Cricket: Aberhart seeking tips from Auckland coach

The Black Caps will have enough time to adjust to South African conditions before the cricket World Cup, but their top order has to fire, Auckland coach Mark O'Donnell said today.

National coach Denis Aberhart is meeting O'Donnell today during Auckland's State Shield match against Wellington at North Harbour Stadium to pick his brains about what to expect in South Africa.

New Zealand-born O'Donnell had coaching assignments at Eastern Province, Griqualand West and Gauteng before taking up the Auckland job at the beginning of the season.

He said he would be able to pass on advice on game plan, the Black Caps' practice and playing venues, and what scores were usually made at the various grounds. "It's just some information," he said.

"If it's a 5 per cent or a 10 per cent pick-up in some areas, then that's good." The Blacks Caps fly out on January 27, with their first World Cup fixture being against Sri Lanka on February 10.

"They will adjust, because they will have a couple of weeks over there practising," O'Donnell said.

"They are staying at Centurion Park, which is probably the best practice facility in South Africa."

He said the pitches the New Zealanders would face would be significantly different from those encountered during India's just completed tour of New Zealand, when the bowlers dominated.

"They're good batting wickets, once you get in and once the initial bounce goes from the new ball from about the eighth or ninth over," he said.

"There will be some adjusting from a length point of view for the bowlers and in scoring options for the batters because of the difference in pace and bounce." O'Donnell added that the Proteas rated the Blacks Caps as a serious threat, but the New Zealand batsmen, who struggled against India, had to be more consistent. "Your top order has to win it -- it has to set up your larger totals," he said.

"As for the bowling, if everyone is fit and they get the right combinations, then they have a reasonable chance."

Aberhart said O'Donnell had coached for 17 years in South Africa so would have a good knowledge of local conditions.

"I'll certainly be tapping his brain and putting what he tells me into use for our side."

- NZPA