New Zealand is one team that has troubled Australia over the past few years. They beat their Trans-Tasman rivals in the league game of the '99 World Cup, drew the three-Test series in Australia two years ago and also knocked them out of the tri-series competition in the same year. But Australia had too much firepower for New Zealand to handle in the first Test of the 2004-05 series.

Despite being on the backfoot midway through the second day, the World Champions fought back to hand the Kiwis an embarrassing defeat. That Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie scored their maiden half-centuries in Test cricket and added 100-plus runs for the last wicket, tells the story of the match. The Kiwis were made to look like minnows against the top-class Australian side. After batting well in the first innings, the visitors disintegrated quickly in the second essay without a semblance of resistance.  

There were quite a few heroes for the home team at Brisbane. Michael Clarke notched up his second Test century and looked at complete ease during his scintillating knock. The 23 year-old certainly has a great future in the game, provided he maintains a levelheaded approach. With his decent bowling and fielding abilities, he can take over the role Mark Waugh handled so effectively during his career.

Adam Gilchrist has made a habit out of scoring a century in the first Test of a series. His 126 was full of audacious strokes and his partnership with Clarke took the game away from the Kiwis who had fought back with the ball. The Aussie wicketkeeper also equalled Andy Flower's record of 12 centuries, the highest by a wicket-keeper in Test cricket, and it's only a matter of time before he breaks the record. Gilchrist will certainly go down in the history of cricket as one of the, if not the greatest wicketkeeper-batsman to have graced the game.

Who would have thought that his and Clarke's hundreds would be overshadowed by the efforts of McGrath and Gillespie (with the bat)? Both piled on the agony for the Kiwis, just when the tourists seemed on course to wrap up the Australian innings. McGrath in particular was aggressive as well as entertaining, maintaining a strike rate of 70. While all this was going on in the middle though, one's mind went back to Matthew Hayden's comment regarding the Indians being selfish about personal milestones. At the end of the third day, Australia had a substantial lead to declare overnight. But they carried on the next morning to help Gillespie get his half-century. 'Dizzy' had more than enough time on the third evening to achieve his personal landmark. But he batted very defensively to remain not out in the 40s at draw of stumps. Had the Kiwis batted resolutely and hung on for a draw or rain interrupted the game, the Aussies would have been left ruing their decision. But all's well that ends well.

The Kiwis, though thoroughly outplayed, had their hero in Jacob Oram. The burly all-rounder held the Kiwi first innings together, en route to his highest Test score. His fighting century helped the New Zealanders put up a competitive total on board. But the visitors looked completely insipid with the ball. The absence of a strike bowler like Shane Bond was truly felt. Martin and Mills began well but couldn't sustain the pressure, and even the latter bowlers allowed the Aussie middle and lower order to get away.

In the end, it was all too easy for the Aussies. The Kiwis have to pull their socks up and put up a better show in the next Test to make an impression on the series. It's a tough task against the best team in the world. But the New Zealanders are certainly capable of putting up a much better performance in the coming Test. For that to happen, the seniors like Fleming, Astle, Vettori and Richardson will have to stand up and be counted.