Cricket: Past losses won't bother Black Caps

Jimmy Neesham. Photo / Mark Mitchell

The inability of New Zealand to have won a test series in Australia since 1985 won't be preying on the minds of the current touring squad heading into the first test at the Gabba next week.

In 1985, the Richard Hadlee-inspired New Zealanders beat Australia 2-1, but since then the only success has been a win in Hobart four years ago, in the most recent transtasman test. However in fairness, that coincided with a period of outstanding success for Australia, who had a solid core of world class players.

"Not at all," allrounder Jimmy Neesham said today when asked if it was in the backs of the New Zealanders' minds.

"We hadn't won a one-day series in South Africa before I'd started playing and we've knocked that one off.

"We seem to be going about ways of breaking new ground for New Zealand cricket over the last couple of years. Trying to do something that hasn't been done before, or for a long time, doesn't really play on our minds."

Neesham backed the decision to trim the match against a Cricket Australia XI, starting in Sydney tomorrow, from four to three days.

New Zealand will head to Brisbane on Sunday to get in an extra day's preparation in conditions far more likely to mirror what they'll find at the Gabba when the test starts next Thursday.

''We've discussed it and decided to downplay the fact of the bounce in Brisbane," Neesham said.

''We have the Basin Reserve at home which has similar characteristics. Baz (captain Brendon McCullum) talked the other day about not getting overawed about the fact it will be quick and bouncy and treat it as another game in Wellington."

Neesham admitted Australia's record at Brisbane - not having lost a test there since 1988 - was "a little overawing" but the priority is to look after what New Zealand are doing rather than fret over what Australia might do.

"The main thing is to look after ourselves. We know we have a strong team, and settled unit, and if we play the way we can, it should put us in good stead."

New Zealand's recent consistency in form - they have won four and drawn three of their last seven series - is down to that settled squad, he said.

"When you're playing side by side with the same guys day in day out you get to a point when you are more consistent with your results. I suppose that's an accolade to Hess (coach Mike Hesson) and the selectors have to take for keeping faith with the guys."