Peter Siddle played a crucial role with the ball as Australia dominated the opening day of their first of two Test matches against New Zealand.
The Nottinghamshire bound paceman bowled an immaculate length throughout his 12 overs as the home side were all out for 183 on a sporty wicket at the Basin Reserve in Wellington.
Siddle, whose skills were only utilised in the dead rubber final Test of the Ashes despite similar conditions to Wellington, bagged figures of 3-37 to take his career haul of Test wickets to 208.
The 31-year-old, coming into the attack at first change, started by catching the inside-edge of Kane Williamson’s bat with the world’s number three Test batsman having previously looked untroubled on his way to 16.
Peter Nevill’s one-handed pluck meant Siddle had a morale-boosting first wicket, one he quickly followed with the dismissal of debutant Henry Nicholls, also caught behind.
With Josh Hazlewood (4-42) on fire at the other end, removing Martin Guptill (18), Tom Latham (6) and Brendon McCullum (0), the Kiwis’ top-order collapsed to 51-5; a position from which Corey Anderson (38) and Mark Craig (41*) could only muster a partial recovery.
Siddle later returned to add the lower-order wicket of Doug Bracewell (5), and there was still time in the day for Steven Smith (71) and Usman Khawaja to show their class with a half-century apiece.
Khawaja, who worked with Wayne Noon during the Nottinghamshire Assistant Manager’s recent spell with the Sydney Thunder, concluded the day unbeaten on 57.
The former Derbyshire and Lancashire man watched from the non-strikers end as former Notts Outlaw Adam Voges, who recently re-signed for Middlesex ahead of the 2016 campaign, survived a Decision Review System related controversy.
The 36-year-old batsman shouldered arms to a straight one from Doug Bracewell and was clean bowled, only to be reprieved by umpire Richard Illingworth calling no-ball.
Although the technology indicated that the Black Caps fast bowler had in fact not overstepped the line, the original decision could not be reversed.
Voges, who received a generous round of applause for his defiant half-century in a losing cause during the recent Investec Ashes Test at Trent Bridge, lives to fight another day on seven not out.
Australia are 147-3, trailing by just 36 runs as Middlesex bound McCullum’s 100th, and penultimate, Test celebrations threaten to turn sour.
The 2015 season saw dramatic last-gasp four day victories, thrilling limited-overs contests and an historic Investec Ashes Test, all in the unique surroundings of Trent Bridge.
Next season, we’d wager, will be no less enthralling and frankly we’d hate for you to miss out.