Cricket: Bring on the good weather says Cairns

Stand-in captain Chris Cairns has not swayed from his belief that the tourists are the best side to leave New Zealand shores.

It's just that they're getting little chance to prove it.

Cairns was set to captain New Zealand against Kent in their final four-day warm-up match starting in Canterbury last night in the absence of Stephen Fleming, who is battling a hip injury.

For Cairns the excitement of his farewell test tour has been quelled by the pesky English spring weather, which has washed out most of what appeared a healthy build-up of three first-class matches before next Thursday's opening test at Lord's.

"I've always thought this is one of the strongest teams, if not the strongest, that New Zealand has sent away," Cairns said under gloomy cloud cover and bracing 8C temperatures at the St Lawrence Ground.

"The unfortunate thing is we haven't had much cricket - I haven't had a bat on tour yet.

"It's a concern, but we're not too worried because we were playing a test match four to five weeks ago."

And while Cairns wanted more involvement, he was welcoming not being relied on as the go-to man ahead of his 60th test.

"The ideal scenario is I don't get a bat because it means the guys at the top are doing their jobs. Then again, I want a hit-out so I can contribute.

"The issues we have are not often ones I've been associated with in New Zealand teams. We've got a very strong squad here. If I can get a bat that's great, but I'm happy to hand it over to the guys to score runs at the top."

For Cairns, who became the sixth member of the exclusive 3000-run, 200-wicket club in March, the fun is only just starting.

After the buzz of playing at Lord's one final time, he gets the ideal farewell in the third test at Trent Bridge, where he is a huge name from his days at Nottinghamshire.

Coach John Bracewell said he was bothered by the lack of build-up, although the situation was hardly surprising given the crammed scheduling and the unreliable weather in May.

His bowlers, especially, haven't completely hit the ground running.

The Duke balls, with their more pronounced seam, and the shifty run-ups on damp outfields have troubled all the bowlers, and the Kent match is a crucial time to get it right.

"They've all been stop-start affairs so far and we've been bowling with wet balls," Bracewell said, noting that quality indoor practice facilities were virtually non-existent if the dreaded rain hit.

"It's the cricket mecca of the world, but if it rains, everything stops. Their indoor facilities make it very difficult for the bowlers."

- NZPA