Cricket: Bracewell confident despite injuries

Hamish Marshall will probably be omitted from the New Zealand team for reasons of form or fitness. Picture / Nigel Marple

John Bracewell believes New Zealand can bounce back to salvage the series against South Africa, even as a clutch of key players race to be fit in time for the second test, starting on Thursday at Newlands.

Already one down after being crushed by 128 runs at Centurion last week, New Zealand have concerns over the status of fast-bowler Shane Bond and opening batsman Hamish Marshall, and are also monitoring the fitness of James Franklin and Nathan Astle.

To make matters worse, Cape Town has been lashed by rain for the past three days and the test pitch - the same one that Australia's seamers had a field day on last month - is expected to provide more inconsistent bounce.

Bracewell said he was confident that all three tests would, weather permitting, end in a result, meaning New Zealand simply had to take their chances at Cape Town if they wanted to push for a series win next week in Johannesburg.

"The nature of test cricket at the moment is that there is invariably a result, so this is a must-win test for us," said Bracewell.

"I feel confident that the teams are fairly even anyway and I've got particular confidence in our ability to take 20 wickets. I think we made the right choice with our bowlers at Centurion, and we just need to build on that here at Newlands."

Despite their win last Wednesday, South Africa have already made two changes to their squad, dropping batsman Herschelle Gibbs on form and paceman Gernett Kruger because of injury, and it would be no surprise if New Zealand also went into the match with an altered line-up.

The biggest likelihood is that Marshall, now carrying the symptoms of a cracked rib after being struck by Makhaya Ntini last week, will be omitted on form or fitness, and will be replaced by either Michael Papps or Jamie How.

Marshall showed great courage on a dodgy surface last week at Centurion but still fell well short of a meaningful contribution and would be a doubtful selection even if he wasn't nursing an injury.

Bracewell made a point of expressing his confidence over Peter Fulton's progress in the opening position, and of praising his bowling attack for penetration, but seemed to hint that Marshall's position was in the balance.

"I was pleased with Fulton's commitment in the first innings," he said. "I think he showed some real technique and character. He's pretty level-headed and unflustered sort of chap, and that bodes well for the position.

"I think Hamish was fighting for his life in the second innings and there's no doubt that he showed some real grit on the fourth day.

"But we still have to finalise that decision and, in the end, it may be based on the fact that he has got cracked ribs and mightn't be ready in time."

Franklin and Astle have both had scans on sore knees since arriving in Cape Town but Bracewell said, because of the weather and the inability to practise outside, their fitness was still to be confirmed.

Bond has been resting his right knee for the past 10 days and is optimistic about playing.

"It's coming on pretty well," said Bond.

"It feels like it's settled down, but the true test will be when I start running around on it."