Ponting leads from front

The only wicket to fall was that of Matthew Hayden, run out for nine by a Daniel Vettori direct hit from mid off, as Australia Set out determined to wrap up the Test in four days rather than risk the weather tomorrow after being denied victory in the second Test because of rain.

While the jury is still out on whether this Australian side is the greatest team of all time, the manner in which they dealt to New Zealand underlined the vast Gulf between the Trans-Tasman neighbours. As much as New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming tried to slow the game down, hoping the inclement weather would intervene, Ponting stepped up the pace walloping 86 from 84 balls including 12 fours and two sixes. Langer chimed in with 59 from 76 balls including 10 fours.

New Zealand had been outclassed in the series and a late revival in their second innings, moving from 23 for four to be all out for 254, was never going to be enough.

Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne took four wickets apiece, with McGrath was left stranded on 499 Test wickets when he bowled Paul Wiseman for 23 to end the New Zealand innings.

Brief Scores: New Zealand: 292 & 254 (Nathan Astle 70, Daniel Vettori 65, Lou Vincent 40; Glenn McGrath 4-40, Shane Warne 4-78) lost to Australia 383 & 166-1 (Justin Langer 59 n.o., Ricky Ponting 86 n.o.).