How the newspapers saw the first day's play in the Australia-New Zealand first cricket Test at the Gabba in Brisbane yesterday:

The New Zealand Herald: "As well as they played (Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer), their deeds were significantly unravelled by some of the most brainless batting seen in these parts, as Australia's middle-order disintegrated against the part-time seam of Craig McMillan and the wile of Chris Cairns.

"From the almost impregnable position of 224 without loss, the hosts lost a scarcely believable six wickets for 39 to end the day at 294 for six.

"Cairns, making a courageous comeback to test cricket, had Hayden caught in a legside trap which could not have been more obvious had it been signposted."

The Daily Telegraph (Sydney): "Matthew Hayden lived out his boyhood fantasy yesterday but there were no celebrations from an Australia side smacked flush on the chin by some clever sucker punches at the Gabba.

"Australia (6-294) have claimed the high ground after day one of the first Test against a fiesty and hard-toiling New Zealand but not the mountain-top that beckoned after Justin Langer and Hayden produced a superb opening stand of 224."

The Sydney Morning Herald: "New Zealand's tenacious cricketers had two chances in the first four hours yesterday: one that was out of their hands, another that slipped through their fingers.

"At tea, with the first Test of the summer careering down a widely predicted road, they might as well have been Buckley's and none.

"But Stephen Fleming has insisted his team is here for a scrap, and the tourists proved as good as their captain's word with a stunning late rally that left the contest evenly poised.

"At one stage on target to be chasing upwards of 600, and with a first-over umpiring disappointment eating away, the Black Caps turned the day on its head through a mixture of clever field placement and poor Australian shot selection that reaped unprecedented riches from a most unlikely source."

The Press (Christchurch): "New Zealand climbed off the cricketing canvas thanks to the Canterbury trio of Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, and Nathan Astle against Australia at the Gabba yesterday.

"The trio took all six wickets to fall in the final session on a topsy-turvy day that had Australia slump from 224 without loss to 294 for six at stumps.

"Part-time test bowlers McMillan and Astle responded to skipper Stephen Fleming's call when it appeared the world champions were powering on to a tally in excess of 300 after centuries to Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer.

"But the never-say-die Black Caps, who had to swallow a certain leg-before-wicket decision against Langer not being given to Cairns in the day's first over, showed character to battle back."

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