Across the Ditch: Aussies tighten the screw

Adam Voges may be top of the cricketing world with an average that makes him the best since Bradman, but it wasn't so long ago he thought his Test career was about to crash down around him.

Voges completed his second Test double-century in Wellington today, his 239 stretching his world record of runs between dismissals to 614 and punishing New Zealand into submission.

Match Report: McCullum exit puts Australia on the cusp

His numbers in his 14th Test have seen his average shoot up to Bradman-esque proportions and he's in a rare club of Test cricketers to flourish over the age of 35.

His numbers against New Zealand and the West Indies are beyond reproach, but there's a glaring weakness on his CV: England.

Adam Voges: Test career stats

He's far from alone among Australians to suffer from that, especially among the current crop. And it was at Australia's lowest ebb, during that horrific Trent Bridge ordeal last winter, when Voges expected his time as an Australian Test cricketer to end.

"Walking out in the second innings at Trent Bridge I thought my Test career was probably over," Voges told Optus Sport's Across the Ditch after play today.

"And if it wasn't for a fighting 50 in the second innings of that game and another 50 at The Oval that could have been the end."

Australia were 4-136 in their second dig when Voges strode to the middle, his head swimming and full of doubts , his team still 195 runs behind England's first innings score.

WATCH: Wrap of day three action

The team, already reeling from that infamous first-innings collapse of 60 all out, were threatening to implode again, having just lost 3-6, two wickets falling in the preceding three balls.

Yet, somehow, Voges was able to put that aside. His age and experience drawn from a long career and more than 10,000 first-class runs undoubtedly helped. His second-innings unbeaten 51 lasted 118 balls – more than Australia's entire first innings.

WATCH: Voges' fighting Trent Bridge fifty

He followed that with another fifty at The Oval and suddenly, from being on the chopping block, he was a stretched hamstring away from leading his country; named Steve Smith's stand-in deputy for the ultimately postponed tour of Bangladesh.

"To get through that, to go through those tough periods and to come out the other side, to be able to have a bit of success has been terrific," Voges told Across the Ditch hosts Damien Fleming and Chris Rogers.

"There was certainly some doubts during that Ashes series.

Quick Single: Evergreen Voges proves age no barrier

"I'm not sure if there's one thing (to attribute recent success to), I think there's just a lot of little things that have clicked.

"Technically I think I'm a little bit better, my defence is a lot better now and I can rely on that. Mentally I'm in a good place, I feel if I can get in I can get a start and get big scores."

WATCH: Voges addresses his form and philosophy

The idea of 'getting in and getting a start' may bring a sardonic smile to the face of Black Caps supporters. Voges, of course, was on just seven when on the first afternoon of this Wellington Test he left a ball from Doug Bracewell that cannoned into his off-stump.

Quick Single: Voges survives 'horrific' no-ball ruling

Umpire Ray Illingworth signalled a no-ball, reprieving Voges. The real controversy was to come, however, when television replays showed Bracewell had in fact not overstepped, robbed of a wicket by an umpire's incorrect call.

It prompted the International Cricket Council to clarify the rules around when the third umpire can intervene, and a promise to look again at the role of technology in policing the bowler's front foot.

Voges poured cold water on the ICC reasoning that an umpire shouting "no ball" could conceivably affect a batsman's shot selection, thereby unjustly penalising if that delivery was later found to have been legal.

WATCH: Voges at centre of no-ball controversy

"There's no way you're leaving it if you hear the no-ball call, you're swinging as hard as you can," he said.

"It's an unfortunate incident, I know it's a big talking point in this game but the umpire made his call at the time and that's the way it goes sometimes. Sometimes you're on the right end, sometimes you're on the wrong end.

"I've had a big slice of luck … but it was good that I was able to capitalise on it I guess.

Voges was on seven at the time, and went on to add a further 232 runs in 344 balls.

"If it had been referred and they'd showed that it was a legitimate delivery you wouldn't have had any complaints from me, I would have been happy to walk off," he said.

"Maybe it needs an incident like that to get a change in the playing conditions."