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Stranger things have happened, but it would take a miracle to get anything other than a draw when the second Test between Australia and New Zealand enters its final day at the WACA. Join The Roar for live scores and coverage from 1:15pm (AEDT).
The batsmen again dominated the proceedings on Day 4, with only six wickets falling across the 90 overs, three of them being lower order batsmen in the morning session.
The WACA pitch has been flat, and realistically not up to Test standards, or one that produces a result anyway. However that is another conversation for another day, as Australia enter the final day with eight second innings wickets in hand, and a lead of 193 on the board.
When they resume from the score of 2/258, with Steve Smith on 131 and Adam Voges on 101 in an unbroken partnership of 212, they will be able to decide if Australia have any chance of forcing a result from the match. However, based on the final session of play from Day 3, you would have to make the assumption it is unlikely at best, that they will either set New Zealand a reasonable total to chase, or give themselves enough time to knock New Zealand over.
Their run rate during that last session reduced to not much more than three runs per over, and was always going to slow the game down, lowering the chance for either side taking victory. At the same time, the partnership from the pair stopped the New Zealand side, who already having two wickets really had Australia in a spot of bother.
So far this match, only two bowlers have had any real penetration. Mitchell Starc for Australia and Tim Southee for New Zealand. Both have managed to look threatening at various times and had the opposition batsmen jumping. If there is going to be a result in this one, then expect these two to be at the forefront.
The other key on Day 5 for New Zealand, has to be Brendon McCullum. It is entirely likely that New Zealand will have some sort of outrageous run chase that you normally wouldn’t think possible. McCullum, particularly on a pitch playing like it is could be the key – if he promotes himself up the order then anything will appear chaseable.
The other thing to take into account here is that New Zealand’s opening bowlers got the ball to swing yesterday afternoon, and got some quite serious movement off the wicket. If the likes of Mitchell Starc, Mitchell Johnson and Josh Hazlewood can do the same, then Australia could be left kicking themselves they didn’t accelerate more towards the end of Day 4.
The other thing here is Nathan Lyon. Having a consistent spinner is huge, and Lyon has the ability to knock the Kiwis open if they can get anything out of the wicket.
Ultimately though, it looks like it will all bubble down to a fifth day draw.
Join The Roar for live coverage of the final day from 1:15pm (AEDT) and don’t forget to comment below if you’re following along.
Follow Scott on Twitter @sk_pryde
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