Australia duo create history with record-breaking partnership
Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood recorded the highest stand for the 10th wicket against New Zealand and the fourth best overall by an Australian pair.
Cameron Green and Josh Hazlewood created history on Friday as they combined for Australia's highest 10th wicket partnership in Test cricket against New Zealand.
The pair terrorised New Zealand's bowling attack during the morning session of the second day in Wellington as they put on 116 for the final wicket with relative ease to beat the previous record of 114 runs from Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath in Brisbane in 2004.
An innings of pure class from the Australia all-rounder as he registers his highest Test score 🙌#NZvAUS | #WTC25
— ICC (@ICC) March 1, 2024
More 👉 https://t.co/HKA1NnOj1R pic.twitter.com/8O1Buakyid
The stand was just Australia's sixth of 100 runs or more for the 10th wicket in Test cricket and helped the reigning ICC World Test Championship winners post a big score of 383 in their first innings after a tricky opening day at Basin Reserve.
It was Green's unbeaten knock of 174 that boosted Australia, with the young all-rounder playing a patient innings to start when bringing up his second Test century in the final over of the day and then producing a more attacking approach alongside Hazlewood on Friday.
Hazlewood, meanwhile, offered some insights to his thinking during the partnership in the post-day press conference.
"I think sometimes you can work too much on it and try and be a batsman, and look like a batsman," Hazlewood said. "I just don't think that's when the tail's at its most potent.
"Obviously keep the good ball out when it's at the stumps and have an option for the short ball, but it's as simple as that I think.
"We've seen some of Starcy's knocks get us out of trouble and have a partnership with a batter.
"So it's just having a couple of options to score, a good defence, and trying not to look too pretty I think."
Cameron Green took a one-handed stunner at gully to send back Ajinkya Rahane on 89.
The pair batted sensibly when required and Green in particular used his power to punish anything short from the Kiwis as he frustrated the hosts to register the fourth highest partnership of all time for the 10th wicket by an Australian duo.
Green's century was just the second time he had reached triple figures for Australia in Test cricket, with the innings surpassing his previous best of 114 against India in Ahmedabad last year.