KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's bowling attack should feel an adrenaline rush - not dissimilar to that experienced by first-time bungy jumpers - when they mark out their run-ups in the second one-day international against Sri Lanka today.
While only a bundle of rubber bands stands between a bungy jumper and
a messy end, a bundle of bad overs could spell the end of some international careers as the series moves to Queenstown, the thrill-seeking capital of New Zealand.
After New Zealand were pitifully smeared around Napier's McLean Park, the futures of bowlers such as Mark Gillespie, Michael Mason, Andre Adams and even James Franklin began to look a bit frayed.
"We looked at every aspect of the game, particularly the bowling because that's where we felt we let ourselves down a little bit," captain Daniel Vettori said. "So we looked at the plans and reviewed what the guys think they needed to do to improve."
They had just the one net session yesterday to work on it, with Vettori saying that bowlers were urged to bowl exactly how they would in a game situation.
"The majority of the time there were four out of six balls that weren't too bad but the other two went for four and six, so that kills an over," he said.
"We're placing a lot of emphasis on the guys finishing their sets."
The other inexcusable aspect to the abject display in Napier was the wides and, in particular, no balls that were conceded. Wellingtonians Franklin and Gillespie were the worst culprits and were ordered to eradicate unnecessary over-stepping at training yesterday.
Early wickets have been identified as the key to getting into the series but if the shoe is on the other foot, don't expect the stand-in skipper to slip down the order to the more comfortable surrounds of No 8 or 9.
Vettori said his place at No 5 in the line-up is secure for this match at least but it is impossible to ignore the confused logic in that tactic.
He has been moved into the middle order for what Black Caps coach John Bracewell calls his "gapping" ability - in other words, his ability to work the ball into gaps. But in reality, the gaps in a one-day field become so big once the power plays are finished any batsmen with a semblance of ability should be able to hit the gaps.
Vettori's strength is his quirky technique which enables him to hit the ball to parts of the field for which there are no conventional descriptions. Aside from as an innings 'closer' the only logical place for him to utilise his unique abilities would be the top of the innings but they have decided that Brendon McCullum's power and gumption are best suited there.
Nathan Astle took minimal part in training yesterday with his heavily bruised thigh and remains a last-minute decision. If he is not fit James Marshall will open and Craig McMillan will slot into the middle order behind Vettori.
It will cap a remarkable comeback for the 30-year-old right-hander, whose international career looked shot to ribbons when he was dropped from the test and one-day sides in 2005. He was then heavily criticised by Bracewell after turning up for the 'A' tour of Australia this winter overweight and unfit.
However he regained Bracewell's faith with a string of high-quality performances for Canterbury this season _ 301 first-class runs at an average of 60.2 and a 69 off 52 balls in the State Shield _ and an improved attitude on and off the field.
He was in an ebullient mood at training yesterday, depositing a few deliveries, a la Jayasuriya, into the adjacent Queenstown Airport, and bowling with his usual vigour.