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Geoff Lawson: Australia is in for a real challenge

Getty

Getty

Not since Richard Hadlee’s 1985 team arrived in Brisbane with a stack of seam bowlers and some pretty handy batsmen – in the Crowe brothers, Bruce Edgar, John Wright and keeper Ian Smith – have the yearning horizons of New Zealand Test cricket looked so bright.

Brendon McCullum has infused aggression and belief into a team that perennially punches above its weight but often falls short of major victories against Australia.

Coach Mike Hesson works under the radar and his fast bowlers have pace to burn – and some serious batsmen.

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Australia have an enviable record at the Gabba and the match-defining confrontations look to be between the bowling units.

Which batting line-up can make enough runs on a pitch that traditionally has plenty of bounce and under cloudy skies will have the nightmares of the northern Duke massacre revisiting the Aussies?

Mitchell Starc has been in simply irresistible form with various shades of the cricket ball, rapid and hooping the yorker. He’s been disturbing furniture like a bull in an Ikea shop.

Mitchell Johnston is rested and ready, fresh for the summer and recharged to bowl fast.

Getty

Mitchell Starc has been in incredible form for New South Wales recently. Photo: Getty

The choice between Josh Hazlewood and Peter Siddle was interesting.

The New South Welshman offers pace and penetrating bounce whereas Siddle bowls reliable seam up.

But I think Hazlewood’s seven-wicket haul against India in the corresponding Test last year tipped the scales in his favour.

Nathan Lyon will take vital wickets, he always does.

Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Doug Bracewell and all-rounder Jimmy Neesham will appreciate the extra carry and likely sideways movement that has caused much angst among Australian techniques and psyches in recent times.

While Lyon will be the glue that holds the Australian attack, Mark Craig has been putting together some handy all-round numbers of his own.

The off-spinner’s 38 wickets in 10 Tests suggest that, like Lyon, opponents pay the penalty for paying him less than full respect.

The Black Caps’ batting has certainly been resilient in recent times with the penchant for imploding under pressure a rare ghost of the past.

Captain McCullum leads with self-belief and a whirling blade.

I just can’t see this series being defined by extensive periods of attritional cricket.

Steve Smith, too, believes that attack is the best form of defence, and the crowds should prepare for fast-moving scorelines.

The ICC insists it is not investigating Brendon McCullum.

Brendon McCullum is a brilliant top-order batsman. Photo: Getty

Ross Taylor, Kane Williamson, Martin Guptill and BJ Watling form an order that can change gears rapidly and put pressure back on the bowlers.

The key position for Australia looks to be the all-rounder Mitchell Marsh at number six.

He has the opportunity in this series to prove he can be a genuine Test batsman, not just a handy bowler who occasionally contributes with the bat.

Joe Burns also has his Test career in his own hands.

The first Test promises much for fans and players alike on a pitch which relinquishes few draws.

This will be a close series.

I’m tipping that in three weeks’ time, we’ll see a pink-ball decider in the Adelaide twilight.

And that will certainly be worth watching.

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