Australia is three places behind the Blackcaps in the test rankings but commentators across the ditch are dismissing kiwi chances for the upcoming tour.
They think New Zealand will struggle with the Aussie pace attack on their flat wickets.
Blackcaps opening batsman Tom Latham's in the form of his career and Steve Smith is the only Aussie ranked above him in the ICC test rankings.
But less than two weeks from the start of the Blackcaps series across the Tasman it's not enough to put Australia's bowlers on notice.
"Tom Latham, I'm a fan, but he's a player of 135 and below, and Australia won't accommodate him with that sort of pace," Former Australian player turned commentator said.
Australian pundits don't respect you until you score on their grounds.
Latham's only played three tests in Australia with a top score of 50 but he excels outside New Zealand where he averages 42.
The Aussie quicks will be more challenging than England's.
But it's not just the Aussie quicks that could be New Zealand's undoing.
Australian legend Michael Hussey is unsure how effective the Blackcaps seam attack can be if Trent Boult doesn't recover from a side strain.
They desperately need him, particularly in Perth with the day/night test," Hussey said.
Also, de Grandhomme is a good honest cricketer as well, so a couple of injury worries for New Zealand."
"They've got to get them fit for when they get to Australia."
The English are jumping to New Zealand's defence after being hammered in the first test at Bay Oval.
Former captain Michael Vaughn isn't buying the Aussie scepticism.
They're going to come here in a couple of weeks and they'll be hard to beat in these conditions," Vaughn said.
With New Zealand winning just three of 31 tests in Australia you can see why pundits think they have a point to prove.
Newshub.
