Cricket: Proteas have 'unfinished business' in NZ, says skipper

Graeme Smith of South Africa celebrates his century (R) with Jacques Kallis (L) during day three of the First Test match between New Zealand and South Africa. Photo / Phil Walter.

South Africa captain Graeme Smith hardly delivered it in the overly dramatic fashion of a heavyweight boxer but said the team had "unfinished business'' after the drawn first cricket test with New Zealand in Dunedin.

Both sides could legitimately claim to believe they would win the test heading into the final day before rain intervened.

It was an unsatisfactory end to what had been an interesting test, not least of all because it virtually robbed South Africa of the chance to be the world's top-ranked side by April 1 and receive US$175,000 from the ICC. England, who host South Africa in a three-test series in July, are almost assured of maintaining their top spot and getting their hands on the loot.

"It's unfinished business from the first test match, really,'' Smith said. "It was a whole day set up for either side to be successful on. I wouldn't say anyone outplayed the other. It's pretty much even-stevens going into this test match.

"Every test match we play, we want to be successful. We set quite high standards for ourselves as a test team. This is our first away trip of the season and there are another two big ones to come. This is an important stepping stone for us and we want to do well in New Zealand. These two tests are an important part of that.

"If we can go on to win this series convincingly, it will be good for our own confidence moving onto England but there's still a lot of hard work ahead of us for that.''

New Zealand will hope it is extremely hard work. They will arrive at Seddon Park tomorrow morning full of confidence after emerging from Dunedin with honour but there is a vulnerability about the side not evident in the Proteas.

Rob Nicol is unconvincing as a test opener, the tail promises to be a long one and six players in the likely starting XI have played 10 tests or fewer.

"We're still in the series and it's going to be a tough match here,'' New Zealand skipper Ross Taylor said. ``We know South Africa will come at us hard and we need to up our game and show the fighting spirit that we did in Dunedin.

"They've still got a lot to play for. I haven't had any messages from England saying `thank you' for stopping them [from winning 3-0]. If we keep fighting like we did in Dunedin, we'll be competitive.''

Runs from the top six will be paramount. A number got starts in Dunedin but only Brendon McCullum passed 50 _ Taylor was left stranded on 48 not out - and the unbeaten partnership of 82 between McCullum and Taylor was the only one of some substance.

Contrast that with South Africa, who had three batsmen pass 100 and three others who made half centuries.

Taylor confirmed Nicol will remain at the top of the order and will open with Martin Guptill, with McCullum at No 3. Nicol's place in the side could come under pressure for the third test if Dean Brownlie recovers in time from his fractured finger. He struggled with the pace of the South African attack in Dunedin and will come under a stern examination in this test.

The pitch promises to offer assistance to the seamers on the first morning, with plenty of grass on it, but it is traditionally a good batting track.

The weather forecast for Hamilton is promising up to Sunday evening, meaning it should dry off quickly, but it could also mean a repeat of Dunedin when bad weather affected the last day.

Both sides will hope it's not unfinished business heading into the final test in Wellington.