Ashes angst on the minds of NZ, Australia

Australia's catastrophic collapses during the 2015 Ashes are on the minds of both Australia and New Zealand ahead of the first Test in Wellington.

Michael Clarke.

Australia's collapses during the 2015 Ashes are on the minds of both teams ahead of the first Test. (AAP)

Australia aren't the only side vowing to learn lessons from the 2015 Ashes, with Brendon McCullum out to follow England's successful template in that series.

The two-Test trans-Tasman series that starts in Wellington on Friday has been billed as Australia's greatest challenge since last year's tour of England.

Skipper Steve Smith is at the helm of a squad that is significantly different.

Mitchell Starc is sidelined with an ankle injury, while Michael Clarke, Chris Rogers, Mitchell Johnson, Shane Watson and Brad Haddin have all retired.

But there are more than a few similarities in the challenge ahead.

Most notably, batting will be incredibly difficult.

The winner of Friday's toss at the Basin Reserve is fully expected to put the opposition in, given the green pitch and venue's reputation as a bowlers' paradise.

Trent Boult and Tim Southee are regarded as among the best pacemen in the world, as was the case last year with Jimmy Anderson and Stuart Broad.

NZ play an aggressive brand of cricket under McCullum, the same approach Trevor Bayliss instilled in England's players after being appointed coach in 2015.

The parallels aren't lost on New Zealand's captain.

"The way they played in those seamer-friendly conditions is certainly something we can look at," McCullum said on Thursday.

"We've got a very good bowling line-up who will swing the ball and, if the conditions do favour us, I'm confident we'll ask some tough questions.

"Our batting line-up is pretty similar to England; we've got some strokemakers and some craft players."

Smith, having recently been asked so many questions about his batsmen's ability to adapt in foreign conditions and knuckle down when the ball is doing a bit, noted it was time for action.

"Hopefully, we've learnt from the way we played in England and we can adapt to whatever we're faced with," Smith said.

"It's just about making sure that we can get through that initial period.

"You do have to rein it back in at times ... then if someone bowls a loose ball, you've got to climb into it.

"That's what Test cricket is all about - batting time is key."


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Source: AAP



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