Cricket: Black Caps expect stern test from Zimbabwe

Strike bowler Shane Bond does not expect any tinkering with the New Zealand lineup for their crucial Twenty20 cricket world championship match against Zimbabwe on Wednesday morning (NZT) at Providence, Guyana, in the Caribbean.

New Zealand are on a high after beating Sri Lanka by two wickets with a ball to spare in their opening group B match on Saturday, but Bond says reputation counts for little in the shortest format of the game.

"In this sort of format, the shorter it is, the more even it gets, so I think there're no favourites in the tournament," he told reporters in Guyana today.

"The challenge is to play our best cricket on the big day. We done that so far, but there's a long way to go."

Bond, who took two for 35 against Sri Lanka, was well aware Zimbabwe was carrying form into the tournament, having beaten Australia and Pakistan in warm-up matches last week.

Sri Lanka will play them tomorrow morning at Providence in Guyana.

"Zimbabwe are capable of upsetting, especially if they get surfaces that suit them," he said.

Referring to all rounder Andy Blignauht's return to the side after five years, Bond said Zimbabwe had got lot of their players back who had some time out from the game.

"They are an experienced team that's been together for a long time so in this format they going to be very tough and we have to show them due respect.

"I suppose we will be fielding the same team (to the one that beat Sri Lanka) as it's a must win game for us.

"You want to carry momentum forward into the next stage so I expect similar lineup to the first game."

As for the nature of the low and slow pitches in the Caribbean not suited to the fast bowlers, Bond said it was up to him to adapt and get the most out of what was available from the pitch.

- NZPA