McCullum believes the tide will turn when the Australians travel to his homeland for a two-Test series in mid-February next year.

“By the time Australia arrive on our shores after a pretty intense summer, we’ll be nearing our peak as a team,” McCullum said.

“In our own conditions it should be an interesting and enthralling series.”

McCullum believes Australia’s 2-0 series win, completed with a tense three-wicket win in Adelaide on Sunday, was closer than the scoreline indicated.

“It’s pretty hard to separate the two teams over the last two Test matches,” he said.

“We have got a bit of a mantra that if you are going to get beaten, then make it bloody tough for the opposition.

“Over the last two Tests we have stepped up and played some really good cricket and can take a lot of positives out of it.”

Australia won the opening Test by 208 runs before the bore draw in Perth in the second encounter.

And McCullum said he was already anticipating meeting the Australians again.

“You want play the best, it’s what this game is all about, it teaches you so much about yourself and the character in your team,” he said.

“What we have seen in last two Test matches, it’s closer to what we want to be as a team.”

AAP