Cricket: It's gloom amid the gloom

Lou Vincent makes a vain attempt to catch Jason Gillespie at Eden Park yesterday as skipper Stephen Fleming looks on. Picture / Brett Phibbs

New Zealand's third-test prospects took a nosedive in borderline visibility last night, leaving Australian run-scoring hero Adam Gilchrist questioning the virtue of playing under lights.

The home side went to stumps on a rain-interrupted third day at 11 for two, following some more batting milestones for Gilchrist and a penetrative late spell from a fired-up Glenn McGrath.

Unhappy at being adjudged caught at the wicket off James Franklin, a dismissal that stranded Gilchrist on 60 not out, McGrath struck back with a vengeance, dismissing Craig Cumming and James Marshall inside the first five overs.

The setback came after Australia had extended their overnight first innings total of 219 for four through to 393, and followed four interruptions because of rain and one delay because of inadequate light.

Trailing by 91 on the first innings, New Zealand will resume this morning still 80 runs short of Australia's first innings total and with Stephen Fleming and Hamish Marshall at the wicket.

Gilchrist had earlier collared the New Zealand bowling once again, smashing 10 fours and six in a 62-ball innings that pushed him into second place on the list of wicket-keeping run-scorers, with 4452 runs.

Now ahead of England legend Allan Knott and the often underrated Andy Flower, Gilchrist needs only 88 more runs to overtake England's Alec Stewart as the gloveman with the most runs in tests.

However, Gilchrist had some sympathy for New Zealand's plight last night, saying afterwards that light produced by the ground floodlights was completely different than natural light, and caused difficulties with the red ball.

"It's a completely different type of light," Gilchrist said. "I suspect the reading showed it was a playable light, but I don't know if the reality is the same.

"It was difficult. It's hard for umpires to adjudicate on, and I can understand the New Zealand team feeling disappointed and frustrated."

McGrath had Cumming trapped in front off the second ball of the innings, and then had James Marshall caught at slip by Langer to leave Australia in the box-seat with two extended days remaining.

The closing stanzas followed a valuable rearguard from Gilchrist and Michael Kasprowicz, who combined in a ninth-wicket partnership of 74, a record for Australia against New Zealand.

Apart from the health of the third test, the other main concern for New Zealand yesterday was Daniel Vettori, who seemed to be struggling with his fitness and was bowled only lightly.

Whereas acknowledged second spinner Wiseman churned through 31 overs during the innings, Vettori, the spearhead of the New Zealand attack, struggled through just 19 without taking a wicket.

"It'll be interesting to see how Dan is - I'm picking his back is a bit sore because he's been used so sparingly compared to what we've seen," Gilchrist said.

"Whether that's just a workload thing or a back-related issue, I really don't know.

"We've got our nose in front with the 91-run lead and then two wickets, so that keeps us handily placed.

"We've still got to make sure we come back tomorrow and bowl with the right plan." New Zealand's other injury worry involves Hamish Marshall, who was limping noticeably yesterday because of shin-splints, and spent some time off the field to receive treatment.


NEW ZEALAND
First innings 292
Second innings
C. Cumming lbw b McGrath 0
J. Marshall c Langer b McGrath 3
H. Marshall not out 3
S. Fleming not out 1Extras (4lb) 4
Total (for 2 wkts, 4.5 overs) 11


Fall: 1/0 (Cumming), 2/9 (J Marshall).


Bowling: G. McGrath 2.5-0-7-2, J. Gillespie 2-2-0-0.


AUSTRALIA
First innings


J. Langer b Franklin 6
M. Hayden lbw b Franklin 38
R. Ponting c McCullum b Astle 105
D. Martyn b Wiseman 38
M. Clarke run out 22
J. Gillespie c McCullum b Martin 35
S. Katich c Wiseman b Franklin 35
A. Gilchrist not out 60
S. Warne c Fleming b Franklin 1
M. Kasprowicz b Franklin 23
G. McGrath c McCullum b Franklin 0
Extras (4b, 7lb, 9nb) 20
Total (118.1 overs) 383


Fall: 1/8 (Langer), 2/84 (Hayden), 3/187 (Ponting), 4/215 (Martyn), 5/226 (Clarke), 6/297 (Gillespie), 7/297 (Katich), 8/303 (Warne), 9/377 (Kasprowicz).


Bowling: C. Martin 21-4-92-1 (3nb), J. Franklin 26.1-3-119-6 (5nb), N. Astle 21-7-50-1, D. Vettori 19-4-47-0 (1nb), P. Wiseman 31-7-64-1.