Bowlers in for tough time: Williamson

Kane Williamson reckons his decision-making will undergo immediate scrutiny when he becomes New Zealand's 29th Test captain against Zimbabwe in Bulawayo.

Williamson is taking nothing for granted ahead of the first of two Tests in Bulawayo starting on Thursday, even though his team are the firmest of favourites.

While the world No.5 Black Caps boast a vastly more experienced side than the injury-hit hosts, Williamson expects to be tested fully in New Zealand's first Test since 2004 which doesn't feature retired former skipper Brendon McCullum.

Quick single: Rain halts Aussies' Kandy crush

The low, slow conditions at the Queens Sports Club ground will turn it into a five-day test of patience.

Well practised as a captain at limited overs level, the 25-year-old says he has given his Test milestone little thought.

"We've been so consumed with preparation that I haven't felt a huge amount about it," he said.

"It is tough to win here. Certainly Zimbabwe are well-equipped in these conditions because they're so familiar with them.

"It is about thinking on your feet, to make those quick adjustments. It's going to be a tough challenge and we may have to find different ways to skin it."

The Black Caps may consider fielding three spinners - Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner and Mark Craig - to accompany new ball pair Tim Southee and Trent Boult. If a third seamer is picked, it will be tight call between Neil Wagner, Doug Bracewell and Matt Henry.

Quick single: Sri Lanka mystery trumps Aussie planning

Williamson pointed to New Zealand's last Test at Bulawayo five years ago for an example of the battle that could await.

It took the tourists until the final session to win by 34 runs after the hosts threatened to run down a target of 366.

Since then, the Black Caps have played 40 Tests and climbed the international pecking order while the hosts have played just 10.

It is nearly two years since Zimbabwe's last Test, against Bangladesh, with their lack of experience and several injuries making them ripe for the picking.

Williamson is looking inwards, demanding a positive performance in New Zealand's first Test for five months.

"The team has improved a lot in recent years and that is the focus still, to continue to improve.

"We're certainly going to play in a way that gives us the best chance."

Quick single: Smith sends himself into a spin

Meanwhile, pace bowler Tim Southee admits it will be a little strange playing Test cricket without McCullum as teammate.

"It's a first for a while," Southee said of a Black Caps Test side without McCullum.

"Brendon obviously having been a part of the last 101 Test matches for New Zealand, it will be a bit strange for people tuning in not to see him as part of the Test side.

"But it's an exciting new era. Kane has captained the side well in limited-overs stuff and I'm sure that will flow on to the Test game."

Southee said one thing McCullum wanted to do as skipper was to leave the Black Caps with an experienced core.

"He wanted to leave in a position where the side was ready to go on without him and I think he matured a lot of the guys," he said.

Southee, who arrived in Africa from a New Zealand winter, had match figures of 4-46 in the warm-up match.

Quick single: Aussie duo enter ICC Hall of Fame

The 27-year-old right-armer has yet to play a Test in Zimbabwe and he prepared on a Tauranga pitch that the groundsman tried to make similar to the slow wicket expected in Bulawayo.

"It's exciting to come somewhere you've never been before," Southee said.

"We have a good meet-up in Pretoria and a great hit-out in Harare, where we played some pretty good cricket over three days and had plenty of time to adjust to the conditions."

New Zealand: (from) Kane Williamson (capt), Martin Guptill, Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, Mitch Santner, BJ Watling, Luke Ronchi, Mark Craig, Ish Sodhi, Doug Bracewell, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Matt Henry, Trent Boult.

Zimbabwe: (from) Graeme Cremer (capt), Hamilton Mazakadza, Timo Mawoyo, Brian Chari, Regis Chakabva, Craig Ervine, Sean Williams, Peter Moor, Chamu Chibhabha, Michael Chinouya, Prince Masvaure, Richmond Mutumbami, Taurai Muzarabani, Njabulo Ncube, Sikander Raza, Donald Tiripano.