig spun Sri Lanka out on day five.  

Brendon McCullum heads into ODI retirement with New Zealand win

New Zealand, who were all out for 246 in 45.3 overs, managed to dismiss Australia for 191 in 43.4 overs to give them a 2-1 series win that helped them retain the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy, which is played for between the two countries in one-dayers.

The 34-year-old McCullum is retiring from all international cricket at the conclusion of the two-test series against the same opponents.

"I feel incredibly lucky to play for 14 years, meet some great blokes and make some great friends," McCullum said in a televised interview. "I want to thank everyone for supporting me and making it possible."

The win, however, was marred by a surreal period of play when the crowd appeared to influence a decision on the field.

All-rounder Mitchell Marsh, who took 3-34 in New Zealand`s innings, appeared well-set on 41 with his side 164-5 in the 34th over and back in control of the match before he hit a delivery back to bowler Matt Henry.

Henry half-heartedly appealed for a caught and bowled but it was turned down.

The giant television screen at the ground then showed a replay that created a huge uproar from the crowd who thought it had cannoned into Marsh`s boot before popping back to the bowler.

Umpires Ian Gould and Derek Walker then asked third umpire Sundaram Ravi for a review after they also saw the replay and heard the crowd reaction.

Slow-motion cameras showed the ball had not hit the ground before Henry took the catch and Ravi told Gould to give the Australian out, which caused an angry outburst from Marsh and his batting partner Matthew Wade.

"A bit of controversy there, I don`t think there was much of an appeal... and they went upstairs after the replay, a bit disappointing," Australia captain Steve Smith said.

"The right decision was made no doubt about that... I don`t want to take anything away from the Blackcaps, they deserved to win."

Once Marsh was dismissed, however, the Australians fell apart with Corey Anderson grabbing two victims as their last five wickets fell for 27 runs.

Earlier, McCullum and Martin Guptill had again got New Zealand off to a rollicking start, racing to 84 in 9.3 overs before the captain became the first of Marsh`s three wickets when he was dismissed for 47.

New Zealand`s batsmen, again all got starts, but for the third time in the series were dismissed just when they needed to push on.

Guptill scored 59 and Grant Elliott added 50 for the hosts, who lost their last five wickets for nine runs.

AUS vs NZ, First Test: David Warner, Usman Khawaja tons as record Aussie...

The outspoken David Warner, who had derided the Kiwis as "Mr Nice Guys" and vowed an aggressive approach, lived up to his promise with his second-highest Test score against an underwhelming New Zealand attack at the Gabba.

Brisbane: David Warner backed up his feisty words with runs as he hit his 13th Test century and Usman Khawaja claimed his maiden ton as Australia took an iron grip on day one of the first Test against New Zealand on Thursday.

The outspoken Warner, who had derided the Kiwis as "Mr Nice Guys" and vowed an aggressive approach, lived up to his promise with his second-highest Test score against an underwhelming New Zealand attack at the Gabba.

With Warner plundering 163 runs off 224 balls, the Australians pounded the ragged Black Caps to go to stumps at 389 for two -- their highest first-day score at the Brisbane ground.

Khawaja also cashed in, reaching his first Test century just before the close and finishing the day unbeaten on 102 with skipper Steve Smith not out on 41.

Along the way Smith raised 1,000 Test runs in the calendar year as Australia eased doubts about their new-look side after a host of retirements at the start of the three-match series.

"We knew if we could grind away and bring their strike bowlers back it'd make it a lot easier at the end of the day and I think the scoreboard reflects how well we actually played," Warner said.

"With each individual we built big partnerships. I think it's always important as an opening batsman just to come out here and do a good job," he said.

Warner was finally out to one of his few false strokes of the day, but it took Ross Taylor's marvellous one-handed catch above his head at slip to snare the prized wicket off James Neesham.

The irrepressible left-hander smashed 22 fours and one six for his second-highest Test score, after his 180 against India in Perth almost three years ago.

Only four Australian openers -- Matt Hayden (30), Mark Taylor (19), Justin Langer (16) and Michael Slater (14) -- have amassed more Test centuries than Warner's 13.

Warner shared in two mammoth stands with Joe Burns (161) and Khawaja (150) to have the Australians in full flow at a ground where they have not lost a Test match since 1988.

Pakistan-born Khawaja deposited a huge down payment on a regular Test spot with a silky hundred after a stop-start career in his previous nine Tests since making his debut against England in Sydney in 2011. 

The stylish Khawaja kept the runs flowing with his maiden Test ton off 123 balls after new opener Burns had shared in a substantial opening stand with Warner to overpower the Black Caps on the opening day of the series. (Photos: AP)

It was a bold statement from Smith's unfamiliar Australian team, after the post-Ashes departures of former skipper Michael Clarke along with stalwarts Shane Watson, Chris Rogers, Brad Haddin and Ryan Harris.

Burns and Khawaja fitted seamlessly into the revamped Australian batting line-up, providing prolific support for the freewheeling Warner.

The Australians scored briskly against the unthreatening bowling and shoddy fielding, clocking up their 300 at almost a run a minute.

It was a deflating opening day for Brendon McCullum's Black Caps, who are looking for their first series win in Australia for 30 years. "Obviously, it's a tough day of cricket. Two very good innings that hurt us," Kiwi wicketkeeper BJ Watling said.

"We're obviously not in the ideal situation. If we hang in there for long enough, and take this game deep, we'll see where it goes," he said.

Burns completed his third consecutive Test half-century before he edged Tim Southee to Watling for 71. Opening the innings after batting at number six in his previous two Test appearances against India last home season, made the most of his opportunity after being bypassed by selectors for this year's Ashes series in England. He batted for 183 minutes and hit 12 fours in his solid 120-ball knock.

Skipper McCullum tinkered with some exotic field placements, even placing eight men on the off-side for Warner at one stage facing Southee, but to no avail.

Warner survived a review for leg before wicket off Bracewell on 39 after replays showed the ball pitching outside leg stump, and shortly after he smashed Bracewell straight over the sight screen for six.