Winning in Australia is what matters: Hesson

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson says his charges have been anticipating the upcoming three-Test series with Australia “for a long time”.

The traditional rivalry between the two countries was already ratcheted up a notch earlier this year when Australia thrashed the Black Caps in the final of the World Cup, and it will be the home side who are again favourites heading into the first Test, which begins on November 5 at the Gabba in Brisbane.

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The Kiwis levelled their two-Test series in Australia in December 2011, but have won just one series across the Tasman – in the summer of 1985-86, when legendary quick Sir Richard Hadlee engineered a stunning triumph for his side.

“We know how tough it is to win over there,” Hesson told the Otago Daily Times. “They know their conditions well.

“They have a large pool of players to pick from and a lot of competition for places.

“They've been the world leaders for the last 20 years and that's why, if you win over there, you deserve it.”

Much has been made of Australia’s generational change following the retirements of a host of experiences players, led by Michael Clarke, however Hesson insists that regardless of who is wearing Baggy Green, he is expecting to face a high-quality line-up.

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“I think sometimes you want to get a team when they've got a few guys who are actually over the hill,” he said in relation to the recent exodus of senior Australian players.

“But because they have so many players, there is always competition for places. There hasn't been a poor Australian team for a number of years, so I don't imagine this will be any different.

“I just think, for a New Zealand cricketer, winning in Australia is the big thing. The guys have been excited about this duel for a long time.”

Hadlee said New Zealand have been playing “winning cricket” and under the leadership of Hesson and captain Brendon McCullum, have formed a formidable side.

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"We've got a very good pace attack, we've got a very good batting line-up and a very good team," he told 3news.co.nz. "The brand of cricket we've played in the last couple of years is very exciting, and it's winning cricket.

“If we can expose a chip in the armour somewhere along the line I think we have players who can take advantage of those so-called weaknesses.”

New Zealand’s greatest-ever bowler, who took 431 Test wickets in his glittering career, had some words of wisdom for the Kiwi quicks who will be looking to follow in his history-making footsteps.

"Maintain your lines and your lengths, be patient,” he said. “If conditions are in your favour, don't go searching for the yorker.”