STEVE Waugh says Australia's line-up for next month's Gabba clash against New Zealand might be short on Test experience, but it won't be left to fend for itself in quite the same way as back in his day. 
Key retirements followed by a tough series at home against New Zealand is the scenario for Australia, the same as it was three decades ago.
The departures of Greg Chappell, Rod Marsh and Dennis Lillee in 1984 left Australian cricket searching for new heroes. New Zealand pounced in   November and   December 1985, scoring a 2-1 -series victory.
Australia were also missing Terry Alderman and Kim Hughes who had signed for a rebel tour of South Africa.
The retirements of Ryan Harris, Brad Haddin, Shane Watson, Chris Rogers and Michael Clarke have forced Australia to seek new blood for the Gabba Test from   November 5.
Uncapped opener Cameron Bancroft, 22, could be set to join No.3 Usman Khawaja (nine Tests), Peter Nevill (four), Mitchell Marsh (seven) and possibly Josh Hazlewood (nine) in an inexperienced side.
But Waugh, who made his debut in the baggy green at the MCG against India in   December 1985 as a 20-year-old, says times have changed.
Waugh's first Test came after nine Sheffield Shield appearances. The Test great says players such as Bancroft (24 first-class matches) and Khawaja (89) may lack significant Test experience but they've been around the block at Shield level.
"It was totally different back then. We were very inexperienced," Waugh told cricket.com.au yesterday. "This side now, while it hasn't got a lot of (Test) experience, they've played a lot of domestic cricket.
"Back then, a lot of us were coming into the side having played just half a dozen to 10 first-class games and we didn't really know what we were doing.
"We didn't have any support mechanisms around us. We didn't even have a coach when I first started playing.
"They've got much more support around them these days. They've got some experienced players and they are pretty much a quality team.
"While they didn't play well in England, I still think we're probably one of the three best Test sides going around." David Warner, who broke his thumb last month, has been cleared to resume batting in the nets tomorrow.
FIRST TEST
AUSTRALIA VNEW ZEALAND GABBA, NOVEMBER 5WATCH LIVE ON CHANNEL 9