Australia vs New Zealand highlights: Aussies set big total on Day 3

Day result:

Australia are 503 runs ahead of New Zealand at the close of the third day of the first Test at the Gabba, and look likely to declare tomorrow morning.

BURNS ON FIRE AS AUSSIES SET BIG TOTAL

They will then have two days in which to bowl the Black Caps out and win the first match of this three-Test series.

New Zealand started brightly, Kane Williamson batting beautifully with the tail to ensure his side more than doubled their overnight score. He fell on 140 for his side’s last wicket, but it was when Australia went out to bat that things really went wrong for the Black Caps.

New Zealand knew that Joe Burns and David Warner would come after them, but they couldn’t have predicted such an emphatic onslaught. Burns made his maiden Test match hundred and Warner followed suit with a century of his own – his second of the match – after a rain delay.

The two eclipsed their opening-day partnership as they went past the 200 mark before they both fell to Mark Craig.

A few late wickets will offer New Zealand a bit of consolation, but with the hosts’ lead over 500, things are looking very glum for the visitors.

Scores at close of day
Australia 4-556 (dec.) and 4-264
New Zealand 317

Day preview

New Zealand will be hoping to show some of the resilience that has earned them respect across the cricketing world, on Day 3 of the first Test, as Australia have compellingly outplayed the visitors in the first two days. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 10:45am (AEDT).

The second day of the Test ended with New Zealand 399 runs behind. Finishing the day at 5 for 157, the Black Caps have already lost one more wicket than Australia did in their innings, as Steve Smith declared about halfway through the day with Australia 4-556.

At the crease for their visitors are the side’s last two recognised batsmen, Kane Williamson and BJ Watling. Both have contributed considerably to New Zealand’s resurgence in Test cricket, Williamson in particular currently recognised as one of the best batsmen in the world.

Trailing by such a daunting margin, they won’t just be required to be technically sound, but to also maintain the correct mindsets.

Finding the right mindset didn’t seem to be an issue for Williamson yesterday evening as he briskly reached his half-century having been uncompromising in defence and clinical in attack from the first ball he faced.

He also deserves extra credit for having seen off a deadly spell of bowling from Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc that saw four of his teammates depart in the space of 26 deliveries.

This spell came after a tame start from Australia’s attack, as New Zealand’s opening pair looked comfortable. When Martin Guptill and Tom Latham gave each other some subdued congratulations for reaching the fifty partnership, it seemed as though their side may replicate the dominance Australia’s batsmen had shown.

Even after Guptill fell to Josh Hazlewood, who at that point had been Australia’s best bowler, New Zealand were only sporadically troubled as they strode to 1-102.

Yet when Starc dismissed Latham for a misjudged drive, which heavily contrasted the rest of his innings, things quickly deteriorated for the tourists. Ross Taylor, James Neesham and captain Brendon McCullum all fell in quick succession, ensuring Smith ended the day content with his declaration.

That declaration came when Usman Khawaja was dismissed reverse-sweeping at the end of an exceptional 174. He and Adam Voges, who ended unbeaten on 83, built a partnership of 157 after Smith was dismissed by a superb delivery from Trent Boult early in the day.

Despite a minor capitulation from New Zealand in the final session, they can take heart in the fact the pitch still looks as good for batting as it did when Voges and Khawaja were in. Furthermore, Watling and Williamson will take to the crease with the ball 45 overs old and offering little in terms of movement.

If Australia can disrupt the partnership early they have a chance of dismissing New Zealand before lunch. This would provide Smith with an interesting dilemma, as New Zealand still need 200 runs to ensure the follow-on cannot be enforced.

Smith’s predecessor rarely chose to make the opposition follow-on, but with the risk of storms interfering with play in the latter days of the Test, the young skipper may be swayed to send New Zealand straight back into bat.

Smith is unlikely to have made up his mind before play. What will determine his decision will most likely be be the effectiveness of his pace attack against the determination of Williamson and Watling.