Cricket: NZ regroup as Sri Lanka tests loom

Black Caps skipper Stephen Fleming had a poor series against Australia. Picture / Fotopress

New Zealand have less than a week to shake off the impact of Australia's physical and psychological battering as captain Stephen Fleming eyes a crucial chance to rebuild his side's confidence in Napier.

After six weeks of torment from one of the world's greatest ever cricket sides, Fleming was glad the Australians went home on the early morning flight to Sydney today.

Ricky Ponting's men won the third test by nine wickets in a canter at Eden Park yesterday, winning the series 2-0 and further confirming the gulf between the world's first and seventh ranked test teams.

Sri Lanka loom as an oasis on the horizon in Monday's first test in Napier.

But the scars from this series may linger as Fleming heads a list of players who found it heavy going against Australia and take some indifferent form into the upcoming tests.

The New Zealand captain, after scoring 104 series runs at 17.33, bore his funeral face last night as the effects of the relentless tour kicked in.

"It's certainly character building. It's tough, you get beaten up and criticised and quite rightly so," Fleming said after probably his final test against Australia.

"The public expect more, but probably what they don't understand is the pressure this Australia side is putting on the opposition.

"It's not just us -- they've mauled Pakistan and India. They've turned over the best the world has to offer. We've just got to go back to the drawing board and come up with something that gets us closer.

"We're back on the horse against Sri Lanka. It doesn't have to be stressed how important that is to finish off the summer."

Now in doubt for the Napier test with his back problems, Daniel Vettori hailed the Australians as one of the greatest sides ever.

"I know the Australian team I first played against (in 1997-98), I'd much rather play them than this team here," Vettori said.

"I'm a big fan of the game and statistics and sides of the past. This team will take its place as one of the best ever, with the West Indian team of the 1980s and the Australian Invincibles of 1948."

New Zealand will take another under-manned lineup to Napier, possibly without Vettori and definitely without key allrounders Scott Styris and Jacob Oram.

Coach John Bracewell will announce the 12-man squad at 11am tomorrow.

- NZPA