Green eyes top-up runs as Australia resume at 9-279

Cam Green will go hunting for his best Test score when Australia resume their first innings at 9-279 against New Zealand.

But when the innings does end, the Australian attack will relish the chance to bowl on the Basin Reserve wicket on day two of the first Test on Friday.

The Black Caps bowlers looked set to claim an edge in the contest on Thursday, the first day of Test cricket this side of the Tasman Sea between the two rivals in eight years.

Australia struggled to 1-62 at lunch, prioritising their survival over run-scoring.

That deteriorated to 4-89 as Matt Henry (4-43 off 20 overs) and the pace attack found plenty of bounce and zip in the pitch.

Matt Henry was the pick of the NZ bowlers, picking up four wickets on day one of the first Test. (AP PHOTO)

Allrounders Mitch Marsh and Green joined forces to stop the bleeding and turn the momentum, Marsh by upping the run rate and Green by carrying on and reaching his century in the final over of the day.

It cannot be lost on Australian selectors that Marsh and Green have often found themselves competing for a single spot in the Test side.

Green, overlooked for the Pakistan series but restored to the team at No.4 in the wake of David Warner’s retirement, said it was both relieving and satisfying to still be there at stumps.

“It was a pretty tough wicket out there. Someone just needed to bat through, and I’m glad it was me,” he said.

“It’s always satisfying scoring runs for Australia.

“When you’re not playing in the team it does make you stop and think how special it actually is to play for Australia.

“Sometimes you do forget that when you’re playing so much, so it’s nice to be back.”

Green’s sole Test century before Thursday came last March, when he struck 114 against India in Ahmedabad.

He will resume on Friday on 103, with a goal of ticking Australia closer to 300, and taking his own score to new heights.

Story continues

Green said that when Australia’s innings concludes, the tourists are eager to get the ball into their own hands and attack the Kiwi bats.

Pat Cummins lost the toss on Thursday, allowing Tim Southee to put Australia in – something Cummins said he would have liked to have done as well.

Given the liveliness in the Basin Reserve pitch, Green says Australia can seize the momentum on day two.

“That’s what’s really exciting about tomorrow,” he said.

“We’ve got a total that’s reasonably competitive, especially with our bowling line-up.”