By Vaughan Elder for NZPA

Wellington, March 16 NZPA - New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin is looking forward to the cricketing challenge of facing the might of Australia at the Basin Reserve on Friday.

Martin has a successful record at the Basin Reserve, which was a confidence booster ahead of the first test against Australia, starting in Wellington on Friday.

He had had "reasonable success" at the Basin, he told journalists today.

In 11 Basin Reserve tests, he had fashioned a bowling average of 26.31, every reason to be proud of his record there.

It compares favourably with his overall test record of 180 wickets at an average of 33.78, in 54 matches.

But while Martin's record at the Basin Reserve may be good, he has yet to taste similar success against Australia, with his average in eight tests 74.14, with best figures of five for 152.

Martin said the Australians were hard to bowl to as they were very disciplined, and did not give away their wickets cheaply.

"I have found that in the past that I have bowled as well as I could (against the Australians) without really getting the results," Martin said.

New Zealand would have to be disciplined for day-after-day, he said.

Teams that beat Australia have to "stay in the game for the full five days, because I know that once Australia sniffs a bit of blood they are pretty quick to step on the throat", Martin said.

Asked about the recent media furore surrounding Australian vice-captain Michael Clarke over his split with model Lara Bingle, Martin said he had not seen such a "tabloid-like" frenzy over a cricket player since he was a child watching Englishman Ian Botham in 1980s.

He would not be taking part in any sledging of Clarke.

"He (Clarke) treats people he plays against with respect and that should be the way he gets treated as well."

The crowd would be unlikely to look at it the same way though.

"The fans will probably have a ball, but that is nothing to do with us," Martin said.

Fans having a go at the players was part of the game and was something players had to get used to.

"I know that I have stood on a few boundaries in Australia and been ripped to shreds, so it is nothing new."

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