Adam Parore: NZ must be bold and back themselves

Australia's injury-hit squad for next week's first test should be music to New Zealand's ears.

It doesn't mean New Zealand will win at the Gabba, but it certainly doesn't hurt their prospects.

Break down the losses. Shane Watson is a good batsman at the top of the order, but losing three frontline fast bowlers - Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson and Patrick Cummins - to a range of injuries will be a real concern for Australia.

New Zealand will be smiling, particularly at the absence of the young tyro Cummins, who grabbed six South African wickets and won man of the match at Johannesburg last week.

Traditionally, New Zealand batsmen have problems against serious pace, so taking out Cummins, even though he's raw, is a good result.

What it also means, in a roundabout way, is that the talk will stop of whether Ricky Ponting's career should come to an end.

Ponting has to be in there. Australia need all the experience they can muster.

In any case, Ponting did well in that last test, he's one of the all-time greats, and certainly among Australia's finest players ever.

I've always thought the speculation that the hammer should come down on him was well over the top anyway.

The lead-in to this test now becomes mighty interesting.

Australia are running around, scratching their heads over whom to pick, particularly as their backup quarter of fast-medium bowlers got a towelling from Brendon McCullum in particular as New Zealand made 423 off Australia A yesterday.

New Zealand in turn will be scrabbling about looking for video of the players Australia will pick. While they will be familiar with the usual suspects, there's bound to be one or two picks out of left field, at least to New Zealand eyes.

What they must not do is fall into the trap of being unaware what is coming their way from next Thursday.

Yesterday's events make it even more imperative New Zealand strive hard for the win. If that sounds like the bleedin' obvious, they must now take the initiative, be bold and back themselves.

Whichever Australian side is chosen, it won't be a patch on the halcyon days of Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ponting, Steve and Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

That said, I've yet to see a really poor Australian team. However New Zealand won't have a better opportunity to muster their first win in Australia in 26 years than next week.

Ross Taylor and coach John Wright face one conundrum: do they go for broke and choose five frontline bowlers and drop a batsman, or stick to the tried and trusted formula of six batsmen, wicketkeeper, spinner and three fast-medium bowlers?

I'm inclined to think five bowlers is the way to go, and accept that that is something of a punt.

But you can't have it both ways and on two of New Zealand's recent visits we've had Australia on the run on the first day but been unable to finish the job.

Australia were 108 for five and escaped in 1997; three years ago Tim Southee had them 23 for three. Both tests were lost heavily, so the need for a fifth bowler, particularly in Brisbane, seems apparent to me.

Expect New Zealand to be bowling first, whoever wins the toss.

You always like to test yourself against the best, but beating Australia in a test on their turf trumps any high ideals. A fascinating week lies ahead.