Cricket: Steamy Mumbai hits Black Caps

Hamish Marshall

Hamish Marshall reckons the New Zealanders might need snorkels in their opening Champions Trophy showdown against South Africa on Monday, should Mumbai's humidity get any worse.

One of a clutch of batsmen to impress during New Zealand's 39-run win over a Mumbai President's XI yesterday, Marshall said recent rain in the city had caused humidity levels to go through the roof, to the acute discomfort of the tourists.

The little right-hander came in at No 4 yesterday and later helped repair the innings in tandem with Scott Styris, scoring 43 off 63 balls and sharing in a fifth wicket stand of 47, after New Zealand had slumped to 139-4.

However, he said afterwards the energy-sapping humidity had eventually hit him and his teammates like a wall, to the extent that the batsmen were becoming physically stressed and were struggling for air.

"It's been almost unbearably humid and the batsmen were running out of legs during our first innings," he said. "It was pretty uncomfortable and if it's anything like that on Monday, it'll be tough going all the way."

New Zealand rested their three most fragile bowlers yesterday - Shane Bond, Jacob Oram and Daniel Vettori, and Marshall said the only concerns at the end of the match were things like hydration and saline levels.

Bond, Oram and Vettori were apparently being primed for the second warm-up game, being played overnight.

"Everyone came out of today's game okay and without any injuries but, the conditions - as I said - were very taxing and there's going to be some tired bodies if things stay the same over the next few days.

"If today's weather is any guide, there's going to be a bit of humidity around on Monday and we expect there'll be a bit in the air for the new-ball bowlers early on."

New Zealand have traditionally struggled for success in India and on this occasion will be going into the mini World Cup without having played an ODI since March, and with no less than five front-line players returning from injury.

For all that, most of the batsmen have found solid form on the English county circuit and Marshall said hopes were high that the strength of the squad on paper would translate into good results on the field.

"We believe we're capable of beating any other team that's over here, it's as simple as that, really," he said.

"We're at full strength, everyone's refreshed from a mid-year break and we can't forget that the Champions Trophy is something we've already won once. So we know we can do it.

"The main thing for us is to make sure we play to our potential, and that's always the key, isn't it? We know we're good enough to win if we do."

Marshall was also pleased with the change of format for the Champions Trophy, an alteration that he believed made the competition less random, and much more likely to produce the two best teams for the final.

The past three tournaments were effectively all sudden-death affairs, but this year's incarnation involves two pools of four teams, three pool games per team, with the top two qualifiers from each pool eventually qualifying for the semifinals.

"It's not all about getting past your first serious game of the tournament, as it's been in the past. This time it's far more like the second stage of a World Cup format, with the semi-finals and final to follow.

"It's also more meaningful and relevant in terms of what's coming up next year [the World Cup], and I guess it's an excellent chance for the players and teams to acquaint ourselves with that type of format."

As for the South Africans, he said New Zealand respected them as world-class opposition but still rated their own chances of carrying the day, and getting their 2006-07 season off to a perfect start.

"The bowlers have already done their homework on South Africa and there'll be more analysis to come as the game gets closer.

"They're obviously a strong side, ranked No 2 in the world right now, but we've had a lot of experience against them and we're optimistic about our chances."

New Zealand made 246 batting first in yesterday's practice match, of which Lou Vincent contributed 59, Stephen Fleming 52, Marshall 43 and Styris 27. Mark Gillespie and Jeetan Patel then took three wickets apiece as the President's XI were dismissed for 207.

Possibly the most encouraging news for New Zealand was the fact that Styris, who returned from England with a back complaint last month, negotiated eight overs at the bowling crease without mishap.


Hamish Marshall

Age: 27
ODIs: 55
Runs: 1310
Ave: 30.46
Strike rate: 72.85
100s/50s: 1/11
Last season: 279 runs @ 17.43