Cricket: NZ look rattled on eve of test

By RICHARD BOOCK

HAMILTON - If that old theory about a bad dress-rehearsal being a good omen still holds true, the New Zealand cricketers should be more than happy with their preparations for the first test against the West Indies starting today.

The home side completed one of their less memorable build-ups to a test with an error-ridden net practice in Hamilton yesterday, adding more weight to the suggestion the West Indies hold a slight edge leading into this opening match of the National Bank Series.

Frustration has been a constant companion for the New Zealanders since they began the countdown to the test, and although coach David Trist was resisting using the word during a weather-affected practice on Tuesday, it was written all over his face at times yesterday - and several of his batsmen.

The normally gregarious New Zealand coach has never been one to measure his sentences when discussing cricket with journalists, but was uncharacteristically brief in his comments after practice, and adopted a "neither confirm nor deny" policy on the fitness of seamer Dion Nash.

The later start time of noon for the test match has evidently persuaded the team's medical staff to take their time in making a decision over Nash, who, after being forced out of the tour of India with a back problem, bowled only a few overs at practice before busying himself with stretching exercises.

His availability is the biggest question-mark hovering over the composition of the New Zealand line-up, which is expected to mimic the probable West Indies make-up and include four specialist bowlers.

Presuming Nash is passed fit and shares the new ball with Chris Cairns, the hosts seem most likely to head into battle with Shayne O'Connor as the third seamer and Daniel Vettori the sole spin option, but have the capacity to pull a couple of surprises.

Andrew Penn, who has been fit and strong all season, might not swing the ball away from the left-hander - as is apparently preferred - but he does angle it across the batsmen, and picked up three left-handers in the second innings of the tour match at Taupo.

The other option the team management have is to bring Paul Wiseman in as the second spinner, although this appears less likely, not least because of doubts over Nash's ability to get through the match.

The pitch for the test dried out considerably yesterday, no doubt easing a few concerns for the Kiwi batsmen in particular, but the West Indies could yet prove a handful in the pace bowling department, where they have a raft of young fast bowlers attempting to establish their reputations.

The tourists last night upset some calculations by leaving paceman Merv Dillon and batsman Darren Ganga - and Wavell Hinds - out of their 13-strong squad for the test, while including both spinners, Nehemiah Perry and leggie Dinanth Ramnarine.

Dillon hurt his knee while attempting to evade a fast yorker from Reon King in the nets yesterday, while Ganga scored a century only this week against Auckland but was unable to displace incumbent Adrian Griffith, who will open the batting with Sherwyn Campbell.

Presuming the West Indians do not take leave of their senses overnight and decide to play two spinners, the next question is which of the three young fast bowlers - Reon King, left-armer Pedro Collins, and Franklyn Rose - they omit.

King, who can turn his pace up at times, bowls a typical West Indian length, Rose swings the ball, while Collins was the preferred third seamer in the first three tests against Australia earlier this year.

A feature of their squad is the inclusion of the 19-year-old Ricardo Powell, who seems set to make his test debut at No 6.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matt Horne, Gary Stead, Craig Spearman, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Adam Parore, Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Shayne O'Connor, Paul Wiseman, Andrew Penn.

West Indies: Brian Lara (captain), Sherwyn Campbell, Adrian Griffith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jimmy Adams, Ricardo Powell, Nehemiah Perry, Franklyn Rose, Pedro Collins, Courtney Walsh, Reon King, Dinanth Ramnarine.