AUS VS NZ - 1st Test, New Zealand tour of Australia, 2019-20

For all the hype, the series has started with a rather one-sided game. The Kiwis did show their trademark spunk with the ball, battling hard under oppressive heat despite being a bowler short. However, their batting unit couldn't show the same amount of grit and once you let the advantage slip in Australia, mostly it reaches a point of no return. The Aussies were brilliant, and like Paine said, to get 20 wickets with just three specialist bowlers in these conditions was phenomenal. There is a decent break now for Christmas, as the caravan moves to Melbourne for the Boxing Day Test. Let's hope the Kiwis are more competitive there. On that note, this is Hari Sadanandan signing off on behalf of my mates Pradeep Krishnamurthy and Praveen. We also had cameo appearances from Kumar Abhishek Das and Naga. Switch tabs to enjoy the IND-WI game. Cheers!

Starc, Man of the Match: It was a bit tougher than normal but full credit to the bowling unit. Never nice to see someone go down but the others chipping in was really nice to see. (On his redeemed Test form) Probably the technical change and I'm having a clear mindset at the moment. It's all in a nice place at the moment. We'll be taking a few days and resting up. Boxing Day is always special.

Paine: I thought we batted really well in the first innings to set it up. To get to bowl with the new ball under lights, it really worked for us. We're proud of our bowling attack. To take 20 wickets in just about 105 overs with just three bowlers. Marnus, Travis and Wade all chipped in.

Williamson: It was challenging. We knew we were up against a tough side. Tactically, they were outstanding. To take the new ball under lights was a smart decision. They were way ahead in the game from the get-go. Important for us to reflect (on the mistakes) and improve. The conditions were tough, with the heat and the surface being totally different from our previous Test in Hamilton. But that's the nature of international cricket. You got to adapt.

Lyon: It's a pretty good performance by the boys. To lose Josh and to step up the way we did, really proud of the boys. They're the number two ranked side in the world, so expecting them to bounce back hard in Melbourne. Not really, we have had a really good prep coming into this game. As I said, they are a world class side and we expect them to bounce back in the next game. I got a bit lucky, to get someone as good as him (Williamson) out, is special. Got one to turn and grip. Felt really good.

New Zealand's batting caved away in spectacular fashion once again and that should worry KW and the team management. Granted, they were always up against the odds, no practice game before this Test, a venue where the temperatures soared well over 40 degree celsius, a crucial toss lost and a situation where they batted mostly under lights. They lost Ferguson with the ball early into the piece and never really recovered. Ross Taylor fought hard in the first innings, but the rest of the batting unit simply capsized. The bowling was top notch though - that's one positive that they can take into the Boxing Day Test, the conditions in the next two Tests shouldn't be this tough, but they will be up against a team that seems to have hit top gear. Runs for the top-order, Marnus Labuschagne, making a third straight hundred and the bowlers had enough time and enough skills, to bowl New Zealand out twice, despite they themselves losing Josh Hazlewood.

Lyon to Southee, out Caught by Smith!! It's all-over in Perth - a crushing victory for the hosts, by a massive margin of 296 runs. Nicely tossed up on off, the straighter one from Lyon, Southee was pressing forward as he played for the turn, gets a thick inside and it's a simple catch to Smith at slip. Southee c Smith b Lyon 4(10)

Lyon to Southee, THATS OUT!! Caught!!

A slip and a FSL in place

Lyon to Southee, no run, Lyon drifts one well outside off, Southee leans well forward on the block

Lyon to Southee, no run, tossed up slower and on off, defended back at the bowler

Nathan Lyon [22.0-3-63-3] is back into the attack

Starc to Southee, 1 run, Starc shortens his length and angles one back into the right-hander, dropped wide of backward point for a single

Starc to Ferguson, 1 run, back of a length and just outside off, pushed behind square on the off-side for a single

Starc to Ferguson, no run, fuller length delivery at the stumps, defended back at the bowler

Starc to Southee, 1 run, the toe-crusher from Starc, Southee somehow manages to squeeze it past FSL for a single

Starc to Southee, leg byes, FOUR, back of a length and on Southee's body, he was looking to tuck it fine and missed, off the thigh-pad and rolled away fine to the long leg boundary

Starc to Southee, no run, short and at the stumps, Southee gets inside the line and looks to help it on its way, misses it completely

Pat Cummins to Ferguson, no run, short of a length and well wide of off, Ferguson has a big swipe at it and misses it completely

Back to over the wicket