Cricket: Southee excited for Australian test

Senior New Zealand bowler Tim Southee insists feet remain firmly planted on the eve of a potentially exciting test series against Australia. Photo / Getty Images.

Senior New Zealand bowler Tim Southee insists his feet remain firmly planted on the eve of a potentially exciting test series against Australia.

New Zealand flew out to Australia today for a three-test series to whet the appetite of the fans, and for all their encouraging form in the last couple of years, Southee is preaching a down to earth philosophy, while acknowledging it shapes as a strong chance for New Zealand to win a series across the Tasman for the first time since 1985.

Australia have had a raft of changes force on them by post-Ashes retirements, notably in the batting department.

"Yeah, but we've also got to keep our feet on the ground and not get too far ahead of ourselves," Southee said today.

"They're not going to lie down and will be hurting from what happened in England (where the hosts won the Ashes this year). It's a chance for their players to stake claims for the years to come. It's definitely not going to be easy, but there will be some fresh (Australian) faces there."

Southee hopes New Zealand have earned a modicum of respect from their opponents for their recent record. They have not lost a test series in the last seven - which have produced four series wins and three draws.

"I guess we've earned a little more respect with the way we've played cricket in the last couple of years. I think we can take a little bit of credit for that."

The last time New Zealand were in Australia in late 2011 they split a two-test series, well beaten in Brisbane then pulling off a thrilling seven-run win in Hobart.

"We had a little taste of victory in Hobart and a lot of the guys will have fond memories. It's crossed everyone's mind what will happen (if New Zealand win this series) but a strength of this side is it takes each day as it comes."