Brisbane Test, Day 1, Tea
Thursday, November 8, 2001

Matthew Hayden has stamped his authority on the game with this innings. He's hit the bad balls for four, got on top of the spinner, and showed New Zealand that they're going to have to work to get him out. The bowlers look totally shellshocked by it all.

I notice that he's hit 78 out of his 120 runs in boundaries. That's an unusually high percentage, which just shows how badly New Zealand have bowled.

He and Langer lost some intensity after lunch. They were content to hit balls straight to the field and were rather one-paced. As a result, that one chance came along.

It was a fantastic effort of Craig McMillan's to get to the ball at all. You could see him suddenly realise that he didn't have it under control. It would have been a wonderful catch. Those are the chances that have to be taken against a team like Australia.

But that chance was simply created by nice, tight bowling. New Zealand have to remember that and trust that if they maintain the pressure, those chances will come again.

What New Zealand mustn't do now is think too far ahead. They can't start imagining how long they're going to be out there, or how many Australia will make. It is vital that they stay in the present. I think they need to try and have some fun out there – crack a few jokes and enjoy themselves.

Stephen Fleming already knows that they'll need to bat very, very well twice to even draw this match.

Ian Healy made a record 395 dismissals in 119 Tests for Australia. His comments are appearing on Wisden.com at the end of every session of the Brisbane Test. He was talking to Camilla Rossiter.

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