Aussies v. Black Caps - 3 Tests.

[K]

Yes, yes, yes...

Malcolm who? Michael who? John who? Jack who? Jill who?

We can go on and on as long as a flat-track bully's innings!

...................

Neither Mr. Who nor I could comment on the night session before it started. But maybe Dr. Who could.

[K]

TV tells us: on this day 59 years ago, the first tied Test!

Ponting: "It can't have been easy facing Wes Hall in fading light."

[K]

Back in the present, Ponting contemplates declaring tonight.

The bat-three-more-sessions idea sounds safer and easier to me!

Ponting: "We know the Australian bowlers are desperate to bowl under lights."

No surprises, there. Bowlers may be claimed to be dumb but they are not delusional or in denial.

[K]

Ponting says this was what he was worried about leading into the series: the NZ bowlers' lack of penetration in flat conditions.

Southee, Ponting tells us, is bowling only 120+km/h now. Ouch.

[Pies4shaw]

So, wicket is falling in the Australian innings, right, left or centre. 1/107.

[K]

Read what I wrote! Would you like me to repeat?

[Pies4shaw]

Back to more traditional cricket, can 1/111 make the breakthrough for NZ?

[K]

Santner takes out Aleem Dar. Hope it's not a knee injury. We don't need an inexperienced emergency umpire coming out.

Ponting and fellow commentator sound a bit concerned, as am I...

His 129th Test Match, we're told...

[Pies4shaw]

1/114. No, 1/111 didn’t do the trick.

[K]

Play resumes.

Ponting returns to the declare-tonight idea.

Don't do it, Tim!

[Pies4shaw]

50* to Burns. 1/125.

[K]

Baz M sounds keen on declaring tonight too.

But Fleming notes it "goes against" the run-rate Oz have managed so far.

Baz: "If you don't do it tonight, the next opportunity is 80-odd overs down the track."

It sounds like Baz thinks that would be interminable waiting for Oz.

[Pies4shaw]

Marnus reaches yet another 50. 1/131.

And that’s Drinks. 0/56 and just the two fifties between them to the Australians since Tea.

[Pies4shaw]

And the Drinks break does the trick. Marnus holes out at mid-on for 50. 2/131.

[Pies4shaw]

3/148. Burns out for 53.