Steve Waugh: Black Caps even money chance of beating Australia

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh believes the Black Caps are an even money chance of upsetting the hosts this summer. Photo/Getty.

Former Australian captain Steve Waugh believes the Black Caps are an even money chance of upsetting their trans-Tasman rivals this summer.

With Australia's top order far from settled just nine days out from the first test at The Gabba in Brisbane, Waugh issued a warning to Australian fans to not take New Zealand lightly.

The 50-year-old insists the Black Caps are much better than their sixth place on the ICC test rankings suggest and believes they will prove more than a match for the host nation.

"New Zealand are way better than sixth, it's not six versus two," Waugh told the Sydney Morning Herald.

"They'd be quietly confident of winning this series. There will be two evenly matched sides in this first Test. It could go either way.

"If we beat them, that's a good series win. They have a great opportunity to do well. They would see this as the best chance since 1985 when [Richard] Hadlee and the great New Zealand team beat Australia. They're an all-round quality team."

Australia will look to finalise their selections following a round of Sheffield Shield matches starting on Wednesday, with Waugh saying the competition between Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle for the third fast bowling spot could go either way.

Waugh scoffed at reports suggesting selectors were reluctant to play left-arm pace men Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson in the same side, describing such an idea as "gibber".

"I don't care if you've got four left-arm quicks, you put them all in," Waugh said. "It doesn't matter to me. I think it's always been overstated. I just don't believe in that old wives tale."

As for the batsmen, Waugh is backing Western Australia coach Justin Langer's belief in Cameron Bancroft as an opener, while the 168-test veteran believes Shaun Marsh would be more effective higher in the order as he is not a good "watcher and waiter" before batting.