NZ fluffed their chance in Brisbane and it’s impossible to see them taking the game much past the weekend, especially given the unnerving extra bounce which is likely.

Tim Southee is being given every chance to be fit after his disc problem but he has bowled only at gentle pace in the nets and while he’s a tough cookie, you can’t enter a Test match 80 per cent fit, not when you’re the pace leader.

Australia to win and maybe if NZ bats first, inside three days.