Boxing Day Test

New Zealand wilted in the Melbourne heat at the MCG, where Australia wrapped up a crushing 247-run win on day four of the second Test on Sunday.

Blundell rallied for the Black Caps, celebrating his second Test hundred in three matches with a resilient 121 runs, but he had no support from his team-mates after Nathan Lyon (4-81) and James Pattinson (3-35) starred.

Marnus Labuschagne (1-11) ended Blundell's unforgettable innings late in the evening as Australia only required nine wickets to skittle New Zealand for 240 – Trent Boult not batting due to a fractured finger.

The culture warriors are circling their wagons around January 26 as Australia Day and draping themselves in the flag, even though it was almost ignored until the bicentennial year of 1988.

The public holiday associated with our national day was generally allocated to the Monday nearest the actual date, and my youthful memories were of it being observed with vastly less solemnity than Anzac Day.

Maddinson has scored zero, one and four in his three test innings since making his debut against South Africa in Adelaide, and his place in the team had been in question following the decision to call all-rounder Hilton Cartwright into the squad.

Smith, however, said Maddinson would play at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Monday as his fast bowling trio of Josh Hazlewood, Mitchell Starc and Jackson Bird had recovered well after a heavy workload in the first test in Brisbane.

Khawaja has missed Australia's past two Tests with a hamstring strain and must prove himself fit in Sydney Thunder's Big Bash League clash with Melbourne Stars if he is to be included in the Test XI for Boxing Day at the MCG.

He said he was confident of being ready to take on West Indies at the MCG from next Saturday and expected to know exactly where he stood following Sunday's hit-out in Melbourne.

"If there's one thing that gets real sore after a T20 game, it's my hamstring," Khawaja said.