Cricket: Black Caps walking wounded get all clear for final

By MARK GEENTY

LONDON - New Zealand's list of walking wounded are all expected to go into battle for today's tri-series final as they begin their quest to challenge Australia for the title of world No 1 in one-day cricket.

Coach John Bracewell named a full-strength side today for the tour finale against Brian Lara's West Indies at Lord's (9.45pm NZT), including star allrounder Chris Cairns, despite his struggles to bowl at training on his injured left ankle.

Paceman Daryl Tuffey was omitted along with Michael Papps, with Tuffey missing the last three matches with a thigh injury and not having a chance to prove his recovery in yesterday's washout in Southampton.

Manager Lindsay Crocker said 12 were named to cover for Cairns, with Chris Harris the likely 12th man if Cairns comes through pre-match warmups.

The other key allrounder Jacob Oram was also cleared to play despite his nagging side strain, with a six-week break to look forward to.

Captain Stephen Fleming said a win, which will be their third victory in an overseas final in the past four years, wouldn't erase the pain of the 0-3 test series loss.

But it would start the one-day side on the road towards matching Australia as they eye the September 16 Champions Trophy clash with the world No 1 at The Oval.

"By our own admission we've still got yards to gain on Australia. While we'd be happy to win this tournament and become second, our eyes are still firmly fixed on that No 1 spot and what we have to do," Fleming said today.

"To get to the next step is the big one. We're playing well now but we've got to find a little bit more from the team to get to that No 1 spot."

New Zealand have won eight straight, their best winning streak, but are still way off Australia's best of 21 which was ended by the West Indies in the Caribbean in May last year.

That was about the time New Zealand were beating Pakistan in Sri Lanka's tri-series final. This will be the third final New Zealand have contested in their last four overseas tri-series, each time denying the hosts -- Australia, Sri Lanka and now England -- a place in their own showpiece.

Fleming reflected the calm assurance in the side under coach John Bracewell, who has won five finals at Lord's with Gloucestershire.

Today the coach had his charges exploring all corners of the hallowed turf in different fielding groups, another of his attentions to detail that have seen New Zealand win 12 out of 14 under his guidance this year.

"We were always simmering, we had the players to do it but we just needed a direction that suited," Fleming said.

"What John has brought is an understanding and an intelligence we needed just to make that next step."

New Zealand have been the best side in this tournament, beating West Indies by five wickets in Cardiff, but also had some luck, winning every toss in their three completed matches and bowling first.

Today's pitch, the same which saw 550 runs scored on Tuesday when West Indies eliminated England, should put less influence on the toss and both captains were satisfied.

"We'd probably like to get them setting a score first, they seem to be more vulnerable rather than when they're chasing," Fleming said, after Chris Gayle's century led home the chase for 287 on Tuesday.

Lara was happy to concede favouritism to Fleming, but the West Indies captain knows a special performance -- more than likely from his own blazing bat -- is enough to win a one-off final.

"They are very experienced, they won the preliminary stages of the tournament convincingly and should go in as favourites," Lara said.

"But it's one game, 100 overs and we're looking to come out on top."

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Jacob Oram, Daniel Vettori, Gareth Hopkins, James Franklin, Ian Butler, Chris Harris.

West Indies (from): Brian Lara (captain), Chris Gayle, Devon Smith, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ricardo Powell, Dwayne Smith, Dwayne Bravo, Ridley Jacobs, Ian Bradshaw, Tino Best, Jermaine Lawson.

Umpires: David Shepherd (England), Rudi Koertzen (South Africa).

- NZPA