- New Zealand win toss and bowl first at MCG
- Smith and Marnus Labuschagne hit fifties
Steve Smith conquered his short-ball issues to hit his first half-century of the summer and help Australia to 257-4 on Boxing Day against New Zealand. Smith went to stumps unbeaten on 77 after a gripping day of Test cricket, where Australia claimed the honours in front of a bumper crowd of 80,473 after being sent in to bat.
The right-hander took himself into the top 10 of all-time Australian run-scorers, having played less Tests than all above him.
Written by Australian Associated Press
This news first appeared on https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2019/dec/26/boxing-day-test-first-day-match-report under the title “Steve Smith in the runs again in gripping opening to Boxing Day Test”. Bolchha Nepal is not responsible or affiliated towards the opinion expressed in this news article.
