Cricket: Trist a bit twitchy over effectiveness of bowling

BULAWAYO - New Zealand cricket coach David Trist needs his bowlers to dispel some nagging doubts and take the 20 Zimbabwean wickets required to win the first test starting in Bulawayo tonight (New Zealand time).

While New Zealand's preparation for the test series has seemed ideal, Trist yesterday raised concerns about the readiness of his attack.

One key man, offspinner Paul Wiseman, looked a little off the pace in the final lead-up game, in Kwekwe against Zimbabwe A, but improved near the end of the match.

He is shaping up as an important part of the New Zealand armoury and the focus in the camp is heavily on his readiness to do the job on a typically flat Queen's Sports Club pitch.

"I just felt some of our bowlers were a bit underdone and didn't get as much bowling as they needed," Trist said.

"I would have liked to have seen Wiseman do a bit more.

"That's my main area of concern. We have to get 20 wickets."

Wiseman finished last season strongly in the test series against Australia, but after a break during winter, he has had only the three-day game in Kwekwe to tune up.

"He missed the first game with a knee injury and probably didn't get enough bowling in the next game.

"It's more the confidence issue and an ability to rise above that," Trist said.

"At test level you've got to step up, and we need Wiseman to be the ideal support bowler for Daniel Vettori.

"Chris Cairns is fairly close, and Shayne O'Connor has been really impressive since he's joined us."

Trist said the batting was right on target, and no one could argue after they piled on New Zealand's highest score, of 677 for seven declared, in Kwekwe.

Mark Richardson scored 306 in just over 13 hours, a remarkable dress-rehearsal for his test debut.

The Zimbabwe A bowling attack was not outstanding, but included accomplished legspinner Paul Strang, who should play in the test.

He bowled tidily with good variation and the New Zealanders have been using their computer analysis on him.

"We're having a look at him and also looking at some of our own bowlers and what they can do better.

"But I think our guys are reasonably confident with the Zimbabwean bowlers," Trist said.

Strang is set to play his first test in more than a year after an over-use injury in his bowling forearm kept him out.

He has been confined to one-day play and said it had made him hungrier to return.

"It's been incredibly frustrating, you want to get involved, but it's also refuelled my desire," he said.

"I want to go out and give it what I'm capable of."

Strang, who played for English county Kent under former New Zealand opener John Wright, admitted the home side were up against it in this series.

"New Zealand are a great unit. We've played a lot of them before but they've caught us in a rebuilding phase when they're well set," he said.

"We're two contrasting teams."

New Zealand will make just one change from the final warm-up game, with O'Connor coming in for Dion Nash, who is still making progress on his return to full fitness.

Zimbabwe were to narrow their squad down to 12 on the eve of the test, with Heath Streak set to captain his country in a test for the first time.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Horne, Mark Richardson, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Adam Parore, Daniel Vettori, Paul Wiseman, Shayne O'Connor.

Zimbabwe (from): Heath Streak (captain), Grant Flower, Gavin Rennie, Stuart Carlisle, Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower, Guy Whittall, Craig Wishart, Mluleki Nkala, Paul Strang, Bryan Strang, David Mutendera, Henry Olonga, Mpumelelo Mbangwa. NZPA

* Sky Sport's coverage of the first test - from today until Saturday - and the second test - from September 19-23 - features live daily coverage from 7.55 pm to 3.30 am, with the final session replayed from 6 am to 8am.

Daily highlights will be screened on Sky Sport 2 from 7.30 pm.

All three one-day internationals - on September 27, 30 and October 1 - will also be shown live, from 7.25 pm to 3.30 am, with the final session replayed from 6 am to 8 am. Highlights will be screened on Sky Sports 2 from 7 pm to 8.30 pm.