Cricket: Chance for Black Caps to step up test form

1.00pm - By MARTYN WATTERSON

DHAKA - Judging by the recent statistics, it appears New Zealand's cricketers have taken a liking to the black one-day uniform over their test whites.

While their last 12 ODIs have netted an impressive 10 victories with just two losses, results from the past 12 tests are harder to swallow.

Dating back to April 2003, the Blacks Caps have lost five, drawn six, with a nine-wicket pasting of South Africa in March their solitary win.

Their last four tests have been lost by four wickets or more, including a three-nil whitewash from the English.

They currently lie seventh in the International Cricket Council test rankings, and third on the ODI table.

With the first of two tests against Bangladesh starting here tomorrow, captain Stephen Fleming acknowledges the series is an ideal opportunity to address the imbalance between defeat and victory as they look towards another hectic summer.

"Bangladesh haven't performed well in tests and they're looking for their first win -- it's our job to not let them do that and win this series comprehensively, but we have to play good cricket and that's what we've come here to do," Fleming said.

When looking for reasons why the team have not transferred their one-day form to the test arena, the skipper is frank in his assessment.

"It was a trend in the England series that we dominated for almost the majority of each test. Coming into day four of every match we were ahead but gave up not only the initiative, but the game with one or two bad sessions," he told NZPA.

"With the home series against Pakistan and South Africa, it was the same with one or two bad sessions later on in the game costing us after getting into a position of reasonable comfort.

"We're not good front runners. It's a different skill to win tests when you're leading.

"The other team ups the ante and we don't respond to pressure. There are a number of things that we've talked through and we're working very hard on.

"It's a double edged-sword -- you have to play well to get into the areas we're not performing in, but we're not far off. The tests in England I felt could have gone either way."

The first test at Bangabandhu National Stadium offers an ideal chance for Fleming and coach John Bracewell to whip the team back into a winning test mode.

Bangladesh have been treated like cannon fodder since their test debut in 2000, losing 27 of their 30 tests with three draws -- two of them due to rain outs.

Eighteen of those losses were by an innings, and with all due to respect to the hosts, New Zealand should account for the fledging team.

"The first three days are status quo. Play good percentage cricket, build up some runs on the board and then we can take it to them," Fleming said.

"It's a simple game plan, but the key thing is not getting impatient, and giving them respect.

"Sometimes you feel you should run through them or should be hitting them for more runs then you are, then you push the tempo of the game. There's a little bit of the respect factor there that we have to observe."

Meanwhile Mathew Sinclair should be fit for selection despite retiring injured on the final day of the Black Caps three-day practice match on Saturday.

The Central Districts batsman, favoured to open the batting in the first test, hobbled off after sustaining a toe-crusher delivery during the drawn contest against the Bangladesh Cricket Board 11.

Team management later confirmed he had sustained heavy bruising to his right big toe but should be available.

- NZPA