Kane Williamson, Brendon McCullum and Mark Craig all scored half centuries as the New Zealand cricketers two-day game against an Australian XI ended in a draw in Canberra.
Captain Brendon McCullum off the mark with a first ball four, Lord's 2015. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Williamson made 68, McCullum 58 and Craig 60, with all three retiring as the Black Caps ended the day on 368 for eight in reply to the locals' first innings of 325 for four.
There was plenty of interest in how McCullum would fare in his first innings after he rested from the Prime Minister's XI match following his trip to London to give evidence in the Chris Cairns trial.
McCullum was his usual aggressive self and struck four fours and three sixes on his way to 58 from 49 deliveries before he retired to allow his team-mates a hit.
He was one of six New Zealanders to retire as most of the batsmen enjoyed some valuable time in the middle. Only two wickets fell to the Australian bowlers throughout the day on a pitch offering little assistance.
"It was good for him just to ease back into things... and brush off some of the cobwebs that might've been there," said batting coach Craig McMillan.
McMillan admitted the conditions were nothing like what they're expected to face during the Test series, but said there was still some value in the match and Friday's win against the PM's XI.
That included getting an early look at Test incumbents Peter Siddle and Mitchell Marsh.
"All in all, the three days here in Canberra have gone to plan," he said.
McMillan said it was highly likely the Black Caps' line-up for the four-day clash with the Cricket Australian XI in Sydney starting Thursday would be very close to their first-Test side.
