The swashbuckling Kiwi batsmen Brendon McCullum said that Australia is still a tough side regardless the 2-0 Series loss to India.
He also acknowledged that they are “most Vulnerable” Australian team during his international career.
The Black caps haven’t won a series in Australia for 23 years and are looking to break that record this time.
New Zealand didn’t have a convincing series before this clash they fought hard to win the Bangladesh series 1-0, neither does the Australians they faced their worst series defeat in 20 years after losing to the Indians in a 2-0 manner.
The manner the Australians were defeated in India didn’t just pronounce their decline caused by the retirement of their star players but also the danger of other nations over taking them and pushing them down from the top.
The tours ahead are tough for the Australians, following the Kiwi’s visit in their own backyard, the Australians tour to South Africa following the Ashes tour to England and It’s really going to be tough as the South Africans and the England teams are quite competitive and one thing is for sure. It’s not going to be easy.
"In comparison to the old Australian (side) they’re definitely more vulnerable," McCullum said.
"It’s the nature of losing three once-in-a-lifetime cricketers in (Adam) Gilchrist, (Shane) Warne and (Glenn) McGrath. Take that ability and class out of any side and it is going to take a little while for them to rebuild.”
"They are more vulnerable but they are still far and away the best team in the world. They lost one series and they’re being ridiculed in the paper for it, but in our minds they’re still by far and away the best team."
McCullum didn’t hesitate to say that his team will face a tough task to take the series away from the Australians. But the past helps them and adds a little advantage he says.
"We’re at long odds but also with nothing to lose," McCullum said.
"You’ll probably see guys play with a lot less fear than what we have done in the past. When you are such rank outsiders you can almost throw a little bit more caution to the wind."
The Black Caps lost their main weapon Jacob Oram to a back problem. Another success factor, McCullum is also suffering from the same problem.
But the Australians gain little advantage by the return of Symonds. The absence of Symonds was deeply felt in India. "It’s always good to see ‘Symmo’ back around," Clarke said.
"It is really good having him back, and I think our relationship, as you guys would have seen today, we’re going well."
"Andrew’s a fantastic player, he’s been successful in all three forms of the game, so anytime that he was fit and ready to come back into the team, I think we’re certainly going to have him," he said.