Cricket: Cairns' arrival lifts Black Cap spirits

The Black Caps are hoping for some Chris Cairns big hits. Picture / Mark Mitchell

The cavalry joined an embattled New Zealand cricket in Melbourne last night leaving Chris Cairns, Chris Harris and Andre Adams to lift the Black Caps on and off the field.

Cairns and Harris, two of the sport's elder statesmen, and the combative Adams were welcomed with open arms when they joined a team on a low ebb after twin Trans-Tasman Trophy test defeats to the all-conquering Australians.

The trio have been propelled straight to the front line, having been included in the team to play a Victorian Invitation XI today (12pmNZT) at Albert Park.

The 40-over match represents New Zealand's only chance to switch back to one-day mode before the inaugural Chappell-Hadlee Trophy series starts under the Telstra Dome roof here on Sunday.

Coach John Bracewell said the addition of Cairns, Harris and Adams provided an obvious fillip for the tourists who yesterday bade farewell to James Franklin, Mark Richardson, Chris Martin and Paul Wiseman -- the only member of the quartet who could look back on the test series with any great satisfaction.

"They will give us a freshen up. It's like anything, when you go through tough times and get new recruits coming in you get as little bit fresher in your thinking. "

Power-hitter Cairns is the trump card, while Harris, who will play his 250th match if selected also brings a wealth of experience to a struggling side.

"Harris has been through the mill," Bracewell said.

"He's experienced the highs of '92 (World Cup semifinal) and the hard times as well. There's nothing he hasn't had to deal with and Cairns is just larger than life."

Adams tasted success during the 2002 VB Tri-Series where New Zealand famously upset the hosts three times to make the final against South Africa.

The practice match also gives Hamish Marshall and Ian Butler, who were overlooked for the test series, the opportunity to stake a claim for game one.

Marshall averages 41.72 after 24 one-day matches but lost his way last month, in Bangladesh of all places, where he scored seven, two and a duck in three clashes with the cricketing minnows.

He was also unconvincing in his only test innings on the sub-continent, despite making 69 and failed twice against New South Wales forcing Bracewell to recall Craig McMillan for the first test at the Gabba in Brisbane.

Bracewell, after studying Marshall in the nets, thought the 25-year-old's technique and confidence was restored.

"It left him a little but in Bangladesh but we've spent a fair bit of time on that and we're hopeful it's returning. "

Forgotten fast bowler Ian Butler, overlooked for the tests in favour of ultimately unsuccessful swing bowlers Kyle Mills and James Franklin, also has a chance to justify his place on tour.

The 22-year-old Butler looked impressive against New South Wales on an unresponsive pitch and was bitterly disappointed to miss the cut for the Gabba.

"I had good pace there (against NSW) It was probably the best I've been in seven or eight months in terms of rhythm and hitting the crease.

"I worked on a few technical things but I guess I didn't fit into the team balance with the swing bowlers. "

Meanwhile, Telstra Dome curator Gavin Darby could not provide Butler with encouraging news about the state of the wicket on Sunday.

Darby, a New Zealander, expects the wicket to provide consistent bounce, but it was unlikely to offer much assistance to the quicks.

"It's improving," Darby said. "It won't be the fastest turf but it will be nice and consistent. "

The outfield is lush, with shorter boundaries than the MCG, so some towering hits can be expected as cricket returns to the stadium for the first time since Pakistan visited for a mid-winter series in 2002.

Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram will sit out the practice match and Brendon McCullum was unlikely to play after injuring his left knee at the Adelaide Oval.

New Zealand side to play Victorian Invitation XI: Stephen Fleming (captain) Nathan Astle, Hamish Marshall, Mathew Sinclair, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Andre Adams, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler.

- NZPA