Long wait for a Test match nears an end

Seven and a half months hard work to get back to full fitness sees me only a week out from my first Test in over a year.

I have been in Oz now for nearly two weeks and been so thankful to have had some games on Aussie wickets and in their hot conditions.

To say the wickets have been good is an understatement!

Batting has been to the fore in all games with wickets hard to take. Our bowling has been under pressure and all of us have recognised that we will have to lift our game dramatically to be competitive against Australia.

Personally, I have struggled to find rhythm so far but only hard work in the nets and a good workout in this next game against the Queensland Bulls will see me rediscover the ways of top level bowling again.

My aim has always been to be back to my best with both bat and ball.

Taking the new ball and leading from the front is what I want to do and I must remain positive in this pursuit.

All the batters have had success in the CLEAR Black Caps so far except for Mark Richardson.

"Ritchie" has had two beauties from opening bowlers and been unlucky. The reason I single him out is because I think he is striking the ball exceptionally well in the nets and I believe he will play very well in this tour.

He has been a real success story to date at international level and plays a big part in the Black Caps with his unbridled passion and love for the game. He is a gritty gutsy player he thrives on a challenge and awaiting him is his biggest one yet against a good Aussie bowling attack.

Coach Denis Aberhart has fitted in really well and has been working us very hard which is great.

His expertise is bowling and he has been spending many hours with all the bowlers in an endeavour to lift our standards. This will be a big tour for him also but there is a great vibe in the team.

We all know what awaits us with our battle against Aussie and a David and Goliath scenario is in our minds. As in that case, victory was achieved against the odds and we have quietly been putting together our plan because we play to win and to achieve that we will have to execute our games to our maximum.

We know that if we can well, how sweet victory would taste against one of the greatest teams in any era.