The New Zealand batting order, and Australia's Philip Hughes, proved their abysmal form in Brisbane were no one-offs with further abject displays on the first day of the second Test in Hobart. Sent in by Michael Clarke on a greentop the Black Caps capitulated for the third time in as many innings, staggering to 150 and failing to reach even the tea interval.

In reply, the pattern of a Kiwi collapse prompting Phil Hughes to edge Chris Martin to Martin Guptill continued. The under pressure opener lasted just five balls against his nemesis before he repeated the manner of dismissal of both Brisbane innings. Australia closed a rain-shortened day on 1/12.

Hughes will hog the headlines but that should not overshadow New Zealand's top order failings - which are embarrassing. Even more so considering the expectations and reputations this top five brought into the series. That same quintet now possesses the 3rd lowest collective top-five series average of all time (9.66).

Three New Zealanders played-on, the captain was dismissed offering no shot and Chris Martin may as well not have been there for all the effort he put into the solitary delivery he faced. If this was a boxing match the referee would have stepped in at lunch to save New Zealand further punishment.

As much as the Kiwis have been the architects of their own downfall in this series so far, Australia's bowlers have still had to perform. James Pattinson again starred, claiming 5/51, his second five-for in just his second Test. He is now a decent performance at the MCG away from joining Rodney Hogg and Clarrie Grimmett as the only Australians to take five-fors in their first three Tests.

Pattinson, brim-full of confidence, was too much for New Zealand to handle. In seaming, swinging conditions the Victorian was too quick and accurate often enough to claim the match ball. His more senior Dandenong Cricket Club partner, Peter Siddle, again aided him with his early line and length setting the tone.

It was Siddle who made the first breakthrough, forcing Guptill into edging behind with the ninth ball of the match. It took just another nine balls for Jesse Ryder to come and go, sent on his way on review, lbw to Pattinson. Ross Taylor gave the impression he knew what he was doing until he left a Siddle delivery that hit his back leg and proved, on review, to be hitting the top of off.

Mitchell Starc, who failed to impress in bowler-friendly conditions, took the wicket of Kane Williamson. His promising innings ended with a strangled catch down the leg-side that Haddin did well to collect.

The following over Haddin's gloves signalled the end for Brendon McCullum, the victim of the kind of ball from Pattinson that should get Australian fans excited. The delivery tailed in, kissed a fullish good length and then ripped away off the seam, coaxing the hitherto becalmed opener into edging behind. Reece Young played on to Pattinson later that same over as New Zealand limped to lunch 6/83.

The carnage continued in the afternoon with Doug Bracewell edging Siddle to Clarke and Tim Southee playing Starc onto his stumps.

Again, as in both innings in Brisbane, Dean Brownlie was the only batsman seemingly capable of holding his own against Australia's attack. He accumulated a tidy 56 before he also succumbed to dismissal by self-deflection. Pattinson celebrated Brownlie's wicket with the relish one would expect from an opening bowler with four wickets to his name and aware Chris Martin was the next man in. The youngster duly slanted his next delivery full and through the tailender's hopeless waft to earn the right to hold the ball aloft.

The tenth New Zealand wicket brought about tea, which brought about rain. The interval served only to heighten the pressure on Phil Hughes, who took guard against Chris Martin with all the confidence of Chris Martin facing Phil Hughes. A streaky edge through the packed gully region eased the left-hander off the mark but by his fifth delivery Hughes could resist the urge to feed Guptill no more.

Regardless of how many runs Hughes accumulates in Australia's second innings (if indeed they require a second innings) for his own sake he has to be returned to Shield cricket and the opportunity to regain confidence with his own idiosyncratic technique.

Rain arrived to force the players off just a few overs after tea, with Usman Khawaja and David Warner surviving a testing spell from Martin and Trent Boult. Boult was added to the New Zealand XI in place of Daniel Vettori, sidelined prior to the match with a hamstring injury.

Thursday was again Pattinson's day. David Warner has a golden opportunity to make Friday, and a long-term spot at the top of the Australian order, his.