Cricket: Preparation concerns simmer away for Black Caps

Controversy over the poor practice opportunities given to the New Zealand cricketers continues to simmer away. Photo / Getty Images.

Controversy over the poor practice opportunities given to the New Zealand cricketers continues to simmer away as they prepare to bounce back against a buoyant Australian side in Perth.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has given backing to his under-fire spinner Mark Craig while there continue to be positive noises about Tim Southee's fitness, even though a fast bowler with a back injury is not a great combination for a tough battle at the WACA.

The Kiwis were embarrassed in Brisbane but the debacle came after their warm-up game in New South Wales was scrapped during the fourth session because the pitch at Blacktown was unfit for first-class cricket. Even had the game continued, the tourists were operating on a wicket at odds with what they faced at the Gabba.

Former Aussie wicketkeeper Ian Healy even weighed in, describing it as a"very red-faced moment" for Cricket Australia, pointing out that the national body had dealt a similar hand to England before the Ashes two years ago.

The issue continues to bubble away with Hesson being quizzed on it today.

Hesson said: "Allan Border Oval wasn't available. We had a memorandum of understanding signed off we'd play a good side. Obviously it didn't say we'd paly in Blacktown on a not so good surface, otherwise we wouldn't have singed it off.

"(but) we had plenty of good nets in Brisbane, to be ready on the first day...no excuses there."

During other questioning, he said the New Zealand attack had been "a bit underdone from a skills perspective".

Craig was blasted for 150 runs as Australia went on a first innings rampage before he mounted a three-wicket comeback in the second. Hesson backed the finger spinner.

"Mark has won a number of games of cricket for us - as a New Zealand test match spinner that doesn't happen that often. He's a big part of our side, bats at eight, fields at second slip, scores some valuable runs and takes wickets for us in the second innings.

Unfortunately he had most of his role to play in the first innings," said Hesson.

Hesson batted away questions on Mitchell Starc, the Aussie paceman who was fined half his match pay for hurling the ball close to Craig on the final day of the Gabba test.

"I really have no interest how he operates to be fair - it's more about what he does with the ball rather than what he does with his mouth or throws the ball," said Hesson.

"I thought the match referee dealt with it appropriately - if that (Starc's behaviour) makes us angry it means we are a bit consumed with things out of our control. There are plenty of things for us to worry about."