Just the right time, then, for the Mitchells, Johnson and Starc to be zinging the ball at New Zealand's batsmen, at a significantly faster pace than their batsmen faced.
With the exception of Tim Southee, New Zealand's bowlers leaked like a dodgy tap. That said, David Warner and co were outstanding.
Warner's demeanour and utterances may not be to universal taste, but he played it smart.
There was the occasional scare, almost yorked by Trent Boult early, then twice beaten comprehensively by the same bowler just after lunch.
But once he had his eye in, and the measure of the bowlers, he was remorseless in compiling his 13th test hundred, and second against New Zealand.
It took a one-handed stunner at first slip above his head by Ross Taylor to cut Warner off with a maiden double test ton in his sights.
Wicketkeeper BJ Watling insisted the lean preparation for the first test was not a factor in a dismal opening day.
New Zealand arrived in Brisbane on the back of a day-nighter and a two-day game in Canberra before having their first-class match in Sydney called off due to a poor pitch before having batted.
The upshot is that New Zealand's bowlers have collectively conceded 892 runs for three wickets in consecutive first-class innings on tour.
"We had good preparation here, Cricket Australia put us up at Allan Border Oval (in Brisbane) and we got good use out of the Gabba nets," Watling said.
"We didn't manage to control the innings as we would have liked.
"Tim (Southee) bowled some outstanding spells, but we didn't back it up with good partnerships.
"We missed our lengths at times and didn't hang in there for long enough when they put pressure on us."
Watling conceded Boult ''wouldn't be too happy with his rewards (none for 90 off 19 overs), but it's a good time for him to learn an rectify his mistakes for the upcoming tests".
New Zealand had seen Joe Burns and Usman Khawaja as potential weak links. Burns 71, Khawaja 102 not out. So that plan worked a treat.
Burns, who showed a liking for cutting and pulling which New Zealand seemed slow to recognise, was circumspect and beaten twice early by Southee.
But he quickly developed a taste for Mark Craig's offspin, as did Khawaja later, and has now made half centuries in his last three innings.
Khawaja looked more organised after a two-year absence from the test team, his footwork an asset. No Chris Rogers, Shane Watson or Michael Clarke? No problem, on today's evidence anyway.
For Khawaja, recalled after a two-year absence from the test side, the day was ''unreal" as he reflected on a maiden century.
The lefthander looked out of his depth against New Zealand four years ago and was ditched in 2013. However a move to Queensland paid off. He made his first first-class hundred at the Gabba too, and looked right at home.
''It's a really nice wicket and it's easy to play positively for that reason."
Warner was wearing a black armband to acknowledge the recent of an uncle from liver cancer. A seasoned campaigner, he knows the drill in the opening hours of a test in Brisbane.
''It's always hard and challenging. We had to try and negate the swing early on. We found they were bowling a fraction too short.
''We knew if we could grind away and bring their strike bowlers back it would make it easier at the end of the day."
Warner struck New Zealand captain Brendon McCullum a fierce blow on his side at one point, fielding in close on the offside when spinner Mark Craig was bowling.
''I asked him if he wanted to get a helmet. When you get a half tracker you try and definitely miss that player. I got him good, but apologized straight away," Warner said.
With the possible exception of the injured Corey Anderson, this is New Zealand's best test lineup, so there's no excuses.
Today's events threw a harsh light on New Zealand's bowling depth.
Take out Southee and Boult, who looked underdone, and New Zealand are staring at long hours in the field in this series.
Craig had a chat to former Australian oddball allrounder Greg Matthews in the middle of the Gabba on Wednesday. It didn't do much good.
If things aren't going your way, the bowling group must be able to at least tighten the screw, make the batsmen work for their runs. Collectively that didn't happen.
No catches were spilled and while Brendon McCullum rattled through his bowling options, all six having been used by the 26th over, it was largely perspiration rather than inspiration.
At one point in the morning, McCullum had a 8-1 field - eight fielders on the offside, one on the leg - with Southee bowling to Warner, before suddenly switching to a 4-5 setting in the same over.
It had a whiff of over-stretching to try and make something happen. To rub it in, Warner duly planted the next all through the near vacant offside.
Today produced the highest first-day score in a test at Brisbane, eclipsing Australia's 364 for two against England in 2002.
New Zealand needed to have a hard think last night about what lies ahead.
SCOREBOARD
WAGONWHEEL
MANHATTAN
