An unlikely threat of drawing level

Glenn McGrath has sent Stephen Fleming from opener to No. 4 for the final Test © Getty Images Enlarge

The weather has kept a soppy series bubbling. Australia's bright summer streak popped at six with the draw at Wellington and New Zealand - amazingly, considering the way they have been allowed to perform - have a chance of squaring the series at Auckland. It is a limited but valid opportunity.

Historical records tell the Black Caps they have an even chance of taking the three-Test affair. Eden Park has hosted six Trans-Tasman Tests and the ledger is square at three-all. However, the forecast says it could be another dreary contest with showers predicted until Monday. At least. A draw would be a positive result for Stephen Fleming as he looks ahead to two Tests against Sri Lanka.

The most relevant question is do Australia, a week out from holidays after eight months on the road, have one last burst left? They have thumped Fleming's side over two series this season, and Ricky Ponting wanted 40 more overs at Wellington to mop up New Zealand's second innings. Instead the dried-out Australians would like to sign-off on their dominating gallop across the two islands with a convincing performance. At Christchurch they won by nine wickets; at the Basin Reserve they had a 278-run advantage in less than three days when the plug was pulled. It is an equation of Australia's energy versus New Zealand's resistance.

Fleming's side, batting and captaincy are suffering, but he could afford only one alteration to the squad, James Marshall joining his identical twin Hamish at Craig McMillan's expense. The less things change the more the result should stay the same. Fleming has taken the downward step to No. 4 and been looking for ways to upset Glenn McGrath's ease at finding his front pad in front. Australia's attack will not be touched and there was barely a whisper of push for Brett Lee.

The Paul Wiseman v Iain O'Brien debate is still alive after two weeks and is vital to the power - or impotency - of an attack that has given up 1137 runs in two Tests at 3.9 an over. The rain and early life of a drop-in pitch didn't win O'Brien his third Test, but the return of Wiseman's offspin was a sensible option to provide slow support for Daniel Vettori.

Australia won the last encounter at Eden Park in 1999-2000 when Colin Miller's second-innings five wickets were more valuable than Vettori's 12 in the match. Before that New Zealand were victorious three times in a row on a ground that makes Australians shudder at their team's lack of success. Bruce Edgar's 161 and Richard Hadlee's seven victims in 1981-82 toppled Chappell, Lillee and Marsh, John Bracewell, the current coach, took 10 to claim the 1985-86 series, and in 1992-93 Dipak Patel and Danny Morrison hauled five-wicket bags to draw New Zealand level against Border, Warne, Waugh, Healy and Martyn.

They were heady matches, but Eden Park is now in the grip of rugby season - the Auckland Blues have a Super 12 bye after a two-two win-loss record - and cricket has one last hold before the goalposts are wheeled out properly for winter. However, the low attendances of the opening Tests suggest local views are All Black once autumn arrives and they have little appreciation of any-coloured caps. It should be a sombre end to a draining summer.

Peter English is Australasian editor of Cricinfo.