Cricket: Why the Black Caps should be upbeat, and why they should be wary

Kiwi seamer Trent Boult in action with the pink ball. Photo / Getty

David Leggat gives five reasons why the Black Caps should be upbeat, and five reasons to be wary of Australia.

Five reasons New Zealand should be upbeat

1: It's been four years since New Zealand last played their transtasman rivals in a test. Too long, by far. This is a series to savour.

2: The record in the last couple of years suggests now is as good as time as New Zealand will get to have a real crack at a transitioning Australian side.

3: Australia's batting has a vulnerable look to it, up against world class seamers in Trent Boult and Tim Southee. They will be pacing their hotel rooms waiting for their chance.

4: It's said Australia don't really rate opponents until they perform against them, in their back yard. Take note Boult, Southee, Watling, Taylor, McCullum, Guptill, Williamson...

5: A chance to listen to some Australian accents in full voice, and then there's the crowd...

Five reasons New Zealand should be wary

1: Their record, with the last loss at the ground in 1988. It's Australia's banker every home summer. The personnel might be changing, but the self belief will be intact at this ground.

2: New Zealand have won just once at the Gabba, the Hadlee test of 1985. Otherwise they've had some shellackings in a 7-1-1 record in Brisbane.

3: Don't get too far ahead of themselves. They've been taking a lowkey approach but don't seem particularly comfortable at talk from some quarters that they'll start favourites. That's not New Zealand's way against Australia.

4: Australia will head hunt the key New Zealand batsmen, McCullum and Williamson. New Zealand have shown real resilience in the last 18 months in far flung places, but this shapes as the sternest test of their character and skill.

5: The McCullum bashing of the last 24 hours is one of the Aussies' ways of getting themselves up for the fight. Expect them to come hard to bury New Zealand at the start of the rubber.

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