Cricket: Fans expected to do their bit - Trist

By RICHARD BOOCK

WELLINGTON - David Trist will not be completely shocked over the next few weeks if the New Zealand cricketing public hand Australia a little of what Wellington's weather served up yesterday - a chilly reception.

Having already heard from various Australian sources of the hiding about to be dished out to his side, Trist, the New Zealand coach, said yesterday that he was sure the tourists would soon discover that playing cricket "on our patch" in front of an animated Kiwi public was not as straightforward as had been suggested.

The Australians arrived yesterday in preparation for tomorrow night's opening one-day international at WestpacTrust Stadium, which was heading for a sellout yesterday after 30,000 of the available 34,000 seats had been snapped up.

Former test players Dean Jones and Greg Matthews have already predicted a rout, while Australian paceman Glenn McGrath yesterday continued his Muhammad Ali-like habit of targeting one batsman - this time Stephen Fleming - as his own personal "bunny of the series."

Trist said he was not surprised by the comments and took it as a compliment that the Australians, who did not bother to play a test against New Zealand until 1945-46, were at least acknowledging the fact that the team existed.

"The Australians have never been short of words, let's face it," he said. "We prefer to make our statements on the field. We respect Australia and look forward immensely to playing them, but at the end of the day they've got to meet us on our patch in front of our crowds, which will be tougher than they might expect.

"Over here they're going to have a much greater challenge than they've had against Pakistan or India, because they're not that familiar with our conditions, and they won't be able to feed off their own crowd and support, which they do so effectively at home."

New Zealand's open-wicket practice was cut short by rain yesterday, and with the weather forecast predicting rain for the next three days, it seems the new pitch at WestpacTrust Stadium will again be slow for the opening ODI, something Trist is comfortable with.

"I think if the pitch is similar to the track used for the ODI against the West Indies [when Chris Harris took one for 15 off 10 overs and Daniel Vettori two for 33] then it will suit us more than them," he said.