Cricket: Oram and Sinclair overcome blunders

By RICHARD BOOCK


New Zealand's bid to rescue the first test against Australia has started a shade sooner than expected.

Given little chance of upsetting the world champions, New Zealand were living up to their billing yesterday afternoon after some awful blunders from two of their most senior players.

The only genuine bright moment at the Gabba came at 9.40am when the coin fell favourably for New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming, although Mathew Sinclair's battling 69 and Jacob Oram's late rearguard helped to avert a complete collapse.

The bad news was that, having opted to bat first, New Zealand were struggling at 250 for seven at stumps, following some weak dismissals and two dreadful howlers from experienced batsmen Nathan Astle and Craig McMillan.

In doubt for the test with a sore back, Astle condemned himself to another sleepless night when he backed up too far following a mis-field, and was run out for 19 by a smart piece of work from Australian golden-boy Michael Clarke.


The veteran right-hander had already been dropped on 16 and on 18, and eventually ended an already lucky innings in the 55th over, appearing to be caught loafing by a direct hit at the bowler's end.

His path to the dressing room was followed three balls later by Sinclair, whose brave, if not picturesque innings, came to a close when he was caught at slip off Jason Gillespie, a dismissal that needed confirmation from the third umpire.

And if that wasn't bad enough, McMillan, recalled under controversial circumstances after arriving as cover for Fleming and Astle, lost not only his mind but also his wicket when he charged recklessly at Shane Warne and was caught behind for 23.

It was an outrageous dismissal considering New Zealand's position at the time and the fact that McMillan and Oram had been repairing much of the earlier damage with a gritty 42-run stand for the sixth wicket.

But it was even more astonishing considering McMillan's lack of security in the national team, and his effort in the tour match last week in Sydney when he slogged out in the first innings and shouldered arms to a straight one in the second.

The only late consolation was the strong form of Oram, who brought up his fifth test half-century in the final session and will resume this morning on 63, with his unbeaten partner Daniel Vettori on 13.

New Zealand were in early trouble following a double blow in the first session when Kasprowicz had Mark Richardson caught at slip and then sent back Fleming for a third-ball duck.

The big Queenslander replaced Glenn McGrath at the Vulture Rd end and soon showed why he was being preferred to Brett Lee, bowling quicker than either of the Australian opening pacemen, and making the initial inroads into the New Zealand line-up.

It took a painstaking 51-run partnership for the third wicket to repair the immediate damage, but then Scott Stryris (27) was caught at the wicket after lunch, Astle went walkabout, Sinclair's vigil ended, and McMillan charged like a demented rhino.

New Zealand's position worsened when Adam Gilchrist stumped Brendon McCullum for 10 to give Warne his 543rd test wicket.

At least it was a gutsy, fighting innings from Sinclair, who was hit on the shoulder and lid during a fiery first session.

He eventually brought up his fourth test half-century with an inside edge for four.

The 29-year-old Central Districts batsman, considered more of a makeshift opener than specialist, has taken most chances offered to him over the past year, with his most recent five innings realising scores of 74, 21, 76, 23 and 69.


Scoreboard

NEW ZEALAND

First innings

M. Richardson c Ponting b Kasprowicz 19
M. Sinclair c Ponting b Gillespie 69
S. Fleming c Warne b Kasprowicz 0
S. Styris c Gilchrist b Kasprowicz 27
N. Astle run out 19C. McMillan c Gilchrist b Warne 23
J. Oram not out 63
B. McCullum st Gilchrist b Warne 10
D. Vettori not out 13
Extras (1b, 1lb, 1w, 4nb) 7
--Total (for 7 wkts, 90 overs) 250
Fall: 1/26 (Richardson), 2/26 (Fleming), 3/77 (Styris), 4/138 (Astle), 5/138 (Sinclair), 6/180 (McMillan), 7/206 (McCullum).

Bowling: G. McGrath 22-3-56-0 (2nb), J. Gillespie 22-5-61-1, M. Kasprowicz 20-3-54-3 (2nb), S. Warne 22-2-65-2 (1w), D. Lehmann 4-0-12-0.