Clarke ready for Black Caps

Shaun Tait has starred in a bowling attack that has recieved praise from Michael Clarke

After sweeping aside Pakistan and the West Indies, Australia are now eyeing up New Zealand as they look to build towards the World Twenty20.

Australia kick-off a five-week tour of New Zealand with the first of two Twenty20 matches against the Black Caps in Wellington tomorrow.

With the World Twenty20 getting under way in the West Indies in April, captain Michael Clarke is vowing there will be no let-up from his side as they look to end their southern hemisphere summer unbeaten in the shortest form of the game.

“It’s important for us to get that momentum leading up to the World Cup,” he said. “We haven’t been as good as we would have liked in this format of the game and we’ve set goals to continue to play good cricket in all three forms of the game.

“We’ve been training hard. New Zealand have got a wonderful Twenty20 side and we know we’re going to have to be at our best. These two games are great preparation leading into the Twenty20 World Cup.”

Australia are spearheaded by the big-hitting David Warner and fast bowler Shaun Tait, who has reached speeds of 160kph during Australia’s home series which has seen them maintain a perfect three from three in Twenty20s.

Clarke credits much of his side’s success to the bowling unit, where Tait and new-ball partner Dirk Nannes have formed a formidable pace duo with good back up from Mitchell Johnson.

“I think the bowlers win you games in Twenty20 cricket and we’ve seen that in the last couple of games we’ve played in Australia,” said Clarke.

Daniel Vettori's experience will be central to New Zealand's attempts to beat Australia

“I think our batters have performed okay. Our bowlers have performed outstandingly. We have a really good attack.

“We have plenty of pace but we have a good mixture of medium-pacers. Steve Smith is a very good leg-spinner and we’ve a couple of part-timers as well. Our combination of bowlers is what’s important. I believe our bowlers will win us a lot of Twenty20 games.”

Tait’s sheer pace had the Pakistan and West Indies rattled so New Zealand’s often fragile top order face a challenge at Westpac Stadium.

“That’s the hardest thing when you face pace that quick, you almost want to try and match it and try and hit the ball as hard as it’s coming at you,” said New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori.

“The guys who have been successful (against Tait) have played good cricket shots. His success has come from guys who have attacked him really hard.”

New Zealand’s main strike weapon with the ball is Shane Bond, who returns to the side after recovering from an abdominal injury.

Bond, who will also play in the one-day internationals, has played some of his best cricket against Australia, taking 35 wickets at 14.45 in 12 one-day matches against the trans-Tasman rivals.

Vettori acknowledges that senior players such as himself, Bond, Jacob Oram, Ross Taylor and Brendon McCullum will need to perform if New Zealand are to be successful against a buoyant Australia side.

“I think experienced players always need to carry the side in big games. If we can do that it will give us a chance. We know if we don’t turn up and play our best game we won’t compete with Australia.”