Kolkata incident shadows Aussie cricket team

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The shadow of 2001's Kolkata incident is hanging over the Australian cricket side, with spinner Nathan Hauritz admitting his team's fast bowlers are tired.

Australia's winning run of 16 consecutive Tests ended in Kolkata in March that year after skipper Steve Waugh enforced the follow-on and India made 7-657 before bowling the tourists out for 212 to claim a remarkable 171-run win.

New Zealand could also be poised for something special, having recovered from their overnight score of 5-187 following on to reach 6-369 on day four, an overall lead of 67.

Wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum is unbeaten on 94 and Daryl Tuffey is on 23.

Hauritz says the Australians need to be very careful about letting the Kiwis add another hundred runs on Tuesday's fifth and final day's play at Wellington's Basin Reserve.

His foot heavily taped and his face red after spending the day pushing into Wellington's 130 km/h winds, Hauritz looked exhausted.

"It's the most I've bowled. I'm not too bad," Hauritz said after his 3-119 from 49 overs.

"It wasn't too hot so it doesn't take a lot out of your body.

"I think the quicks might have been tired from the full day of bowling the day before, I don't know.

"They haven't said too much. Generally that's a good indicator that they are tired.

"We've got to win a Test match tomorrow. New Zealand could bat themselves into a position where they could try to win.

"It's a great day of cricket (coming up). It was tough to bowl but hopefully the weather can ease off a little bit.

"I don't mind the wind as long as it doesn't get too cloudy."

Defeat would be a huge blow for Australia after leading by 302 runs on the first innings, however the fact New Zealand's last five wickets fell for nine runs in their first innings shows breaking the Tuffey-McCullum partnership could be the key to the match.

"If they get a lead of 150 to 200 anything can happen with Dan (Vettori) in the side, he's the best finger-spinner in the world," Hauritz said.

The Kiwis added 182 runs in 52 overs today for the loss of Vettori (77), who was bowled by Hauritz.

"The mindset was you have five wickets to get," Hauritz said.

"After the first innings Brendon and Daniel are the main wickets to get and we knew if we could break that partnership and get into the tail early with our quicks fresher would have been good.

"Brendon's still in there and they put the pressure back on us.

"A couple of times we were a little undisciplined with our lines but that happens with a big partnership; we have to come out tomorrow and stay patient."

Pace bowlers Doug Bollinger (2-65), Ryan Harris (1-62) and Mitchell Johnson (0-99) all failed to get a wicket on Monday, and the tourists are down an extra quick in this match with injured all-rounder Shane Watson replaced by batsman Phillip Hughes.

- AAP