Black Caps Eye Australia's Pace Threat

The time for talk is nearly over with the forecast good for Day One of the test cricket series between the Black Caps and Australia.

It's expected to be a hard, fast and slightly green Gabba wicket, which will suit Australia's pacemen Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazelwood and Mitchell Johnson.

Australian captain Steve Smith says they feel they've got the wood over the Black Caps, after their success at this year's world cup.

"We got ten wickets twice for a hundred and fifty and a hundred and eighty so we know how they play, they're gonna come out and play shots which I think will play into our hands nicely."

Black Caps captain Brendon McCullum points out Starc is a big threat, as he showed during this year's World Cup.

"His ability to bowl quick and use his bouncer then follow it up his yorker like we've seen a lot in one-day cricket, and also seen a bit of in test cricket as well, they're pretty decent weapons to have as a quick bowler," McCullum said.

It's also 30 years since Sir Richard Hadlee took 15 wickets in a famous New Zealand win at the Gabba, and McCullum acknowledges it will be difficult for his side to achieve that result.

"If you want to win in Australia, if you want to beat Australia in your own conditions, you don't expect people to hand it to you, you've got to expect to play against good players and against some of the best players in the world."

Play gets underway at 1pm in Brisbane.

Radio Sport