He is one of two new caps in the 14 strong New Zealand team for the series.
French will be lead in the triples and four, while the other new cap in the Mat Blacks is Southland's Suzanne Mackie, who will be lead in the mixed four and women's pair.
It will be a special time for French.
``I've never played bowls in Australia before and it will be my first time across the ditch,'' French said.
``My selection feels good, but it was a bit of a shock when I heard the news.''
The last Otago bowler to represent New Zealand was Garry Flewitt, who played against Australia in 2009.
French (31), a Dunedin painter, has played bowls for 21 years and has won 21 Otago titles. He is the first Green Island club bowler to represent his country.
It has been a good year for French, who was named the Otago Indoor Bowler of the Year for the fourth successive year. He won seven of the 11 major titles in Dunedin.
But what clinched his selection in the seven man men's team was his form in the inter-island match against the North Island in Christchurch.
He has represented the South Island eight times and this year won the inter-island gold medal as second in the four.
French is keeping his hand in by playing in the summer pairs. But he will need to do special practice to get used to the different mats used in Australia.
``They are nearly three times as thick and slightly longer. They have these mats in Wellington and I will have time to practise on them before the test series.''
French is backed by his wife, Stacey, who brings son, Braydon, (4) to the hall to watch his father in action.
Former Otago representative Grant l'Ami (North Taranaki), the team captain, will skip the mixed four and men's pair.
New Zealand, the defending champion, has won the Henselite Trophy 16 times, including eight tests in succession from 1993 to 2007.
The test series is held every two years and alternates between each country. Australia has won on five occasions.
Fourteen players represent each country - seven men and seven women - and play in two events each.
