Smith keeps his guard up

MELBOURNE, December 26

Steve Smith continued his love affair with the Melbourne Cricket Ground as he struck an unbeaten half-century to put Australia in charge at 257/4 at the close of the opening day of the Boxing Day Test against New Zealand today.

Under some pressure after a modest home summer, Smith thwarted a largely disciplined New Zealand attack to thrill a festive crowd of nearly 80,000 at a venue where he now averages a stratospheric 148.83 from his seven matches. The former skipper was 77 not out at stumps, with middle-order batsman Travis Head on 25.

New Zealand captain Kane Williamson won the toss and sent Tim Paine’s side in to bat on a grassy pitch under an overcast sky and was duly rewarded with a wicket after four balls when recalled paceman Trent Boult bowled Joe Burns for a duck.

But the clouds parted and the tourists managed only three more scalps for the rest of the day as the sun beat down on a much-scrutinised drop-in wicket.

Smith, who is pushing toward 1,000 runs in 2019 in only his eighth match of the year, was more than pleased with the hosts’ opening day. — Reuters

Brief scores: Australia: 257/4 (Smith 77*, Labuschagne 63, de Grandhomme 2-48)