Cricket: NZ now have to think pink

New Zealand players give the retiring Mitchell Johnson a guard of honour during the final day of the test in Perth. Photo / AAP

Two-day warmup game becomes all-important for the Black Caps before the historic third test in Adelaide

New Zealand's thoughts turned to Adelaide last night and the chance to depart Australia all-square in their test series.

That might have seemed a fanciful notion after the first day of the test at the Waca, with Australia roaring along on the Perth highway at 416 for two.

The tourists should be buoyed by their fightback in the second test, which finished as a draw with New Zealand on 104-2 chasing an improbable 321 for victory. Kane Williamson was not out 32 and Ross Taylor 36 when bad light stopped play.

It also ensures this weekend's two-day game against a Western Australian XI, which is being played with a pink ball, takes on more significance as preparation for the inaugural day-night test in Adelaide starting on Friday next week.

That WA XI are shaping as a decent side, too, as distinct from a liquorice allsorts bag of up-and-comers so often thrown together as nominal opposition for touring teams.

There's no clash with the Sheffield Shield and Western Australia have a clutch of players with test aspirations.

Australian captain Steve Smith had signalled before the final day began that he was in no mood to be overly generous with his declaration yesterday.

That was fair enough, considering the state of the series, but his rationale was lacking a breadth of the whole picture.

"We're not going to do them too many favours," Smith told ABC radio. "They had the opportunity to set the game up yesterday morning and the night before that. I thought they could have gone a little bit harder to try and get in front of the game and set the game up."

If Smith sounded churlish, the New Zealanders will be quietly chuckling.

The final day was given over to saluting Mitchell Johnson, who announced his retirement before the day began. Australia's fourth-highest test wicket-taker had simply run out of the desire to carry on.

He was given a guard of honour by the New Zealand team when he went out to bat for the final time, a stark contrast to the alleged lack of grace from Australia in congratulating man of the match Taylor as he left the field the previous day after his outstanding 290.

Australia dispute the notion that they did not give Taylor due credit. It's never been their way to acknowledge opponents who have performed remarkable deeds in an overt way out in the middle.

They have given opposing greats a similar guard of honour in the past, but the rushing up to shake hands, while New Zealand's prerogative which they have exercised in this series, is dismissed as over the top across the Tasman.