Kiwis failed to consolidate against Australia
November 28th 2008 22:54
Aaron Redmond has admitted New Zealand's batsmen let themselves down on the opening day of the second Test against Australia, but says a score of 500 is still on the cards.
The Black Caps closed day one on 262 for six, which is an improvement on their efforts in Brisbane but still represents a sub-par effort on a placid Adelaide Oval pitch where 500-plus is the norm for a first innings score.
Redmond top scored with 88 before holing out in the deep off Nathan Hauritz with a shot that the opener admits was not so wise.
"It probably wasn't the ideal ball to execute down on one leg and play that," he said.
"Through our innings we had three dismissals caught in front...soft dismissals. Our biggest thing tomorrow is we have to bat long into the day and place that 500 score.
"The two players we've got at the crease are our most experienced players. They've got hundreds under their belt. The way they batted in that last session they showed that patience factor as well.
"You bring that in to the next day tomorrow and play like that again and you will reach targets like that."
Conditions may have favoured the batsmen at The Oval, as was expected, but Redmond says the Aussies made life hard for their tourists.
"It obviously is a great batting surface," he said. "The Aussie boys came in and they actually hit the deck quite hard as well. It is tough.
"I would say it's a little bit more batter-friendly than the past pitches I've played at, but you've just got to play aggressively. When they bowl, they bowl aggressively. So it's not all plain sailing."
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