Third test, day three

New Zealand skipper Brendon McCullum said the day-night concept was the future of test cricket.

Both were applauded from the field by a sated crowd of 47,441 – only a few thousand less than the total number of fans who attended the opening four days of the first Test of the series in Brisbane.

Trent Boult, who dismissed opener David Warner (1) in the fourth over of Australia’s innings, said for the New Zealanders to prosper from Starc’s absence, they’d have to quickly contain the Australia batsmen.

The tourists were all out for 208, giving Australia a target of 187 to win in Adelaide, as the bowlers continued to dictate proceedings with the pink ball, Hazlewood taking a further three wickets to finish the second innings with Test-best figures of 6-70.

New Zealand face a battle for a victory to level the series after an eventful second day of the first day-night Test in Adelaide.

The review was churned over for minutes before the TV umpire Nigel Llong decided there was not enough to go on despite the Hot Spot evidence to give Lyon out, caught off spinner Santner, with Australia reeling at 118 for eight and trailing the Kiwis by 84 runs.

The pair added 72 runs after that and coming at a time when New Zealand would have been busy with thoughts of batting again with a healthy lead, it was a cruel blow.

Shaun Marsh, who found himself on the receiving end of critics after getting himself run out yesterday, was the top scorer for his side with 49.

Australia’s innings finally ended on 224.

And the Kiwis got another major fillip when Smith was out leg before wicket to Boult seven balls later.

The Marsh brothers combined to add 46 before the younger Mitch was out to Santner, skying a catch to Kane Williamson.

He remained to blast spinner Mark Craig for 20 runs in one over, smashing two fours and two sixes over wide long on, as Australia charged past New Zealand’s first innings total of 202.

There were two runs required when Mitchell Starc surprisingly hobbled out, Peter Nevill having become Boult’s fifth victim. Unfortunately for New Zealand, there was nothing on the RTS – real-time Snickometer – and the third umpire refused to overrule the on-field decision.

“It’s pretty hard to separate the two teams over the last two test matches”, McCullum said.

Llong then used Snickometer to pick up the noise of the ball connecting with the back of the bat, but it failed to register any sound, and Lyon promptly started returning to the middle. “It definitely is exciting for Test match cricket”.

There were fears the in-form 25-year-old would be sidelined for the long-term, including missing the Test series against West Indies, limited-overs matches with India and beyond.

Just as Australia’s bowlers prospered on the first day by putting a squeeze on New Zealand, so too that trio did a job on Australia.