Cricket: Injury clouds remain despite rare rays of sunshine

CAPE TOWN - New Zealand's cricketers emerged into the blue skies for the first time since arriving in South Africa five days ago but little light was today shed on the status of three players in doubt for the second test against South Africa.

New Zealand were only offered limited access to the facilities at Sahara Park, Newlands, when a postponed weather-affected training session finally got underway on the oval.

The Black Caps had hoped for a full net session to test the fitness of Shane Bond and James Franklin but were told the practice area had not dried out sufficiently.

A handful of top order batsmen had throw downs but Franklin, who has his left knee strapped, and Bond were confined to a gentle blow out on the wicket block incorporating the test pitch.

The team also had a fielding session on the test venue, where opener Hamish Marshall (ribs) played only a limited role as he recovers from the damage caused by a Makhaya Ntini thunderbolt last Tuesday at Centurion.

Marshall did not take part in active fielding drills and did not bat as he was confined to catching balls with a baseball mitt.

Specialist openers Michael Papps and Jamie How both padded up for brief throw downs indicating they are in contention for a berth partnering Peter Fulton at the top of the order should Marshall's cracked rib cage not mend in time.

One player able to confirm his fitness was veteran Nathan Astle.

"It just niggly," Astle said of a slight problems with bone chips on his right knee.

"I've had an x-ray, there's a couple of little bone spurs but there's nothing they can do about it.

"It's good enough to play on," he said.

Astle, who managed four and two in last week's 128-run series opening loss at SuperSport Park said the more significant obstacle was getting the mental state in tip-top shape for another encounter with Ntini.

"We've all played him enough and we know his angle. We just tried to play more than we should of.

"The first test was very disappointing, especially the second innings the way we batted (New Zealand were 28-6 chasing 249) but you have to put that behind you and move on.

"I think we're going to have three result orientated wickets, the series is still alive," he said.

Meanwhile, the Black Caps caught their first glimpse of the wicket after covers were finally able to be removed after four days of incessant rain.

Coach John Bracewell was encouraged by what he surveyed believing it could assist spinner Daniel Vettori and, like the first test at Centurion, offer variable bounce for the pacemen to exploit.

The pitch is the same one used for the first test between Australia and South Africa last month which the world champions won in three days after the Proteas requested the pitch be heavily watered to negate legspinner Shane Warne's advantage.

It turned into a seamers paradise but spin is expected to play a role as the test progresses.

"The wicket is reasonably bare at the ends. We've been told while it won't spin a great deal there will be bounce for spinners. Dan (Vettori) will be licking his lips at that opportunity," Bracewell said.

"That's (bounce) something you're looking for anyway rather than slow, low massive turn -- most international players can play low, slow turn."

Newlands groundsman Christo Erasmus insisted he was striving to provide a flatter surface to even out the contest between bat and ball but was battling the onset of winter.

"It's the latest we've had a match at Newlands in my time here," he said.

"There has been a lot of rain around. Although we are still having warm days it is taking longer for the ground to dry out."

South Africa and New Zealand were both to train on the venue tomorrow (from 1930 NZT today).

- NZPA