The second Test against New Zealand produced my best figures overall and was actually the first time I'd got nine wickets in a Test match.

This performance has left me on top of the world. I'm actually looking forward to getting back in the gym this week as I feel I'm getting back to full strength and a little time in the gym might get me to where I want to be.

Adelaide is a wonderful ground with a wonderful wicket and it really challenges you as a bowler.

If you can pick up wickets in Adelaide it's usually a good sign you are putting it in the right areas - and hopefully coming up with the wickets.

I was really happy with the way I bowled in both innings. The ball came out of the hand very well over the last couple of days and if I can improve a bit more hopefully I can move on to bigger and better things in the first Test against the South Africans in Perth starting in two weeks time.

We are looking forward to the Tests against Graeme Smith's South Africans and see them as a formidable challenge.

There has been a lot said about the way Graeme Smith plays his cricket in the past but I have to say he and I get on really, really well.

When I was in South Africa last he went out of his way to make sure I was well looked after.

Shane Watson is another player who has given him big wraps after playing with Smith in the Indian Premier League. So on top of being a great cricketer he is a very good bloke too.

Smith will lead South Africa's batting and, Dale Steyn, a bowler who is similar to me in the fact that he likes to bowl fast and swing the ball out, will lead their bowling.

I have to give Steyn big wraps. He's got a lot of promise and talent, which I believe he will show the world on this tour.

He's only 5 foot 9 inches, but he has got amazing pace and great seam position when he’s bowling.

South Africa's other key bowlers are also sure to be in good form for the first Test, including; Morne Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Andre Nel and Jacques Kallis. This is an outstanding bowling line-up and I don’t relish coming in to face that second new ball.

It's hard to say what's going to happen with our team for the series but I can see Shane Watson coming back into the mix.

The best way to get in the team is to take wickets and score runs and that's exactly what Shane's done.

I'm very much looking forward to this series. It's going to be a huge challenge for the Australian team and I'm looking forward to the challenge.

After the final Test against the Kiwis had finished I had the opportunity to talk to some of the young guys in the New Zealand team.

Tim Southee for one asked a lot of questions and I think that’s great. They have obviously got a lot of talent in their team but are maybe missing a little experience.

The only way they are going to get that back is by playing sides like Australia. They are working through an uphill process - having lost many players recently - but I can see them emerging from the end of this tough patch as a very strong side in years to come.