Bracewell considers team changes

The New Zealand coach John Bracewell will consider the last-minute call-ups Peter Fulton and Gareth Hopkins for Thursday's first Test against Australia following the team's disappointing warm-up form. The tourists were dismissed for 266 and 256 in the six-wicket loss to New South Wales and their preparations were hurt further with foot and back injuries to the wicketkeeper Brendon McCullum and a virus to Jesse Ryder.

Bracewell expects McCullum, who was cleared of a foot fracture, to be fit - "He'll be uncomfortable, but he'll tough it out" - while Ryder recovered enough to take part in New Zealand's second innings. "There are certainly places open," Bracewell said in Sydney. "We're now at a full squad with Hopky and Pete coming over, and we'd be foolish not to bring them into the mix of selection.

"Given that they've had a bit of weather up there [in Brisbane], we'll need to have a look at the surface and take a lot of things into consideration before we make our final decision."

Brisbane was hit by fierce storms on Sunday night and more rain is expecting during the week, increasing the prospects of a pace-friendly pitch. With the conditions likely to offer movement, Bracewell hoped his swing bowlers could gain an advantage over Australia's in-to-the-wicket operators.

"I'd like to think that, but we have to get up there and see how it goes first," he said. "Our guys are swing bowlers, there's no doubt about it, and over the last couple of years they've bowled very well in swinging conditions. But having said that, Brett Lee at pace when he swings it is a handful in any conditions."

New Zealand have not beaten the hosts in Australia since 1985-86, when they won the series 2-1, and Bracewell knows the difficulties his side faces over the next two weeks. "A win against any Australian side is precious," he said. "It's our Everest, there's no doubt about that. The guys are looking forward to it.

"They are rightly nervous, and at times anxious, because that's what you get when you face your biggest challenge in cricket. I'm not discouraging that. As they say: 'Get the butterflies flying in the right order and in formation.'"