Sydney, Nov 22 (IANS): New Zealand's director of cricket John Buchanan believes that the re-building of the Australian team has left it vulnerable.

Buchanan feels there are surprises in store for the hosts when New Zealand start their tour Down Under at the Gabba on Dec 1. He backed the Black Caps to cause an upset even though the Australians are coming at the back of a gutsy two-wicket second Test win in South Africa.

The former Australian coach Buchanan, who won a record 16 straight Tests and claimed two World Cups, told the Sydney Morning Herald that Australian cricket would take time to gel after the Argus report, giving the rank outsider visitors rare hope in the Test series

"There's definitely a vulnerability there," Buchanan said.

"That's not just got to do with performance - there are a lot of things happening within Australian cricket at the moment behind the scenes which are going to take some time to gel.

"There's a new coach, new selection group - and a new captain as selector which is going to be pretty interesting having someone in the dressing room from the selectors sitting and watching you," he added.