The fiery Australian opener has paid out on New Zealand's skipper today, laying the platform for a juicy opening test confrontation at the Gabba.

Steve Smith has given his New Zealand rival Brendon McCullum a verbal slap and promised no holding back.

After a disrupted build-up, due to the sub-standard pitch at Blacktown in Sydney, New Zealand will likely face a Brisbane wicket with customary bounce and carry.

The test cricket series between the countries, like tomorrow's Rugby World Cup final, has its possible game-breaker matchups.

Nathan McCullum is set to retire from international cricket at the end of the summer.

A pitch more like the Apollo XI mission caused the three-day warm-up against a Cricket Australia XI to be called off early.

Kiwis have a day to forget against a Cricket Australia XI in Sydney, with Aaron Finch scoring a double century.

Forget the rumblings from the other side of the Tasman over the suitability of the pink ball - ticket sales for the third test in Adelaide are rocketing.

The inability of New Zealand to have won a test series in Australia since 1985 won't be preying on the minds of the current touring squad.

Aussies say it's not too late to abort the looming test against the Black Caps due to concerns about the pink ball.

The Cricket Australia XI dominated the opening day of the two-day match against NZ in Canberra, moving to 325 for four at stumps on a flat wicket.

When Doug Bracewell looks back on his finest week as a test cricketer, it's the simplicity he remembers best.

Brendon McCullum's attention has turned from a courtroom on the other side of the world to preparing to face Australia.

A Skype conversation between Lou Vincent and a "cricket groupie" friend of Chris Cairns is shaping up as a key piece of evidence in his trial.

The Black Caps may have two extra players for their tour of Australia next month.

The colour which captivated the country's cricket faithful through the 1980s, and briefly with the first T20 international in 2005, will return.