KEY POINTS:
New Zealand might consider popping a couple of memory loss pills as they prepare for what their captain, Dan Vettori, yesterday referred to as a "must-win" match in Wellington today.
If they dwelt on what's gone before on the West Indies tour, the New Zealanders will be reflecting on a series of lost opportunities, and with it the knowledge that another defeat today will mean they cannot win the five-game ODI series.
They had the better of the rain-affected first test; should have pressed on to win the second; won one Twenty20 convincingly and squandered the chance to win the other; had the better of the rained-out opening ODI in Queenstown before losing with a ball to spare amid the hail in Christchurch last Saturday night.
The tenor of the tour has not been lost on Vettori.
"We were a little bit short with the bat [in Christchurch] but we also put ourselves in with a chance of winning," Vettori said. "And we've done that on a number of occasions. We've fought hard and haven't been able to finish it off and there's probably been a bit of poor execution in those pressure situations."
But Vettori said the failure of the batsmen to get sufficient runs in Christchurch should not mean a radical rethink of the order.
One issue is whether there is a place in the top five for both Jamie How and Daniel Flynn.
Neither is a dasher, although both have at times got big runs at a decent clip, How in the international game, Flynn for Northern Districts in domestic one-day cricket.
"We've really only had one bat in the series and it didn't quite go to plan in difficult circumstances," Vettori said. "We'll back our batting lineup. It's done a really good job for the last year or so."
As for a bowling group who conceded 46 runs in the last 4.5 overs as the West Indies charged home in Christchurch, Vettori adopted a collective line of thinking on who should be bowling at the death.
In Christchurch it was medium pacer Tim Southee and offspinner Jeetan Patel.
"It doesn't really matter who it is, they have to step up and make sure their execution is right," he added.
However the self-belief remains intact, he added, and that's helped by playing at a ground where New Zealand's record is good.
Of the 15 ODIs at the Cake Tin since the West Indies helped christen it in 2000, New Zealand have won nine, including the last four against different opponents - Sri Lanka, the West Indies, Australia and England.
The pitch is a drop-in, and history suggests it usually plays on the slowish side, but of those last four wins, New Zealand have batted first twice, and bowled first twice.
They hope to have allrounder Jacob Oram fit, as he battles to get over an Achilles problem. Whether he'll be fit to bowl is a moot point, but Vettori is adamant.
"We know how important he is for both sides of the game. But me, I'll take him in the side any way I can get him."
Otago batsman Neil Broom was last night trimmed from the squad for today.
The West Indies also have their fingers crossed, hoping vastly experienced Shivnarine Chanderpaul is fit for his first game in the series. He had bruised webbing between his left thumb and forefinger. But did some light training yesterday.
"He's looking pretty good," captain Chris Gayle said yesterday.
Chanderpaul will bulk up the West Indies batting and provide a psychological fillip for the tourists as they seek to put themselves in an unbeatable position in the series with two matches remaining in the next week.
"We've got a bit of momentum and hopefully we can carry that through," Gayle said.
"Our preparation has been good, we are pretty confident, but they will come at us and we have to keep doing the basic things right."
