Cricket: Restless Black Caps primed for one-day series

BULAWAYO - New Zealand go into the one-day cricket tri-series against India and Zimbabwe wedged uncomfortably between a rock and a soft place.

The Black Caps take on Zimbabwe in the first match of the tournament at Queens Sports Club in Bulawayo today (7.30pm NZT Wednesday), and it is difficult to imagine a softer assignment for an international team.

Although no opposition can be written off before a one-day match, the Zimbabweans come close.

The way they folded in under five days in the two-test series, and the limp performance of a Board 11 that included several internationals in a tour match in Bulawayo on Monday does not bode well for the home side.

The contrast between today's and Friday's game, when New Zealand play India here, is likely to be stark and a far harder, more even contest is in the offing.

So New Zealand coach John Bracewell's inclination to focus on his own team rather than the respective strengths and weaknesses of the opposition makes perfect sense.

"We're looking to put ourselves on a winning road," Bracewell said.

"It's about getting a run of success going, which we need to do after our results against Australia."

The bruises New Zealand sustained in those encounters with the world champions in February and March are clearly still evident in their own minds.

But the good news is that the New Zealanders have bonded into a settled touring unit in Zimbabwe.

They have dealt with the Zimbabweans like a quality side should, and at their training sessions there is plenty of evidence of a team going forward.

As there was at Monday's tour match, when New Zealand hemmed the home side in to a total of 193 for eight and polished off the target in 25.1 overs to win by eight wickets.

"It was a decent enough workout, although we would have liked to have batted first and had a full 50 overs," Bracewell said.

"But I think the wicket got better as the day wore on.

"It was a bit sticky and slow to start with and that's something we're going to have to take into account in the series."

The experience of local conditions, having arrived here from Harare almost two weeks ago, will serve them well against the Indians.

Bracewell was impressed with the bowling of Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram, neither of whom played a role in the test series, while spinner Jeetan Patel "did well for his first bowl in a New Zealand shirt".

As for Andre Adams, who took one for 12 from nine overs, "he's been in good form with Essex and he's confident and full of it".

New Zealand's only significant injury concern was with experienced batsman Nathan Astle who injured his left ring finger during the second test and was diagnosed with tendon damage.

The injury isn't considered serious but hasn't improved over the past few days.

Test opener James Marshall, who returned home with the test specialists at the weekend, was due to fly back today as cover.

New Zealand could catch India napping on Friday. Sourav Ganguly's team have yet to arrive in Bulawayo -- the latest estimate of when they will do so is on Thursday -- and they don't seem to have much enthusiasm for the tournament.

But local cricket fans, who are starved of competitive encounters, are looking forward to the series and they have already voted with their money.

Tickets for the games between New Zealand and India are selling fast, unlike those for matches involving the home side.

- NZPA