Test cricket NZ v Oz: We can win this

Ross Taylor. Photo / Christine Cornege

One point came through loud and clear at the Gabba yesterday: the time for talking is over.

New Zealand are itching to roll the sleeves up and get stuck in when the first transtasman test starts here today.

Their record in Australia is poor; just two test victories in 26 attempts, but without getting too far ahead of themselves, they are right to be optimistic this week.

Consider that Australia have been shorn of five frontline test players through injury. Combine that with New Zealand's conviction that they have dotted i's and crossed t's in their preparation. But there is only so much preamble one can take.

As senior fast bowler Chris Martin put it yesterday "the conversations and chat tends to get a bit much after a while. You just want to get out and play. That's how everyone's feeling at the moment."

Australia, too, have reasons to be up for the challenge, with a host of new faces champing at the bit to get their test opportunity.

As ever at the Gabba, there is a keen sense of anticipation for the first session today.

Australia's first instinct is always to bat should they win the toss; New Zealand's much less so.

Who does what could well hinge not so much on the pitch, which both camps like the look of, as overhead conditions.

Plenty of cloud cover this morning will persuade New Zealand of the merits of bowling, and trying to make dents in an Australian top order, which includes a debutant opener, David Warner, and a No 3 batsman, Usman Khawaja, with just four tests behind him.

The best of the pitch is expected to be on days two and three, but this is one ground which invariably gives seamers rewards if they are smart with their work.

New Zealand have chosen their XI but won't name it until shortly before the start. Left arm swing bowler Trent Boult seems the likely drinks carrier.

Australia, too, have chosen their team, but are keeping mum until today.

They are expected to play their offspinner Nathan Lyon - who has played just five tests and had not been to the Gabba until this week - and omit one of their three uncapped seamers, with left armer Mitchell Starc the tip to miss out.

Clarke hit the mark yesterday in assessing the important elements of playing well in Brisbane, a venue at which Australia haven't lost a test in 23 years. "The key to having success in these conditions against good opposition is execution and discipline," he said.

"New Zealand have some really talented individual players, they've obviously flying high on confidence and I've said all along we have to be at our best to beat them."

Yesterday, as the New Zealand team peered at the grassy strip as if searching for hidden meaning, coach John Wright carefully measured out six paces from one end and stopped. That is the length the seamers must hit to pressure Australia's batsmen.

And for all the talk about the importance of seeing out the first period when the ball is new and hard, this is a ground where batsmen can prosper once they get settled in.

"Batting at the Gabba you get value for your shots and bowlers get value if they bowl in the right areas," Taylor said.

New Zealand won't lack inspiration, although Taylor is reluctant to speculate on this being their best chance of victory here since 1985.

"Every time you play Australia you don't need any more motivation ... they know the conditions and I'm sure they'll come at us hard."

Nothing is surer. Anticipation could scarcely be higher.

AUSTRALIA V NZ

Brisbane, today from 1pm (NZT)
Umpires: Asad Rauf and Aleem Dar (both Pakistan)
Australia: Michael Clarke (c), David Warner, Phil Hughes, Usman Khawaja, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, Nathan Lyon, Ben Cutting, James Pattinson, Mitchell Starc (one to be omitted)
New Zealand: Ross Taylor (c), Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Jesse Ryder, Dean Brownlie, Dan Vettori, Reece Young, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Chris Martin (one to be omitted).