Cricket: Disrupted test good news for NZ

The more rain delays in the second cricket test, the better for the New Zealand cricket team's mental state, says Australian coach John Buchanan.

A confident Buchanan declared yesterday his side could beat New Zealand in just three days at the Basin Reserve after day one was washed out due to fog and persistent drizzle.

But he also admitted the shorter time period gave the world champions less time to mentally wear down the hosts as they did in the nine-wicket win in the first test in Christchurch.

"If you match the teams up man for man, it's very difficult for New Zealand. That doesn't mean they still can't challenge us on the field as we saw in the first day of the first test, and through half the second day," Buchanan said.

"They had a good day and a half, then had us six down for 200. But over the course of five days it's very difficult for New Zealand to match the technical skills and mental skills of this team.

"It doesn't mean they can't have good periods in the game and doesn't mean we can't be beaten, but the longer a game goes I think New Zealand will find it difficult to stack up against us."

A shortened match, which could be reduced to just 294 overs if two full days were lost, would mean a more contrived result with declarations probably needed on the final day.

That would bring New Zealand into the game, as they were in Brisbane in 2001 when they were set 284 to win by then captain Steve Waugh and came up just 10 runs short.

Buchanan praised New Zealand's start to the series, led by Hamish Marshall's gutsy 146 in their first innings of 433 at Jade Stadium.

Buchanan said his bowlers' plans to Marshall, playing just his fourth test here, would be a lot sharper this time.

"I think he's (Marshall) a very good example of how the Australian team adjust pretty quickly, due to the conditions or due to the way an individual plays.

"He found it quite difficult in the second innings to get something going. More wickets falling around him in that period, so there was a different situation created where he wasn't so free in his game."

It was no surprise that Marshall and Craig Cumming -- both playing their first tests against Australia -- appeared free of any mental baggage as the major contributors in the Christchurch first innings.

The test would be if they can back up here after Australia's searching exam in the second innings when New Zealand were skittled for 131 in 50 overs.

Yesterday, umpires David Shepherd and Rudi Koertzen abandoned the first day at 1.15pm without a ball being bowled when the weather showed no sign of clearing. The forecast from Sunday onwards was for improved weather.

Australia selected an unchanged side while New Zealand were still tossing up between spinner Paul Wiseman and paceman Iain O'Brien for 12th man duties today.

- NZPA