Goodbye, Africa ... hello Australia

Kane Williamson. Photo / AP

With New Zealand now out of Africa, and the home international cricket season revealed, thoughts turn to Brisbane.

To suggest the opening test of five against Australia this summer is eagerly awaited is like suggesting Kane Williamson can bat a bit.

It will be four years since the last transtasman test - far too long. It's a good thing New Zealand Cricket and Cricket Australia have rectified that with plans for eight Chappell Hadlee ODI series in the next seven years.

Okay, it's not test cricket but you'd far rather have it than not.

Australia have lost the Ashes and now go to Bangladesh for two tests in October as final warmup for New Zealand. Dhaka and Chittagong won't exactly replicate playing conditions at the Gabba and what say new skipper Steven Smith's reign strikes a bum note from the start?

Australia will arrive home with 13 days to prepare for Brisbane. Down the years it has been Australia's banker, the one venue where they seemed to have a lock on victory.

They last lost at the Gabba in 1988, to the West Indies. Since then, they have won 19 and drawn seven of 26 tests there.

They are sure to be changed significantly in personnel, but what of New Zealand? How might their XI for Brisbane on November 5 look?

A quick recap. After having minds turning to limited-overs cricket " New Zealand's last 15 internationals have been of the 50 or 20-over variety " 11 ODIs, 4 T20s, seven won, eight lost.

It's been three months since New Zealand played a test, a 199-run smoking of England at Leeds.

Players returning from South Africa will get a couple of weeks off, then begin a conditioning programme to be ready for Australia. They have a couple of warmup games, including a four-dayer in Sydney, before they travel to Brisbane.

There, they will find a pitch with good bounce and help for the seamers but one where plenty of runs are available.

Just for fun, it's worth glancing back at the last New Zealand team to play a test in Australia, the fondly-remember seven-run win in Hobart. Those who are certainties for the Gabba, or at least in the frame, from that XI are captain Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Tim Southee, Trent Boult (who made his debut in that match as a late replacement for the injured Dan Vettori) and Doug Bracewell.

Gone for a range of reasons are Jesse Ryder, Dean Brownlie, Reece Young and Chris Martin.

Australia, incidentally, could field six survivors, depending on the selectors whims with what is shaping as a new-look batting group - David Warner, Usman Khawaja, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and Nathan Lyon.

The most significant decisions for coach Mike Hesson and his new selection sidekick Gavin Larsen will likely be over a middle-order position and the third seamer.

The top five batsmen pick themselves, but who to put at No 6? In the last test at Leeds, Luke Ronchi made a spectacular debut with the bat, and kept because BJ Watling was restricted in his movement.

Watling would be there for his batting alone but Ronchi's batting form has deserted him.

Either Jimmy Neesham - two test tons and good numbers in the long game - or Corey Anderson will get the nod. Fitness might count.

Both have had recent layoffs. Neesham's averages, with bat and ball (43 and 32) are significantly superior to those of Anderson.

Several contenders have a chance of becoming wingman for Southee and Boult. Matt Henry was it in Leeds but Bracewell is a chance, as is left-armer Neil Wagner.

Possible NZ XI
A possible New Zealand XI, fitness permitting, might be: Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum, Jimmy Neesham, BJ Watling, Mark Craig, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell, Trent Boult.