By RICHARD BOOCK in JOHANNESBURG
South Africa's reputation for lopsided day-night games could have a major effect on New Zealand's World Cup campaign.
The issue involves the heavy dew produced in the evening air at Cape Town and Durban, where teams bowling second have invariably found everything in their favour, despite the
benign nature of the pitch in the first innings.
England were the latest casualty of the decision to stage day-nighters, being undone by Indian swing bowler Ashish Nehra, who took six wickets on a surface that gave far more assistance than it had earlier in the day.
Last week, the boot was on the other foot as England paceman James Anderson scythed through the Pakistan batting line-up with a dew-assisted performance at Cape Town.
The matter could have relevance for New Zealand if they qualify for the second round, as the second-placed side in group B will play the second-placed side in group A under lights at Cape Town next Friday and the group A winners - almost certainly Australia - at Durban the following Saturday.
New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart summed up the situation yesterday when he said, tongue-in-cheek, that it wasn't a concern to his side ... as long as they won the toss.
"It appears that the ball does dip around a bit more at night-time, but that's the deal and we've just got to get on with it and do our best whatever the situation.
"I guess it could influence the composition of our team, in that you'd want to harness the conditions if you get the chance, just as you would if you found you were playing on green seamer or a pitch that promised to turn."
After India's big win over England, former test paceman Angus Fraser said it was "a shame that batting under lights in South Africa is such a disadvantage", and Guardian writer Mike Selvey - also a former test seamer - expressed similar concerns.
"The wisdom of scheduling only a few World Cup matches under lights, when the advantage so often goes to the side batting first, must now be open to question," Selvey wrote.
"Five days ago in Cape Town, England beat Pakistan when Hussain won the toss. Yesterday, it was Sourav Ganguly's turn and the match followed a similar course.
"England were thoroughly outplayed, but no game in a competition of this magnitude should be unduly influenced by pure chance."
Aberhart said it was hoped that batsman Nathan Astle would play in New Zealand's final group game against Canada on Monday.
Astle has knee and hernia conditions which will require surgery when he returns home.
"We're hopeful. One of the reasons we rested Nathan at Kimberley was to have him right for the match against Canada, and as long as everything goers to plan that's what will happen.
"But he is struggling a bit. His hernia is causing him more difficulties than his knee, and it's a matter of giving him every chance before we make a decision."
Astle's last match was against South Africa 12 days ago.
Aberhart said the other fitness concern after the match against Bangladesh - Jacob Oram's hand injury - was not serious.
* Weekend games:
Tonight: Pool A, Pakistan v India, Centurion, live on Sky Sports Channels 10 and 12,9.30.
Pool B, Sri Lanka v West Indies, Cape Town, live on Sky Sports Channels 10 and 12, 1.15am; Kenya v Bangladesh, Johannesburg.
Tomorrow night: Pool A, Australia v England, Port Elizabeth, live on Sky Sports Channels 10 and 12, 8.45pm.
World Cup schedule
Points table
By RICHARD BOOCK in JOHANNESBURG
South Africa's reputation for lopsided day-night games could have a major effect on New Zealand's World Cup campaign.
The issue involves the heavy dew produced in the evening air at Cape Town and Durban, where teams bowling second have invariably found everything in their favour, despite the
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