Cricket: Black Caps batsmen told to embrace the pace of the WACA

Mitchell Starc bowls during day four of the First Test match between Australia and New Zealand at The Gabba. Photo / Getty Images

Black Caps' batting coach Craig McMillan has a message to his charges as they prepare to face the heat of Australia's quick bowlers on the lively Waca pitch in the second test starting today.

For all the chest thumping talk of the likes of Australia's coach Darren Lehmann about wanting to see New Zealand's batsmen squirm against Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson, McMillan says the pace of the pitch can work to the batsmens' advantage.

"You get full value for your shots," former international batsman McMillan said.

"Pace is not something to be feared. It's to be excited by and encouraged. It's just about adjusting, and the fact Starc and Johnson are pretty much above 140 (km/h) all the time, that is a slight adjustment."

And for all the Waca's feared reputation for turning batsmen twitchy against true quicks, McMillan, who played two tests and an ODI in Perth, reckons it is more akin to the Gabba pitch in Brisbane, the scene of Australia's 208-run first test win.

He didn't exactly give it the "it's a load of old cobblers" line but did hint that the Waca legend was much different from the modern day reality.

"Perhaps it has a longer history in terms of that (pace and bounce), which is part of the fairytale story that gets related every time there's a test in Perth.

"The practice wickets are a lot quicker than in the middle, so that will be good for the guys. I remember them being the quickest I batted on anywhere in the world.

"Get through them, if they're comfortable on them, then being out in the middle won't offer any challenges."

McMillan acknowledged being one-down in a series is nothing new for this squad - in the United Arab Emirates and England within the past year for starters - but believes their ability to rebound quickly points to character and desire to show they are better than the previous result would indicate.

"Generally they adjust very quickly to conditions and opposition. Sometimes in first tests we've been a bit slow to do that.

"But there's no doubt the guys will be better off for the time spent out in the middle. I think they will be more confident from a mental side.

"We've got a lot of smart cricketers in this side. They tend to work things out pretty quickly."

Seamer Tim Southee, assessing his sore back, had a light workout in the nets at the WACA today and came through comfortably. On a day where practice was optional, only Southee, who needed to, and Kane Williamson, who doesn't but rarely misses a chance to net, took up the opportunity.

It means today will be the only practice session between the tests for most of the squad. Neil Wagner and Mitchell McClenaghan had a bowling session at local club Melville on Tuesday.

Williamson is sure to be a focus for Australia after his 140/59 double in Brisbane.

"I didn't realise what a good player he is," Johnson said last night.

"He can play all of the shots. He looked good in defence and it is a really good challenge and I am really looking forward to playing him out here on a ground that I really enjoy bowling on and really test myself against him."