New Zealand have given themselves a royal chance to snatch a Test victory from Australia in the third Test in Perth.

Two days remain in what has already been a remarkable match.

The New Zealand Herald: "In a remarkable transformation from the first two tests when New Zealand were very much on the back foot, the tables were turned dramatically in the final showdown following a superb batting effort from the tourists, and an impressive performance with the ball.

"For the first time in this series, New Zealand's attack regularly put the ball in the right place, a blueprint that the Australians were so unfamiliar with that they blew themselves out of the water with some Pakistan-style batting.

"It continued the trend set in the first test at the Gabba when the Australians lost six wickets for 39 in one of the most-reckless batting efforts seen in Brisbane, and may well have persuaded the national selectors to consider some options before the first test against South Africa.

"For all that, New Zealand were also the architects of their own strong position, the first innings total of 534 for nine including a record four centuries and providing the bowlers with a much-needed cushion from which to attack the Australian batsmen."

The Sydney Morning Herald: "Yesterday was supposed to have been the day the Australian summer got hot. It did, but for wildly different reasons than expected.

"The arrival of South Africa in Perth had been tipped to be the event to set pulses racing, and this third day of Australia's last Test against New Zealand to provide a minor distraction, if indeed it went that far.

"But those forecasts were made long ago, well before both teams seemingly swapped roles for this match, and the most noticeable heat was that applied to Steve Waugh's side as it was forced into a rare scrap for survival.

"So unused to playing under pressure, the Australians made a pretty weak fist of it as the mixture of Daniel Vettori's attacking spin bowling and some injudicious shot-making sent them spiralling towards their first follow-on since 1989 in Pakistan."

Peter Roebuck, The Sydney Morning Herald: "On a pitch regarded as moribund by his Australian counterparts, Vettori flighted the ball teasingly, dropped on a length, turned it sharply and was altogether too much for some landlocked batsmen. These Australians are strong frontrunners but unconvincing with their backs to the wall.

"New Zealand were aggressive from the start, not bothering to put a single man in front of the wicket for Mark Waugh, whose back-foot game barely survived the scrutiny. Throughout, the visitors conveyed the impression that they did not think their opponents were much cop. Truly the boot was on the other foot. None of the pacemen let them down on a pitch that had driven the Australians to distraction. And they did it without pulling faces, imitating birds or bowling beamers.

"Nonetheless it was clear that Vettori held the key to this contest, a mighty challenge for a 22-year-old recently returned from injury."

The Daily Telegraph: "Shane Warne left the WACA a shattered man last night, but his team-mates were feeling even worse as New Zealand gleefully tightened the hangman's noose at the WACA.

"An ageing generation of Test players will find their careers under immediate review unless Australia can save the third Test and the series against a steel-hearted New Zealand side continuing to exceed all expectations.

"Sloppy Australia were yesterday bowled out for 351 to give New Zealand a lead of 183 and two days to nail one the most unexpected Test and series wins ever.

"Warne joined the tortured who have scored 99 in a Test when he holed out to Mark Richardson at deep midwicket attempting to snatch the century that has been tantalisingly close during his Test and first-class career.

"He was the sixth player to score 99 at the WACA - no Test ground has featured more."

The Australian: "Rarely has Australia been stared down in these recent, golden days, particularly at home, but New Zealand has locked a gaze so solid that the world's best team is still in danger of being upstaged by an upstart despite Warne's heroics.

"The most successful run of home series in the long and proud history of Australian cricket is now on the verge of ending.

"The Australians have won 11 consecutive series at home since the 1-1 result against South Africa in early 1994, but it will take a miracle for them to extend that record.

"After rain-ruined matches in Brisbane and Hobart, the final Test was going to decide who would hold the Trans-Tasman trophy.

"The ever-defiant Kiwi batsmen have ensured that they are yet to be bowled out in an innings this Test series.

"But for all the excitement of a good scrap which Kiwi captain Stephen Fleming has promised this past month, there was just the sniff that New Zealand, with so little success against Australia, weren't quite sure how to land the killer punch."

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