Australia vs New Zealand 3rd Test Day 4 preview: Will Australia finally be pushed to a fifth day?

Not only have Australia won all four of their Tests this summer, they have wrapped up every single one inside four days. Unless New Zealand collapse spectacularly in the fourth innings, however, it seems likely that they will have to wait till the fifth morning to seal the Sydney Test.

David Warner (23*) and Joe Burns (16*) ensured Australia finished Day 3 on 40 without loss. Their lead has swelled to 243. As is often expected in dry summers, the Sydney pitch has yielded turn, especially for Nathan Lyon, who routed New Zealand with 5/68 earlier in the day.

Resuming on 63 without loss, New Zealand lost Tom Blundell (34), bowled through the gate by Lyon, early in the day. Lyon also had Jeet Raval (31) leg-before just when the latter started to look ominous. Two balls later Tom Latham (49) hit Pat Cummins (3/44) to mid-on, and New Zealand were 117/3.

Cummins also got had Ross Taylor (22) leg-before, while BJ Watling (9) chopped one on to the stumps while trying to drive Mitchell Starc (1/57) past cover point. Colin de Grandhomme (20) started positively before failing to beat a throw from Matthew Wade.

Glenn Phillips hung on resolutely, and was rewarded with a fifty on debut. His 52 was the highest score of the innings, and he looked set for more till Cummins brought one back in to bowl him through the gate. Lyon ran through the rest as New Zealand lost their last 4 wickets for 16.

Key players

Marnus Labuschagne (Australia): The only batsman to score a thousand Test runs in 2019, Labuschagne started the new year with a double-hundred. How many more will he add to that in his last innings of the summer?

Glenn Phillips (New Zealand): Phillips impressed all with his technique and temperament at the crease on Test debut. He will have to play a key role if New Zealand are to push the Test to the fifth day.

Brief scores

Australia 454 (Marnus Labuschagne 215, Steven Smith 63*; Neil Wagner 3/66, Colin de Grandhomme 3/78) and 40/0 (David Warner 23*) lead New Zealand (Glenn Phillips 52; Nathan Lyon 5/68, Pat Cummins 3/44) by 243 runs.

Prediction

Australia to set New Zealand 400 and snare 5 wickets before stumps.