Australia paceman Mitchell Johnson has dismissed suggestions an under-prepared Gabba pitch is to blame for the fall of 26 wickets in the first two days of the first Test against New Zealand.

After posting a first-innings score of 214, the home side rolled the Black Caps for 156 on the eve of tea today only to be reduced to 131 for six by stumps in a day which saw 16 players out.

Damaging storms and heavy rainfall hampered Gabba curator Kevin Mitchell Jnr's opportunities to tend to the wicket in the lead-up to the match, with the covers in place for the majority of the week before.

But Johnson insists the pitch does not have the feel of a typical four-day Sheffield Shield wicket, claiming questionable shot selection and excellent bowling from both sides were to blame for the plethora of wickets.

"Some of the guys commented on the wicket on day one and said it was definitely better than a Shield wicket," he said.

"I just think there's been some good bowling and some bad shots, it's been Test cricket.

"I think they bowled pretty well today and we bowled pretty well also, I don't think it has that Sheffield Shield feel about it.

"There is enough for the bowlers if they get it in the right spots... it's definitely coming on to the bat."

Johnson was unsure what to make of a "busy" day, but felt the advantage was well and truly with the Australians, who boast an overall lead of 189 runs.

"I think we're ahead, so we're in a good position," he said.

"Obviously we'd want to get somewhere around 250, or even more.

"We stuck together as a bowling unit and we're sticking together as a batting team. We still have a lot of batting to go in our order.

"Everyone's pretty positive in the dressing rooms. Obviously we would have liked to have lost fewer wickets, but that's the way things are."

Johnson produced his best Test figures ever of four for 30 and had a golden opportunity to claim a maiden five-wicket haul and a hat-trick when he was bowling to New Zealand number 11 Chris Martin, who has a Test average of 2.38 and 23 ducks to his name.

Stuart Clark wrapped up the Black Caps innings soon after Johnson failed to claim his fifth scalp and the missed chance of personal glory was not lost on the left-arm seamer.

"Yeah, I just can't hit the stumps, that's my problem," he joked.

"This is the second time in a month I've had a chance to get a five-for, I think I just tensed up a little bit again and tried a little too hard.

"It was probably the perfect opportunity to get a hat-trick and a five-for, but it didn't happen."