Marsh and Green revive Australia after Henry sparks home side

Tea Australia 147 for 4 vs New Zealand

Matt Henry clean bowled Usman Khawaja with a spectacular delivery as New Zealand's all-out pace attack hit back in the second session on a green surface at Basin Reserve before Mitchell Marsh counterattacked in a see-saw opening day of the first Test.

In their first Test in New Zealand since 2016, Australia lost 4 for 28 after a 61-run opening partnership between Khawaja and Steven Smith. Both openers were unable to capitalise having faced a combined 189 deliveries, while Marnus Labuschagne and Travis Head fell cheaply.

Having only taken the wicket of Smith for 31 in the first session, New Zealand were far more accurate after lunch in seaming conditions to leave Australia in trouble at 89 for 4.

The notably green surface has appeared to quicken up as the day's worn on, but that has only benefited in-form Marsh who is continuing his remarkable rejuvenation at Test level. He halted New Zealand's charge with a rapid 39 off 36 balls.

Cameron Green, still relatively new to the No.4 role, made an anxious start but held firm to support Marsh in an unbroken half-century partnership as Australia steadied by tea.

There had been morning rain in Wellington, while there was also a 4.7 magnitude earthquake on the lower North Island, but conditions brightened up after lunch.

New Zealand, having only beaten Australia once from 29 Test matches since 1993, stuck with a seam heavy attack by including Scott Kuggeleijn and deciding against recalling left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner.

Having been the standout in the first session, Henry was not used immediately after the interval but Tim Southee and Kuggeleijn bowled well in tandem. They shaped the bowl away from a defensive Labuschagne, who was hesitant to get on the front foot and instead played late.

The working over paid dividends when Kuggeleijn, who had been hustling into the crease, produced an outside edge that was well caught by Daryl Mitchell low to his left at first slip. Having made just 1 off 27 balls, Labuschagne trudged off visibly disappointed as his lean patch continued.

New Zealand's quicks continued to apply pressure as Khawaja slowed to a crawl. The return of Henry did the trick as he unfurled a wicked late swinging delivery that crashed into Khawaja's middle stump.

Head has recently been feast or famine at Test level and was relieved to get off the mark with a single after a king pair against West Indies at the Gabba. But Head did not add to his tally after being undone by the extra pace of William O'Rourke to be caught behind off the shoulder of the bat. Marsh was undaunted by Australia's predicament as he hit a first-ball boundary and raced to 20 off 15 balls after top-edging Southee for six.

Marsh's aggressiveness was in contrast to an attritional Australia batting effort that was mostly intent on survival. Apart from a brief flurry in the first session when he attacked short bowling from Kuggeleijn, Khawaja was focused on leaving the ball alone as he and Smith frustrated Southee, who continued a long trend of captains electing to bowl at Basin Reserve.

In a new era after the retirement of firebrand Neil Wagner, New Zealand's new-look pace attack looked to make early inroads against a rejigged Australia top-order still settling into place following the departure of David Warner.

With a gusty breeze behind him, Henry bowled a probing six-over spell with the new ball and was locked in a compelling battle with Khawaja in a test of patience.

In his first Test innings as an opener away from home, Smith started nervously before a trademark cover drive to the boundary off a rare loose Southee delivery was a confidence boost.

But having been devoid of the strike, Smith became noticeably edgy and set off for a kamikaze single only for Khawaja to send him back as he scrambled to the non-striker's end.

Australia appeared poised to make it through the first session unsathed before Smith, his third Test since shifting up the order, nicked off to Henry to end his 71-ball knock as New Zealand carried the momentum into the second session.

Australia are unchanged from the side that suffered a shock eight-run defeat against West Indies last month, sticking with the same frontline attack for the sixth straight Test.