Former Australia fast bowler Hughes has warned that New Zealand tend to find another gear whenever they meet Australia, just as the hosts prepare for one of the heaviest schedules in their Test history.
A relentless calendar
Australia face 21 Tests across an 11-month period that begins in August. The home summer also includes five T20Is against England. With so little downtime between fixtures, squad depth and consistency will be tested as much as individual form.
Why the Black Caps bite
Hughes argued that New Zealand look a different side against Australia than they do against other nations. In his view they play with a toughness and resilience that does not always show elsewhere. He said they cross the Tasman happy to be seen as the little brother, then punch well above the weight of their population. Australian players, he suggested, tend to treat a New Zealand fixture as the hardest assignment around.
The record still favours the hosts heavily. Australia have won 36 of the 62 Tests between the two countries, while New Zealand have won eight. Hughes felt that history would count for little in such a demanding summer.
Series expanded for the 150th Test
The contest was originally planned as three Tests but has grown to four to mark the 150th Test between the neighbours. That has squeezed the matches into a tight window, with two four-day gaps and one three-day turnaround between games.
The scheduling has also changed some traditional start days. The opening Test in Perth will begin on a Wednesday rather than the usual Thursday, and the New Year’s Test in Sydney will run from Monday to Friday.
Together, the extra match and the compressed calendar mean both squads will need to manage workloads carefully across the series.
