Cricket: Facing MacGill will prepare Black Caps for Warne

1.00pm - By CHRIS BARCLAY

SYDNEY - If Stuart MacGill starts spinning a web around the New Zealand cricket team today at the SCG, opening batsman Mark Richardson reckons it will be a beneficial experience.

Australia's second-ranked legspinner was a chance to play against the Blacks Caps in next week's first test at the 'Gabba in Brisbane but instead has to bide his time now Shane Warne's thumb injury has recovered.

MacGill may yet figure in the Australian selector's plans for the second test at the spin-friendly Adelaide Oval (November 26-30) so the New Zealand batsmen have two reasons to welcome his inclusion in the New South Wales side.

Richardson reasoned facing MacGill would help tune up the batsmen to face the world's leading wicket taker.

As an added bonus most of the team had never faced MacGill, whose only experience against New Zealand was a tour match at Newcastle seven years ago.

MacGill announced himself to the world with a hat-trick in that match at the Newcastle Sports Ground. Two months later he made his test debut against South Africa.

"It's so important to go into a test match feeling you've got a bit of organisation against legspin and MacGill's the next best thing to Warne," Richardson said.

Although MacGill is "a bigger turner than Warne" the 32-test veteran will offer a challenge sadly lacking on the Black Caps recent tour of Bangladesh.

Richardson lamented that the two-test outing was only good for learning how to play left arm spin.

Slow bowling may play a pivotal role in the four-day warm-up match with the wicket not appearing as fast as expected.

New Zealand, minus captain Stephen Fleming (virus), trained for the first time yesterday and were surprised at the apparent slowness of the SCG wicket.

They had hoped for a a fast track to prepare them for a bouncy wicket in Brisbane but surveyed a dusty deck while fielding yesterday.

The wicket was expected to mirror a traditional 'Gabba surface, but it seems the inclement weather and ground staff have not played ball.

"It's not really a surprise," New Zealand coach John Bracewell said.

"The Australians give you nothing."

Bracewell had more worries than the pitch to contend with yesterday.

Stephen Fleming's virus prompted a call-up for middle order batsman Craig McMillan while prize spinner Daniel Vettori will sit the game out to rest a shoulder injury.

Scott Styris will captain the side against NSW, to relieve pressure on allrounder Jacon Oram.

"Jacob would have perhaps been seen as an obvious choice but this is not about preparing a captain for a test match," Bracewell said.

"He has not had any cricket for 10 days and we want him to concentrate on his major role as an allrounder, and especially his bowling."

Despite being written off as cannon fodder for the all-conquering Australians, Oram maintained the side was relishing the chance to improve on the 0-0 series scoreline the last time the team's met in 2001.

"Excited is the key word. It's a huge tour for a lot of us being our first time to Australia.

"A lot of us have only played the limited version of the game against them.

"To approach a full test series against them is going to be a great challenge."

Oram, who may open the bowling against Australia, said he was surprised the attack's prowess had been dismissed in the media given neither he, James Franklin, Ian Butler or Kyle Mills had played a test against Australia.

"I find it strange they're were trying to knock us us down before a ball is even bowled.

"It's nothing new, we always come into series against Australia as underdogs."

Oram said he was unconcerned at the news Warne would be available for the Brisbane test after being all but ruled out with a thumb injury.

"We didn't expect anything less," he said.

"He's been around for so long, his longevity speaks for itself .... he was always going to battle through an injury and try and make it."

- NZPA