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Australia Needs The Weather Gods To Shine On Final Day Of Test

McCullum Needs A Captain's Knock To Salvage The First Test
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum looks back as Australia's fielder Adam Voges takes his successful catch off paceman Mitchell Johnson during day two of the first Test cricket match between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane on November 6, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHANIMAGE STRICTLY RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)
SAEED KHAN via Getty Images
New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum looks back as Australia's fielder Adam Voges takes his successful catch off paceman Mitchell Johnson during day two of the first Test cricket match between Australia and New Zealand in Brisbane on November 6, 2015. AFP PHOTO / Saeed KHANIMAGE STRICTLY RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - STRICTLY NO COMMERCIAL USE (Photo credit should read SAEED KHAN/AFP/Getty Images)

Australia is in the box seat over New Zealand as it begins the fifth day of the First Test in Brisbane needing just seven wickets and clear skies to get the job done.

With rain and bad light ending the fourth day's play early, allowing just 53 overs to be bowled, the Kiwis ended on 3/142 needing 362 more runs to snatch an unlikely victory.

Australia had earlier declared on 556 leaving New Zealand with a target of 504 runs in its second innings.

Ross Taylor and Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum are the batsmen at the crease and the two veterans will be looking to salvage some pride with Australia dominating this Test in the first four days.

The probable key to Australia's success is spinner Nathan Lyon who is seen as a crucial part of the final day's game plan and as he told ABC Grandstand will be working to build pressure in combination with the pace bowlers to get those remaining wickets before the day's end.

"I need to stay consistent and keep hitting my length and really try and build pressure from one end and rotate the quicks from the other," he said.

There will be a maximum allowance of 98 overs that can be bowled (weather permitting) and it will be an interesting game of tactics between the two captains: will McCullum, not known for his conservative nature at the batting crease, decide to be aggressive and risk losing those seven wickets Steve Smith needs to give his team the first victory of the series, or will he stand his ground and try to grind out a draw making the Aussie bowlers work hard for their prizes?

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