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Australia were in a great position at the close of the first day of the Test at the Gabba, but if anything they are even better off after two days of play.
At stumps on the second day Australia had not only taken the total of their own first innings out to 556 – declaring after four wickets – but had felled five of New Zealand’s batsmen, while restricting the Black Caps to 157.
>>>See how the action unfolded in our live blog.
The day didn’t start perfectly for Australia as Steve Smith was out early in the piece, bowled by Trent Boult for 48.
Adam Voges came in to join Usman Khawaja however, and the two formed a devastating partnership that made Australia’s innings an unqualified success.
Khawaja finally fell after 379 minutes at the crease – caught by Martin Guptill, bowled by Kane Williamson – having recorded 174 runs off 239 balls in a performance that has silenced his critics.
With Voges on 83 not out, Australia declared and New Zealand went into bat.
Guptill and Tom Latham had a solid start for New Zealand until the former was caught by David Warner just after the pair had brought up a half-century partnership.
Latham and Williamson then brought New Zealand past 100 before a period of dominance from the Mitchells turned a relatively productive start for the Kiwis into a complete collapse.
Latham fell, bowled by Mitchell Starc and caught by Nathan Lyon, before Ross Taylor was out for a six-ball duck, replaced by the captain Brendon McCullum.
After taking his first wicket with Taylor, Mitchell Johnson took his second in short order as McCullum too faced just six balls. James Neesham was then bowled by Starc with just three runs to his name.
In the space of a few overs four wickets were taken for just 16 runs and New Zealand were well and truly on the ropes.
The one comfort for them heading into the third day is that Williamson and BJ Watling were able to close out the last 10 overs without incident, bringing them to 5 for 157 at stumps.
Fair to say that any hopes of a New Zealand victory are long gone and their aim now will be to drag the match out for a draw. However with much of their top order already fallen in this first innings that now looks a hard task, especially if the trio of Starc, Johnson and Josh Hazlewood keep up their good work.
New Zealand will enter the third day of the Test requiring at least another 200 runs if they want to avoid a follow-on.