2nd Test: New Zealand v Australia at Christchurch,

That should be a fine for both Smith and Hazlewood. Can't be questioning and intimidating an umpire like that. Unacceptable.

Great session by Kiwis

Lead of 62 with 6 wickets : new ball due

Lunch, day 4

72.1
Illingworth has detected a faint inside edge on the toe. And he doesn't even look at another replay.

The Australian fielders, who are seeing this on the big scree, charge at the umpire

and say no way that hot spot is the ball.

New Zealand delayed, annoyed and even frustrated Australia into some of the ugliest scenes of the summer. Yet Steven Smith's men persisted through it all, and by day's end were a mere 131 runs away from claiming victory in Christchurch and the No. 1 Test ranking.

This one is all over bar the shouting (appropriate turn of phrase given this Test). Credit where credit is due, Australia have looked as though they are batting on a different pitch. They were able to get the ball to swing both ways and cause problems on a pitch, that after the first morning, has become very flat.

It's a shame this Jackson Bird didn't show up for Hampshire last year. I guess he is fully healthy again, because he was very ordinary in county cricket. It's pretty impressive that Australia keep losing fast bowler after fast bowler and yet keep ticking along no matter who comes into the side. No Starc, Johnson, Siddle, Harris, no problem.

Australia are really on the ascendancy. At tea on Day 4, they are at 70/1. New Zealand would need to produce a rare spark out of nowhere like the legendary English all-rounder Ian Botham did in a 1981 Ashes match by clinching a 5-wicket haul for just a single run. It is a bit disheartening to see New Zealand on the verge of a Test series defeat in home conditions.

89 - 1

khawaja and Burns look painful.

I done with this spectating 

khawaja exits ....caught Baz b Southee

88 to win

SmiFF hitting out ! 

A comfortable victory for Australia in the end that allows them to reclaim their world number 1 ranking.

Another Test innings, another 50 for Smith. Another not out for Voges also, that now makes a third of all his Test innings have ended in him being not out.

Khawaja has looked very much at home since coming back into the Test team: an average of 101.85 with 4 centuries and 1 fifty in 8 innings.

Maximium respect to Wagner for demanding the ball and bowling back-to-back gut busting spells even with the writing on the wall.