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Australia have declared at 4-556 on day two of the first Test against New Zealand, Usman Khawaja scoring 174 in an impressive return to the national side.
Khawaja resumed on 102 at the Gabba on Friday, heaping further misery on the tourists alongside Adam Voges.
Steve Smith, dismissed for 48 in the morning session, would have been stewing over when to end Australia’s dominance with the bat.
Once Khawaja’s bid for a double-century ended, thanks to Kane Williamson’s part-time offspin, Smith had seen enough.
The 26-year-old was criticised over the timing of his declarations last summer, when he led the side in the absence of injured Michael Clarke.
Now captaining the side in his own right, Smith had no interest in waiting until tea on day two.
Openers Martin Guptill and Tom Latham will take a degree of confidence from Khawaja’s maiden Test century and the ease at which he scored.
But with so many runs on the board, batting won’t be easy against Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood.
New Zealand’s ineffectual attack struggled, especially when their best bowler Tim Southee left the field in Friday’s morning session due to a back injury.
Black Caps management are still assessing Southee’s irritated disc.
Voges finished 83 not out, Smith denying him the chance to push on for a first Test century on home soil.
David Warner’s 163 put the game on Australia’s terms, the hosts setting a new mark for most runs on day one of a Brisbane Test.
Australia were largely unruffled after resuming at 2-389 on Friday.
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