Hobart's bad weather, and its resultant effect on a possible outcome for the second Australia-New Zealand Test dominated the headlines today.

The Sydney Morning Herald: "Scowling skies and dreary cricket made this a day to forget.

"Pity the poor spectators as they forlornly departed; it will be years before Test cricket returns.

"About the only source of amusement was the sound of a wag calling out "settle down" after a batsman had driven a couple of runs, like a tortoise emerging from his shell to pinch a piece of lettuce.

"Otherwise it was a matter of putting on tarpaulins and removing them and more inspections than take place in a boot camp. Abandonment came as a merciful relief. Even these captains will be hard-pressed to revive this corpse.

"Between the showers the Australians did not pass muster. On pitches of this sort something special is needed and the Australians did not provide it. None of the bowlers could disturb the tranquillity of New Zealand's fifth-wicket pair.

"Clearly the Kiwis had studied the bowlers and developed tactics to counter them. Most particularly they refused to play at anything outside off stick. Rather than fishing, the visiting batsmen raised their willows aloft and let the ball pass.

"Around four deliveries an over thudded into the keeper's gloves. Whereas the Poms probed obligingly these fellows knew the exact location of their off stump. Oscar Wilde said he could "resist anything except temptation" and the Kiwis refused to be drawn."

The New Zealand Herald: "We all know how Stephen Fleming twice tempted fate in this series - the question now is, will Steve Waugh?

"The transtasman captains will again be in the spotlight this afternoon as the weather-affected second test at Bellerive Oval lurches towards what might once have been considered an inevitable draw. Until that eventful last day in the first test in Brisbane, that is.

"Having paid the price for inserting Australia twice this series, Fleming was at the helm as the weather closed in around Hobart yesterday afternoon, unbeaten on 71 as New Zealand reached 197 for four, still 162 runs shy of the follow-on mark.

"A fifth-wicket partner of 97 between him and Craig McMillan, a record against Australia, has provided the tourists with a reasonable show of reaching the target, at which point it would be no surprise to see the New Zealand skipper mimic his first test decision and declare.

"How Waugh might respond is not so clear."

The Australian: "New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming, who promised Australia "a bloody good scrap", yesterday ploughed through rain, bad light and boredom to deliver his word.

"The second Test at Bellerive Oval will surely be consigned to a watery grave today, providing merciful relief to faithful fans and players alike.

"The match, which surged like a flaming arrow when 411 runs were scored on day one, is now moving at the speed of a constipated snail, with Australia needing 16 wickets today to force a result.

"Only 126 runs were added from 51 overs yesterday.

"If there was one plus, it was that the day reminded patrons of how lucky they were not to witness such drab fare more often. It was the way Test cricket used to be played, but rarely is today.

"Resuming at 2-71, the Kiwis trudged to 4-197, 361 behind Australia and 162 shy of the follow-on, on another day that fell victim to cricket's unbeatable enemy - rain."

The Daily Telegraph: "The Australians could still win. For that to happen, they would need a dry day, which the forecast says is improbable; and 16 Kiwi wickets, which the performance of Fleming and McMillan suggests is unlikely.

"Ten hours lost over three days will almost certainly prove too much.

"It's also a huge disappointment for Hobart, which only gets a Test every second year and then always early in the season when the weather is dodgy.

"Given the forecast and what had transpired on the previous two days, the 2,837 loyal spectators who turned up today must have been masochists.

"And whoever put a message on the scoreboard during the drizzle - 'Welcome to the new Bellerive Oval. Enjoy the day' - must have been a sadist."

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