Australian cricketer once refused to sign a cricket bat carrying Cairns' autograph because of the taint of match-fixing rumours surrounding the NZ great.

Game essentially lost on day one although umpires' poor decisions hurt.

New Zealand are expected to take a big punt on the senior seamer being fit for the second test against Australia starting in Perth on Friday.

Brendon McCullum gave due credit to Australia, but insisted the gulf between the teams is not as great as the margin of defeat in the first test suggests.

New Zealand have some head scratching ahead of choosing their XI for the second test against Australia starting in Perth on Friday.

Live blog and scoreboard of the opening test between the Black Caps and Australia at the 'Gabba in Brisbane.

New Zealand plummeted to a 208-run defeat amid contentious umpiring decisions against Australia this afternoon.

Time was, and not all that long ago either, that New Zealand could boast a robust record of keeping fast bowlers on the park.

Brisbane newspaper rips into team's performance, asking: "Are New Zealand just all talk?"

It's hard to overstate the importance for New Zealand of today's events at the Gabba.

New Zealand have maintained their preparation for the first test against Australia was good.

New Zealand have a day to bat to save the first test against Australia at the Gabba tomorrow.

David Warner's rousing shot-making has pushed him to the head of the left-handed queue in the last two years

OPINION: what has occurred in Brisbane is almost as embarrassing as getting bowled out for 26 by England all those years ago, writes Chris Rattue

For a time at the Gabba yesterday, BJ Watling looked as if he was going to don his fireman's suit and help pull New Zealand out of another jam.

However you determine the merits of 11 hundreds against each other, Kane Williamson produced a batting masterpiece.

New Zealand will wake up today knowing Australia are preparing to deliver the knockout blows to take charge of the transtasman test series.

New Zealand are staring into a familiar abyss at the Gabba.

If New Zealand had one wish out of the first test it might have been nothing as grand as cleaning up Australia in their favourite back yard.

Andrew Fitch-Holland said he could have said "Cairnsy's guilty" but in the context of his personal life, not match-fixing.

A war of words preceding the cricket test under way in Brisbane may partly explain the first two days' action in the middle.

New Zealand will assess crocked seam bowler Tim Southee this morning but will hold off any significant decisions on his future on tour for a few days.

New Zealand were on the run at stumps on the second day of the opening test against Australia at the Gabba.

Otago left armer Neil Wagner has been called into the New Zealand squad cover for the injured Tim Southee.

Seeing the ball in cricket is a fairly important skill for any batsman and the mother of Australia opener Joe Burns insists his carrot eating has helped his career.