KEY POINTS:
The touring West Indies cricket team are reading little into New Zealand's travails in Australia over the past fortnight.
Instead, coach John Dyson today said he expected nothing but a hard fought battle in the West Indies' upcoming two tests against the Black Caps.
He said Australia were
tough to play against, while New Zealand always provided strong opposition at home.
"Any New Zealand side in New Zealand is a difficult proposition," he said.
"They're playing in front of their home crowds on their home soil. They're very patriotic. They dig deep."
Australia had been licking their wounds after a 0-2 defeat in a four-test series in India, but Dyson said their performance against New Zealand showed how good that country's cricket structure was.
Many critics had written the Australians off because of the retirement of experienced players like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath and Adam Gilchrist.
"But they keep producing," said Dyson, a former Australian test wicketkeeper.
"I keep talking constantly in the West Indies about the system that underpins the main team and Australia has an excellent system."
Dyson noted that New Zealand were ranked No 7 in the International Cricket Council's (ICC) test rankings, one place above the West Indies.
"This is a contest between two teams who are pretty closely placed on the ICC table," he said.
"Both teams talk about wanting to move up. To me, this is going to be a good indication, this series, of just where they both are."
The West Indies will have a three-day match against Auckland, starting on Friday, to prepare for the first test, which starts in Dunedin on December 11.
The second test follows the week after in Napier.
The tour continues with two Twenty20 matches against the Black Caps and concludes with five one-day internationals.
The West Indies arrived in New Zealand fresh from a 0-3 one-day series loss against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi, in the United Arab Emirates.
Dyson said there was disappointment within the squad that they didn't come out on top, having got into winning positions in all three matches.
"We walked away kicking ourselves in the backside for not taking the series."
Of the less familiar faces in the tour party, Dyson described Leon Johnson as a promising young batsmen, while medium pacer Lionel Baker had bowled well in his international debut against Pakistan.
Others included West Australian-born batsman Brendan Nash, left-arm orthodox spinner Sulieman Benn, who stands at more than 2m, and "sharpish" pace bowler Kemar Roach, who could also bat.
Dyson said the West Indies - who are without allrounder Dwayne Bravo, recovering from ankle surgery - were looking at their less experienced players in the same way New Zealand were.
"We're looking for some consistency and some good performances to justify the faith that has been placed in them."
Meanwhile, skipper Chris Gayle was sent to see a doctor today after complaining of being unwell.
Dyson said he wasn't sure that the problem was, but was hopeful Gayle would be available for selection against Auckland.
- NZPA
