Cricket: Hammered into grim surrender

Brendon McCullum achieved his fifth century. Photo / Mark Mitchell

New Zealand's hopes were quickly flushed down the drain at the Basin yesterday, leaving the team with a huge task of trying to restore some pride against Australia in Hamilton.

Australia's bowlers proved the day four defiance was a mere anomaly, paving the way for a 10-wicket thumping. New Zealand logged 564 runs in this match for the loss of 20 wickets. Australia scored one more while losing five - that's not a contest, it's a coronation.

All the credits accrued during New Zealand's fight on an abbreviated day four disappeared with the wind as Australia shredded through New Zealand's incompetent tail and knocked off the 106 runs for victory without the loss of a wicket in 23 overs.

Phil Hughes logged a sprightly 86 as the New Zealand attack was treated like it was the Mercantile League. But, in fairness to Chris Martin and friends, the damage had been done.

"We fought hard in that second innings, but we need to show more penetration with the ball in that first innings and stand up a bit more with the bat," Daniel Vettori said. "We can't afford to be on the back foot at any stage against Australia in Hamilton."

Vettori was disappointed with the capitulation because the fourth day, when New Zealand lost just one wicket in 52 overs, showed the Australians could be put under pressure.

"The intent was there, but the actions weren't and that's what you get judged on, your actions.

"After what we did [on Monday] it was a little bit disappointing to front up today and lose quick wickets."

Any hopes Australia would be faced with a potentially tricky target evaporated early.

Brendon McCullum needed just three balls to turn an excellent innings into his most significant one for his country. A textbook square drive was followed by a less convincing squirt to third man and his fifth century was achieved.

For New Zealand to have any chance of saving this test he needed to score 150 and put on a similar amount with Daryl Tuffey because, as feared, this side is seven-out, all-out. Instead, he pushed at one that lifted a little from impressive Ryan Harris and Michael Clarke took a simple catch at first slip.

"We definitely would have liked to have gone on with it," McCullum said. "For us to have had a realistic chance [of saving the test], Daryl and I had to bat in the vicinity of a session, a session-and-a-half. If we were able to do that we could have put some pressure back on Australia."

Nevertheless, McCullum's innings raised eyebrows for all the right reasons

"I was pleased with the way I was able to adjust my game from the way I played in the first innings. Certainly, against a very good team, it rates as probably my best test century, but when you lose a game it doesn't have the same feeling."

The Harris-Clarke combination that worked to get rid of McCullum was in action again two overs later, although the circumstances defied credibility. It was as if Tim Southee had not watched the effort his team-mates had put in the previous day as he swung wildly at his second ball.

That he was not called upon to bowl by Daniel Vettori could be a telling pointer towards non-selection in Hamilton. Since the five-wicket bag he captured on debut, Southee has taken 14 test wickets at an average of 58.4, while never threatening to replicate his 77 not out with the bat.

The factors working in his favour - he can swing the ball, the test is on his "home" ground and Tuffey has been ruled out - are being overtaken by what seems to be a lack of test cricket nous.

Brent Arnel and Chris Martin did what was expected of them, which was nothing, and the impressive Tuffey was left high, broken-handed and dry on 47.