Vettori plays down Australia's struggles

Daniel Vettori still believes beating Australia is "the toughest ask in world cricket" despite the struggles that Ricky Ponting's men have been experiencing in India. New Zealand head to Australia next week to begin preparations for their two-Test tour with a warm-up game against New South Wales in Sydney starting next Thursday.

While New Zealand have just returned from a successful, albeit tighter-than-expected, Test series in Bangladesh, Australia entered their final Test in India with a 1-0 deficit and major question-marks over the potency of their attack. But Vettori, the New Zealand captain, said his team must not read too much into Australia's performance in India.

"They are going to come back pretty strong and they have an exceptional batting lineup," Vettori told NZPA. "Maybe where they have struggled a little bit is that lack of quality spinner. In a place like India, you always get found out with that. In Australia, you may not need that as much, but I still see them as the toughest ask in world cricket."

New Zealand have announced their squad for the first Test in Brisbane and it features five fast bowlers. Chris Martin, who missed the recent tour of Bangladesh due to ongoing hamstring and back problems, is in the 15-man group and is desperate to get some bowling under his belt in the tour match against New South Wales.

"Physically, I feel not too bad," Martin said. "But I know I'm going to have to put myself through a lot more pain in the next two weeks and make sure when I arrive in Brisbane I'm ready to do battle to a certain standard."

Martin is not the only fast man short of overs. Iain O'Brien and Kyle Mills were the new-ball bowlers in Bangladesh but the emphasis on spin during that trip meant Tim Southee and Mark Gillespie, who are also in the squad for the Gabba, will be keen to do some bowling in Sydney.

"I definitely need the bowling in my legs," Martin said. "I think there are a few guys in our side at the moment who are going to need the same thing."

The squad also includes the allrounder Grant Elliott, a likely replacement for Jacob Oram, who was ruled out due to a back injury. Vettori described Oram as the side's best and most important player and the loss of their No. 7 means more batting responsibility will fall on Vettori, who was the second highest run scorer against Bangladesh.

"My theory on captaincy is that you lead with your performance, so I'm putting myself in those positions where I can give myself the most opportunity," Vettori said. "Batting at seven and doing the majority of the bowling is the best way to do that."