Marnus Labuschagne reached a double century to inflict more pain on New Zealand in the third Sydney Test on Saturday.

The rock-solid number three sweated on 199 for 20 minutes before he thick edged Colin de Grandhomme through the vacant slips to the ropes to bring up his double ton.




The double hundred came off 346 balls and eclipsed his previous Test record of 185 against Pakistan in Brisbane last November.

Labuschagne was Test cricket's leading run-getter last year with 1,104 runs and is carrying on where he left off in 2019.

Australia pushed their total to 403 for five with his double century, piling more misery on New Zealand who are much affected by injuries.

After making five changes for this match, four of which were for illness or injury, New Zealand's tour took another blow with seamer Matt Henry breaking his thumb. He sustained the injury early on the first day while attempting to field a drive from Joe Burns.

Henry will continue to bowl as the injury is to his non-bowling hand, but he was seen wearing a splint under heavy strapping when play commenced Saturday. He will only bat depending on the tourist's situation in the match.

Despite the latest setback, Saturday's first session was New Zealand's best in the field with spinner Will Somerville bowling Matt Wade (22) in the first over the morning, before Henry had Travis Head caught behind for 10.

The Kiwis bowled a tight, straight line which Australia struggled to score off regularly and lost wickets in trying to play expansive strokes to deliveries that were too straight.