Langer provides flying start

Australia 411-6 v New Zealand

Justin Langer's third consecutive Test century helped Australia to 411 for 6 at the end of the first day of the second Test against New Zealand here. As in the Brisbane first Test, Australia made more than 200 for the first wicket, lost five wickets in rapid succession for 44, then recovered. Ricky Ponting and Shane Warne were at the crease at the close, having made 92 and 31, respectively.

New Zealand missed a chance to nip Langer's innings in the bud when he cut the ball to Matthew Bell at gully. But the fielder could not hold on and Langer made the most of his second chance with 20 boundaries. He was eventually caught at cover by Daniel Vettori off Chris Cairns and Hayden followed shortly after, lofting Vettori to Shane Bond at deep long on.

Mark Waugh was yorked for 12 by Vettori to leave Australia on 262 for 3 at tea. His brother Steve went for a duck four runs after the break and when Damien Martyn was trapped lbw by Vettori next ball New Zealand had taken five wickets for 44 runs. They were denied the chance to continue further when Adam Gilchrist was saved by a no ball after being caught behind off Daryl Tuffey for 20. When Gilchrist went for 39, Warne came in to offer admirable support to Ponting in a 75-run seventh-wicket stand.

First day; New Zealand won toss

AUSTRALIA – First Innings

J L Langer c Vettori b Cairns 123

M L Hayden c Bond b Vettori 91

R T Ponting not out 92

M E Waugh b Vettori 12

S R Waugh lbw b Bond 0

D R Martyn lbw b Vettori 0

A C Gilchrist b Vettori 39

S K Warne not out 31

Extras (b3, lb3, w2, nb15) 23

Total (for 6, 90 overs) 411

Fall: 1-223 2-238 3-253 4-266 5-267 6-336.

To bat: B Lee, J N Gillespie, G D McGrath.

Bowling: Cairns 24-3-102-1; Tuffey 11-0-58-0; Bond 21-0-95-1; Vettori 26-4-99-4; McMillan 8-0-51-0.

NEW ZEALAND: M H Richardson, M D Bell, M S Sinclair, *S P Fleming, N J Astle, C D McMillan, C L Cairns, ÝA C Parore, D L Vettori, D R Tuffey, S E Bond.

Umpires: S A Bucknor and S J Davis.