As they celebrated a tenacious three-wicket win over Bangladesh yesterday, the New Zealanders' attention also turned to the series really catching the cricket lover's imagination -- India and Australia.
The clash between the world's leading test nations has special significance for Bracewell, given he has a second and final crack at the Aussie test side on their turf as a coach next month -- and his tenure with the Black Caps ends after India tour in March-April.
Bracewell, who has riled Australians in both his playing and coaching days, welcomed India's 320-run demolition job in the second test, not that it was necessarily good news for his team.
"It always brings a smile to the cockles of my heart to see Australia get tipped over," he confessed. "But one loss doesn't mean the end of the world for them.
"The Australians will be massively competitive, they're massively skilled.
"They'll bounce back. They're hard-nosed, well led and there's no doubt playing Australia in Australia is going to be one our enormous challenges."
New Zealand have tests in Brisbane and Adelaide -- two venues where they were soundly beaten in 2004 after arriving from Bangladesh unbeaten.
The mannner of India's victory was also a concern.
"The Indians played extremely well, their bowling attack at the moment is really on song.
"They're becoming more rounded in their bowling attack, it's balanced and will be well-suited to New Zealand conditions with their genuine pace and the ability to swing it and reverse swing it.
"They also have a very good balance of spin," he said.
