Cricket: Aussies eyeing transtasman shootout

Australia coach Darren Lehmann is looking forward to renewing rivalries with Brendon McCullum. Photo / Getty

It's been a record-breaking summer of runs for Australia but a transtasman pace shootout is on the cards in February.

David Warner, Joe Burns, Usman Khawaja, Steve Smith and Adam Voges have all fired against New Zealand and West Indies.

The day-night Test was played on a grassy pitch but otherwise it's been docile decks this summer.

The expectation is Australia's next major assignment will be played on wickets more closely resembling what they encountered at Edgbaston and Trent Bridge this year.

Martin Guptill's astonishing knock in Christchurch on Monday will rightly grab headlines. However, NZ's attack gave a reminder of what they're capable of by skittling Sri Lanka for just 117 in the ODI.

The match was played at Hagley Oval, which will host the second match of Australia's upcoming two-Test tour.

New-ball pairing Trent Boult and Tim Southee were rested, with the Black Caps keen to make sure they're cherry ripe for Australia's visit.

NZ recently completed a 2-0 Test series win over Sri Lanka, including a 193-run win on a green seamer at Wellington's Basin Reserve.

"New Zealand is going to be different to Australia obviously," Australia coach Darren Lehmann said.

"We've got to make sure the players can play in all conditions. The wickets will probably seam a lot more."

Team performance guru Pat Howard predicted as much at the end of this year's Ashes.

"We know we're going to get these same wickets in New Zealand," Howard said.

Peter Siddle, speaking to AAP last week, admitted he'd watched bits and pieces of the recent Test action in NZ.

Siddle was excited about the potential of bowling-friendly conditions.

But the veteran added he would cross the Tasman with an open mind.

"You can't really worry about it until you actually turn up at the ground and see what's been dished up," he said.

"I've been to England many times when we thought we were going to get green wickets and instead rocked up to dry, turning wickets.

"We'll worry about the series here against West Indies then once we get over there we'll start looking at that."

-AAP