The question was put to the wise Indian scribe: "When did you last see Ishant Sharma bowl better than at the Basin Reserve yesterday?".

New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum is nearing a record with his eighth consecutive coin toss loss at the start of the first test against India yesterday.

India are in complete control of the second cricket test against New Zealand after day one at the Basin Reserve.

Penalty may be light but Ryder, Bracewell face a long wait to resurrect test careers.

'We need to make sure all our players prepare themselves accordingly for test cricket.' Coach Mike Hesson explains why Jesse Ryder is dumped ahead of Friday's test match.

New Zealand have triumphed by 40 runs over India in a riveting final session on the fourth day of the first test with both teams putting up cases for victory.

Jesse Ryder and Doug Bracewell appear to have done their future selection chances permanent harm after drinking early on the morning of Waitangi Day, the first day of the opening test against India.

You can't escape the feeling there are more twists to come over the final two days of a remarkable opening test against India.

Cricket, as steeped in off-field intrigue as on-field subtleties, somehow survives as our summer sport.

New Zealand cricketers Doug Bracewell and Jesse Ryder are under investigation after a late-night drinking session the night before the first test against India.

Brendon McCullum led the way as New Zealand posted 503, before India’s response was stopped by bad light on 130-4.

Brendon McCullum has been named as one of 16 marquee cricketers to be auctioned first at the Indian Premier League auction next week in Bangalore.

Having been sent in and had their top order swept away, New Zealand scrapped hard and by stumps had decisively won back the honours from India at Eden Park yesterday.

Kane Williamson and Brendon McCullum both hit centuries to see New Zealand into a strong position at stumps.

Success at Eden Park and/or the Basin Reserve will be hard earned. There can't be any corner-cutting, writes David Leggat.

Lest it be suggested New Zealand might be getting a touch cosily confident before today's first test against India, Brendon McCullum yesterday made it emphatically clear they're not.

Hosts may be rated six places behind India but will fancy their chances at Eden Park.

Black Caps coach Mike Hesson - fresh from a one-day series win over India - says he has faced real challenges in his career.

The focus of the New Zealand cricket team's recent success has rightly been on Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson and the conveyor belt of effective, competitive pace bowlers.