BLACKCAP opening batsman Brendon McCullum believes the team go into day two of the Test match against Zimbabwe with their noses clearly in front after reaching 331 for five on the first day.
After being put in to bat on a McLean Park green top, the openers negotiated a tricky opening hour before gaining some ascendency with a 124 run partnership for the first wicket.
“It certainly didn’t feel that easy,” said McCullum. “The first session has a little bit of stickiness about it and there was a little bit of seam movement but got a quicker after that.”
“It wasn’t all glitz and glammor out there in the first couple of sessions but I thought we got the reward in that last session.”
McCullum and Guptill made the transition from HRV Cup to Test cricket look easy, playing with patience while punishing the poor deliveries.
“A fair bit was made from the change from HRV Cup campaign to the Test match,” said McCullum. “It was nice to get away to a good start with Guppy (Martin) and myself.
“Putting on a sizable partnership up front certainly eased a few of the nerves that may have been there from the change of pace from the Twenty20 game. “
With runs on the board and a strong bowling line up the BLACKCAPS have control of the match.
“The end result of today, 335 with a batsman in on 111, represents a pretty good day for us.
“With the spin as well, it showed that our attack will be a little bit more potent in days to come.
“I was pretty devastated to get out when I did but thankfully for us we were able to get a couple of great partnership follow between Dan (Vettori) and Ross (Taylor) and now with BJ (Watling) and Ross so in the end it’s worked out pretty well,” McCullum added.
