McCullum Praises Fight To The Finish

The Black Caps have asked questions until the end before falling to a three wicket defeat to Australia in the third and final test in Adelaide.

The tourists hauled in the 187 run target late on the third night, despite Trent Boult taking figures of five for 60.

Captain Brendon McCullum is praising his bowlers efforts as they tried to defend the total.

"They kept coming in, even when they needed 8 runs with 5 wickets in hand. Looked around the field and guys still believed, you can't ask for that. It has to come from within."

Black Caps paceman Trent Boult said they toiled away with the small total to defend.

"We definitely left as much as we could out there on the field. Obviously a few more runs would have been handy, who knows what would have been possible."

Australian captain Steve Smith said it was a close run thing.

"It was obviously a tight finish, it was great for the game of cricket, the last couple of days have been amazing."

The Black Caps skipper said day-night tests were an experiment that worked.

"I think it was a raging success, albeit with a few challenges that need to be worked out. But I think overall it was a really good test match."

However, Nigel Llong's umpiring howler has defined test.

Llong's decision not to give Nathan Lyon out caught despite evidence showing on Hotspot allowed Australia to turn the game.

McCullum said it took momentum away from them.

"You hope they're not as costly as that one was, but jeez I would have loved an extra 80 runs there when we had them seven down."

"But that's cricket, credit to Australia who took that opportunity when it was presented, and that's how the game works."

Australian vice-captain David Warner was named player of the series.

The Black Caps now return home to prepare for the first test against Sri Lanka starting on December 10 in Dunedin.

Radio Sport