TARGET HUGHES AND PONTING
Martin Crowe was New Zealand captain when the team last beat Australia in 1993 at Eden Park. He has played in five of New Zealand's seven test wins against them, 1974 and 1990 being the exceptions.
He says there are two areas New Zealand needs to focus on: "Observing the first test in Cape Town where Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander carved them up in the first innings, they've got to target Phil Hughes and Ricky Ponting in the top order. "Hughes has a tendency to have a go early and Ponting is coming down from his peak [he made his last test hundred in January 2010 and his last 50 came a year ago against England at Brisbane].
"I'd pour my energy into getting tapes of them and working out sound bowling plans. Get those two cheaply and you get form players like Clarke, [Shaun] Marsh and Hussey in early with a newer ball."
Depending on Jesse Ryder's fitness, Crowe can also see a place for Rob Nicol to balance the New Zealand side: "If you bat Nicol at five, he's capable of facing the second new ball as an experienced domestic opener because they're going to need a first innings in excess of 400 and probably 450.
He's also a better off-spinner than Martin Guptill or Kane Williamson. "That way you bring Tim Southee in for Jeetan Patel without losing Doug Bracewell. Andy McKay and Trent Boult are back-up options."
SWING THE BALL AT PACE
Former test opener Bruce Edgar, who has spent the last seven years coaching in the Australian system, says opting for swing bowling at pace is his preferred weapon.
"They need to look at what England did here last summer. Just swing the ball like Jimmy Anderson did [on his way to being top wicket-taker with 24 at 26.04]," he says. "Some push the philosophy all you need to do is produce 140-145km/h bowlers but the Australian wickets are not as bouncy as they used to be. "Brisbane can swing and seam, especially in the humidity; there is good carry but you have to give yourself the extra advantage with swing.
"Then you have to bowl in partnerships, like Anderson did with Tim Bresnan, Chris Tremlett and Graeme Swann, consistently building pressure. You don't want medium pace at 120km/h." Crowe agrees: "Swing bowling at pace is the right option. In Zimbabwe, Chris Martin was bowling a fraction too short and wasn't getting his usual inswing."
Edgar, who is understood to be among candidates for the New Zealand Cricket chief executive job, says the average Australian fan is complacent. "Australians are scoffing at the New Zealand result against Zimbabwe but the pitch at Bulawayo was a road and it was always going to be hard to get wickets.
I think it's a good thing they fought hard; they hung in and suddenly Zimbabwe lost wickets. "One player the New Zealanders need to be wary of is 18-year-old right arm fast bowler Patrick Cummins [who narrowly missed selection for the opening South Africa test]. He is one of the most natural speedsters I've seen. He has a good head on him, he's naturally gifted and hopefully they won't bowl him into the ground." Cummins is the youngest player to be contracted under the current system introduced in 1998 and topped the Big Bash League averages last summer.
LISTEN TO THE COACH
Former Australian coach and player Bob Simpson (see more on him in top comebacks p68-69) says New Zealand's players must tap into the wisdom of their coach. Eleven years ago, Simpson (now 75) suggested John Wright would be an ideal coach of India and so it proved. He says the New Zealand players just need to listen.
"He has the passion that can rub off on to the lads. He wasn't the most talented player but he made the most of his talents, which included spending time gleaning information from our dressing room. "After speaking to John recently and catching the odd glimpse of his team's progress, I'm sure the same applies," he says. "I've seen John coach in India and England; he has a special ability to communicate with players."
