07:02

If Australia shaded Boxing Day they stamped their authority all over this Test match on day two against New Zealand, batting the tourists into distraction for most of the day and then firing out two top-order stars before the close. The Kiwis are already facing an uphill task to avoid consecutive humiliating defeats.

Steve Smith laid the platform, patiently accumulating 85 before Travis Head (114) took on the job of shepherd, inching to his second Test century and securing his short-term future in the process. He put on a momentum-changing 150 with Tim Paine whose dashing 79 was his highest Test score as captain. A late slog for quick runs ended with Australia all out for 467, a first innings total well above par considering the amount of movement on offer with the new ball.

That total was soon made to look gargantuan when Pat Cummins dismantled makeshift opener Tom Blundell’s technique (15) and Kane Williamson (9) miscued a pull off James Pattinson to leave his side miles behind.

With three scorching hot days to come New Zealand face the prospect of long drawn out torture simply to remain alive in the series. To find out if they can survive tomorrow’s examination join Adam Collins and I right here.