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McCullum magic stands in Australia's way

With backs against the wall in Brisbane the Black Caps would do well to remember February 2014 in Wellington

If New Zealand are to climb their way out of the dark hole they currently find themselves in after four days of this first Test, three of the men likely to play a key role in achieving that unlikely outcome will recall one sweet summer's day in Wellington some 21 months ago.

Back then, they were skittled by India for 192 in their first innings, and subsequently powerless to stop the tourists racking up 438 and setting the platform for victory.

An Indian win – and a resultant 1-1 drawn series – looked an utter formality when the Kiwis slipped to 5-94 in their second innings, still 152 runs shy of even making their opposition bat again.

Enter captain Brendon McCullum, wicketkeeper BJ Watling and a debutant named Jimmy Neesham.

The somewhat unlikely but undeniably effective trio then spent a staggering 162.1 overs batting their side to safety, as McCullum posted New Zealand's first-ever triple hundred, Watling made a second-innings century for the first time in his career and Neesham registered a sparkling 137 not out to announce himself on the international stage.

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Brendon McCullum salutes his triple-ton // Getty

The match was drawn, the series was won, history was made, and if the comments of Tom Latham in today's press conference after play are anything to go by, belief was forever instilled in this Black Caps playing group.

"I certainly think we're in with a chance," Latham said, and incredibly, the opening batsman was talking about winning the Test as opposed to merely saving it.

"The wicket's reasonably flat. It's obviously taking a bit of turn for the right-hander in the footmarks, but I think in general it's still a pretty good wicket.

"The guys are still pretty relaxed. The environment that we've got at the moment, everyone is enjoying their cricket, (we all) stay pretty relaxed and hopefully we can take that into tomorrow and see where the day takes us."

In making 302, McCullum batted for 775 minutes in Wellington, the ninth-longest individual innings in Test history, to once and for all end any suggestions he was merely a T20 basher.

If he can bat half that time tomorrow, his side really will be in with a chance of success.

The first three full days of this Test match saw an average of 379 runs scored.

Tomorrow, New Zealand require a further 362.

If McCullum settles, anything is possible, and he has an ally in Ross Taylor who will have benefited from his 35-ball sighter at the Gabba today.

"That first hour is going to be massive for us," Latham added. "If we can have a solid start and those two boys in at the moment can set a platform for us, then hopefully good things will happen late in the day.

"It's important that (McCullum) goes out and plays his natural game. If he bats for an hour or two, we could certainly be a long way to winning the match."

WATCH: Day four wrap from the Gabba

Among the remaining quartet of recognised Black Caps batsman, only Taylor has posted a fourth-innings century in Tests – a match-saving effort against India in 2009, coincidentally also in Wellington – and off-spinner Nathan Lyon reasoned that while his opponents were indeed in with a chance, he felt comfortable with where the hosts were at as the match enters day five.

"We've got to come out and bowl well," Lyon said. "If we don't bowl well and they get away, they've got two very dangerous bats at the crease, so they're definitely a chance (to win), but I'd like to say the odds are more in Australia's favour, that's for sure.

"If we bowl well, then we win this Test match."