The Cricketer provides all the information you need ahead of the start of the series in Perth...
Australia and New Zealand round-off 2019 with the start of a three-Test series. The Kiwis have not won a bilateral series in the longest form against Australia since 1985 but arrive at their local rivals will one of their most formidable teams in a generation.
FIRST TEST: Optus Stadium, Perth (Thursday, December 12 - Monday, December 16)
SECOND TEST: Melbourne Cricket Ground, Melbourne (Wednesday, December 25 - Sunday, December 29)
THIRD TEST: Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney (Thursday, January 2 - Sunday, January 6)
The Baggy Green have barely put a foot wrong across all formats since crashing out of the World Cup in July.
They retained the Ashes with a 2-2 series draw with England, whitewashed Sri Lanka 3-0 in their T20 international series before swatting aside Pakistan first in the shortest form and then with the red ball.
Indeed, both Test wins over Pakistan came by an innings, a worrying sign for New Zealand as they plot a first series win in Australia for 34 years.
Punctuating their faultlessness has been David Warner, who can easily claim to be the in-form batsman with both white and red ball in the world right now.
Thanks to a century, two fifties and five not out scores out of six, Warner finished both T20 series against Sri Lanka and Pakistan with a combined average of 287.
And across the two Tests against the latter, his record-breaking 335 and subsequent 154 left him scoring at 489. Truly eye-watering numbers, even if it comes from a small sample size.
David Warner is enjoying a summer to remember
That Steve Smith, who provoked comparisons with Don Bradman during the Ashes, has been largely unneeded during the Australia summer tell you all you need to know about Warner's imperiousness.
Though scoreboard pressure has, of course, assisted them, Australia's bowling attack has clicked into gear immediately. Mitchell Starc took 14 of the 40 Pakistan wickets to fall during the Tests, Josh Hazlewood 10. That battery looks equally as formidable ahead of the greater challenges to come
Typically, however, the one issue in the Australia team surrounds the captain Tim Paine. Ian Chappell accused Smith - whose ban from leadership positions expires in March - of undermining the skipper against Pakistan by dictating field placings without his authority.
Paine has made noises suggesting his time at the held could be coming to an end. Following the conclusion to this series, Australia don't play another Test until June as priorities shift to preparing for the T20 World Cup on home soil. It might just be the perfect time to bow out.
Australia could go an entire summer unchanged, something they have not done since they blitzed England in the 2013-14 Ashes series.
That means Starc, Hazlewood and Cummins remain in place, supported by spinner Nathan Lyon. James Pattinson and Michael Neser provides back-up should any of the fast-bowling trio either break-down or be rested for the one-day internationals in India.
The batting line-up picks itself. Cameron Bancroft and Marcus Harris have been discarded, with Joe Burns accompanying Warner at the top of the innings. Marnus Labuschagne is now established at No.3, as are Matthew Wade and Travis Head in the middle-order.
Australia squad: Tim Paine, Joe Burns, Pat Cummins, Josh Hazlewood, Travis Head, Marnus Labuschagne, Nathan Lyon, Michael Neser, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc, Matthew Wade, David Warner
Can BJ Watling back up his impressive series against England?
History might be against The Black Caps as they head to Australia, but this is among the best group of players aiming to win an away Test series since the squad of Richard Hadlee and Martin Crowe emerged with a 2-1 success in 1985.
The mercurial Hadlee took 33 wickets in three matches on that particular tour, and while New Zealand might not require an individual performance on that level they have all the tools needed to cause an upset.
Albeit in vastly different conditions to the ones they may encounter in Perth, Melbourne and Sydney, Kane Williamson's side overcame England across two Tests to provide substance to their position of No.2 in the ICC Test rankings.
Similarly to Australia, bar the lack of a genuine allrounder New Zealand have a brilliantly balanced side.
Tom Latham is one of the top opening batsmen in the world, the middle order is assured with Williamson, Ross Taylor and BJ Watling, and the bowling attack is as potent as any around in the form of Tim Southee, Matt Henry and Trent Boult.
If Boult misses out as he did in the second Test in Hamilton against England, then either Neil Wagner or the uncapped Lockie Ferguson are ready to come in, proving there is even decent depth below the surface.
No team is embodied by their captain, perhaps in world sport, more than New Zealand are by Williamson who is the velvet glove masking the iron fist. Whatever the team might encounter in Australia - intense and brutal cricket is like to be central - then you can be assured that the skipper will stay composed.
Not being flustered - something New Zealand have often done against their local rivals - in the pressure moments might end up being the difference.
New Zealand squad: Kane Williamson, Todd Astle, Tom Blundell, Trent Boult, Colin de Grandhomme, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Tom Latham, Henry Nicholls, Jeet Raval, Mitchell Santner, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling
Tim Southee and Matt Henry provide a twin-pronged threat to Australia
For the day/night Test in Perth temperatures are set to soar to around 41 degrees Celcius at the start of the game, before levelling out as the match progresses.
BT Sport 3 will show the first Test (Sky 417, Virgin 533, TalkTalk 410) in the UK while radio commentary will be provided by Test Match Special on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra (DAB, online via the BBC Sport website and through the BBC Sounds app).
In Australia, Channel Seven, Fox Sports and streaming service Kayo are sharing the coverage. ACB Grandstand, Corcmedia and the Macquarie network will have radio commentary.
Sky Sport NZ are carrying the series in New Zealand. Meanwhile, in India Sony Pictures will broadcast the series.
Hosts Australia are rated as favourites for the clash at 1/3, with the draw available at 15/2, according to Dafabet. New Zealand meanwhile at 7/2 to go 1-0 up in the series.
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