Woolloongabba, Brisbane
Australia: WM Woodfull, WM Lawry, DG Bradman, AR Border, SJ McCabe, KR Miller, +IA Healy, *R Benaud, AK Davidson, RR Lindwall, JR Thomson.
New Zealand: GM Turner, MH Richardson, BE Congdon, MD Crowe, MP Donnelly, *JR Reid, RJ Hadlee, +KJ Wadsworth, BR Taylor, J Cowie, SL Boock.
Debuts: Nil
Umpires: HD Bird (ENG) & D Sang Hue (WI)
Toss: Australia
Despite many predictions of a one-sided series, Australia and New Zealand combined to produce one of the classic Test matches in Brisbane, a game with enough excitement, entertainment and emotion to last a series. Proceedings got off to an explosive start when Australia were reduced to 14-3 then 45-4 on the first morning, Jack Cowie taking advantage of a hard and true track at the Gabba, but McCabe and Miller rallied in spectacular fashion, counter-attacking to the tune of 218 runs in a fifth wicket stand that dug Australia out of a deep hole. McCabe eventually fell in the first day's final hour for 110, but Miller batted on into day two for a career-high 154 before becoming Cowie's fourth victim and one of five for Ken Wadsworth, and with Healy adding an undefeated 48 Australia managed to post a respectable 373.
New Zealand replied in confident fashion, and with Lindwall and Thomson - a late replacement for the injured Lillee - wasting the new ball, Turner and Richardson were able to compile an excellent 176 run stand for the first wicket before Benaud trapped Richardson lbw for 87 shortly before the close on day two. Turner completed his fifth ATG hundred in the day's final over, but he was one of three further lbw victims on the third morning as the Kiwi innings stumbled somewhat to 253-4, Donnelly (21) getting a shocking decision from umpire Sang Hue. Crowe dug in though, and his anchoring 82, along with attacking cameos from Reid (32) and Wadsworth (57, including four sixes off Benaud), took the tourists to 428 - their highest ever total against Australia - and a valuable 55 run lead.
Australia really were in a fight now, and once again their top order failed. It was 28-3 when a struggling Bradman was bowled for 20 by a Cowie off-cutter shortly before stumps on day three, and when Taylor nipped out both Border and McCabe on the fourth morning Australia were 86-5 and staring an embarrassing defeat firmly in the face. Fortune now favoured Australia, though: Healy should have been sent on his way for 0 but umpire Sang Hue, who was having a shocking game, failed to detect an edge off Taylor, and then Miller was dropped on 35 by Richardson in the gully. These errors allowed Miller and Healy to put on 114 crucial runs for Australia, Miller stroking his way to 86 to earn his second standing ovation of the match. Healy continued on to notch a gutsy, three and a half hour 50, but with Cowie claiming another four wicket haul and Wadsworth equalling the world record with nine dismissals in the match, Australia were eventually all out for 262 on the final morning, leaving New Zealand 79 overs to knock off the 208 they needed for victory.
The stage seemed set for the greatest of upsets, especially with Lindwall unable to bowl having pulled a calf muscle whilst batting. Thomson and Miller roared in with the new ball though, and backed by Benaud's attacking fields and a boisterous crowd they reduced New Zealand to a sorry 61-5 by mid-afternoon. Turner and Crowe had been dispatched by two more poor decisions from Sang Hue, but renewed hope came the Black Caps' way when Miller had to hobble off the field having taken 3-17, his exertions in the match finally getting the better of him. Reid and Hadlee nudged New Zealand past the hundred mark with a 52 run partnership for the sixth wicket, but Benaud's dismissal of Reid for 34 proved crucial. A brief stoppage for bad light after tea couldn't save New Zealand, and Jeff Thomson returned to blow away the tail to finish with 6-51, his best ever ATG analysis.
New Zealand had been knocked over for 154, and a dramatic last day had come to an end with Australia victorious in a match they should have lost. Had the Kiwis been able to call upon the mental toughness displayed by Miller then the result may have been different, but the hope is now for a far closer series than was originally anticipated.
ScoresAUS 1st Inns: 373 (Miller 154, McCabe 110, Healy 48*; Cowie 4-79)
NZL 1st Inns: 428 (Turner 113, Richardson 87, Crowe 82, Wadsworth 57; Davidson 4-81)
AUS 2nd Inns: 262 (Miller 86, Healy 55; Cowie 4-49)
NZL 2nd Inns: 154 (Thomson 6-51)
AUSTRALIA WON BY 53 RUNS
Man of the Match: KR Miller
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