No battle scars, no worries, say Kiwis

New Zealand seamer Kyle Mills dug deep and found an upside to fielding a rookie team against world number one, Australia, in the two-Test series starting in Brisbane this week. “One positive is that there are not too many battle scars from playing Australia,” said Mills of the youthful Kiwis.

“The new team has fresh new faces that haven’t been exposed to them before and the new guys have an element of confidence about them.

“Coming to Australia in the past we’ve had guys who had played the Aussies a few times and knew what to expect.”

Thrashed by six wickets by an even younger “Baby Blues” NSW in their only warm-up match, the Kiwis need to find all the positives they can before the first Test at the Gabba starting on Thursday.

Kiwi coach John Bracewell did his best to lift spirits on Monday when he told reporters he was “confident” injured key player Brendon McCullum (back/foot) would be fit to take on the Aussies.

But it may be only a matter of time before the Kiwi newcomers are familiar with the trauma experienced by past visiting teams.

Ten of the 15-strong Kiwi squad that lobbed in Brisbane have played 10 Tests or less and the pre-tour loss of class allrounder Jacob Oram (back) was a big blow.

Oh, and the Kiwis come up against an Australian side itching to make amends after their 2-0 series loss in India.

Mills tried to put up a brave front today, suggesting that maybe it was a good time to tackle a rebuilding Australian side.

“Take once in a lifetime players like Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne out of their side (and) Australia …are going through a rebuilding phase - we have probably picked them at a reasonably nice time to play them,” he said.

Asked if the Kiwi side were intimidated, Mills said: “I don’t think so.

“But every time you play Australia it is going to be a massive challenge and …these Test matches are the biggest challenge that some of us have faced as a group.

“The media has hit them (Australia) pretty hard upon their arrival (home from India) and probably done us no favours at all.

“But New Zealand love playing Australia in cricket, they are the benchmark - like Aussies playing the All Blacks in rugby who are the pinnacle.”

Mills said critics shouldn’t read anything into their bowling attack’s efforts against NSW on a “low and slow” SCG wicket.

The Kiwis are expected to use three seamers on a bouncy Gabba deck to give themselves extra batting firepower, with teenager Tim Southee tipped to be the quick to miss out.

Besides McCullum, fellow fitness concern Jesse Ryder (virus) also looks set to add welcome batting punch at Brisbane.

Peter Fulton - who along with back-up keeper Gareth Hopkins joined the rest of the squad in Brisbane on Monday - is expected to be the extra batsman added to the Test line-up.

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