[1] Rookie Australia fast bowler James Pattinson (centre) celebrates the wicket of New Zealand captain Ross Taylor with team-mates (from left) Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja and Ricky Ponting during the first test at the Gabba in Brisbane yesterday. Photo by Reuters. Ross Taylor was talking boldly last night about the second test against Australia starting in Hobart on Friday.
Yes, New Zealand had been below par in its embarrassing nine-wicket loss to the Aussies at the Gabba yesterday but Tasmania presents a chance to get back on the horse smartly.
"We're not out of this series. We can still draw it," he said.
"Yes, it's disappointing but there's a long way to go."
There sure is, especially if New Zealand brings its Brisbane batting woes south.
A combined 10 innings from the top five batsmen produced a total 135 runs, nowhere near good enough to compete against a modest international side let alone an Australian side short on experience through the lineup but brimming with confidence. It was all sadly familiar for longtime watchers of the national side.
Taylor's contribution was 14 and a first-ball duck - dragging a wide ball on to his stumps in the first innings; edging to be caught behind yesterday.
"This won't be the last test I don't score any runs. But I still need to back myself," he said.
Indeed, Taylor thought being the captain would help in the present situation.
"When you're a player you can go a bit insular [when things go wrong]," he said. "As a captain you still have to lead from the front."
New Zealand was undone yesterday by the pace of Victorian James Pattinson (21), making his debut. He was sharp and bowled a good line, swinging away from the right-handers.
His reward was five for 27 from 11 overs - he had five for seven at one point when the carnage was at its greatest yesterday.
Australian captain Michael Clarke was reluctant to bag the New Zealand shot selection - although he did choose his words carefully in acknowledging that the Gabba pitch can be testing for batsmen to get settled. Instead, he gave Pattinson a decent pat on the back.
"He bowled beautifully," centurymaker Clarke said.
"He had good pace over 140kmh and if you put the ball in the right areas, nine times out of 10 you're going to have some success."
The other factor which may have surprised the New Zealanders was the success enjoyed by South Australian offspinner Nathan Lyon.
He followed his first innings four for 69 with three for 19 yesterday. That gives him 19 wickets in his first six tests, since making his debut in Sri Lanka in August.
It is off to the nets at Allan Border Field for the New Zealanders this morning.
They have plenty of soul-searching to do before Friday, and for young seamer Doug Bracewell there is much work to stop his continual overstepping.
His fifth no ball in the Australian first innings bowled Clarke for 23. That hammer blow haunted the New Zealanders all through Clarke's 139 and Taylor's admission yesterday that Bracewell was "pretty close [to overstepping] with most of his deliveries" needs urgent addressing.
That is not the only aspect of the depressing first test effort, either.
Meanwhile, Brent Arnel has been called into the New Zealand side and will join the squad in Hobart today.
The Northern Districts bowler has played five tests since his debut against Australia last year, the last being January's test against Pakistan in Wellington, and has been in good form in the Plunket Shield.
He claimed five for 43 in Canterbury's innings of 151 last week and also bagged a career-best haul of eight for 81 playing for New Zealand A against Zimbabwe in October, but missed out on a national contract.
New Zealand coach John Wright said it was important to add bowling depth.
"Brent has been bowling well in the Plunket Shield for Northern and offers us another seam option. The conditions in Hobart are likely to be slower so he comes into the frame," he said.
Arnel will bring squad numbers up to the full complement of 14 players.
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