KEY POINTS:
The state of mind of the struggling New Zealand top-order is paramount in coach John Bracewell's thinking this week as the Black Caps prepare for the first Test against South Africa in Johannesburg.
The batting woes of the top-order have been the major theme to come out of
New Zealand's two warm-up games in Bloemfontein and Potchefstroom, but Bracewell said he had been communicating to his batsmen the importance of putting past failures behind them.
"The emphasis is on playing ball-by-ball. They need to stay in the now rather than reflect on the past, which may have affected us in the past," Bracewell said.
The coach said the act of changing from limited-overs or twenty20 cricket to the longer version of the game was not the problem.
"That hasn't affected us and isn't really the concern. The top three are all specialist Test players and the top-order have been with the A side in Australia recently. And, Stephen Fleming has a lot of experience and is coming off a good season in county cricket."
Bracewell has already given Fleming the all-clear to play in the first Test starting at the Wanderers on Thursday, despite a thumb injury that ruled him out of last weekend's warm-up game in Potchefstroom.
"The only thing that will make me not select him is if he doesn't pitch up for practice tomorrow," Bracewell joked.
"No, Stephen had a bit of discomfort when he was batting today, but it is easing. I have no concerns about him playing in the Test."
The form of the bowlers has been cause for much greater happiness, with the presence of Shane Bond in a Test against South Africa for the first time an obvious topic of attention.
"I'm really pleased with the pace bowlers and we'll have a full contingent to choose from. We can pick an attack to suit all conditions," Bracewell said.
"Shane is obviously keen to get at the South Africans and he bowled with good hostility in the warm-up games.
"He had a bit more rhythm and control each time he bowled and, with Chris Martin doing the same, it means tactically we have a lot of options."
All of which could mean a harsh reveille for a South African batting line-up fresh off a limited-overs triumph on the placid pitches of Pakistan.
South African coach Mickey Arthur said: "Obviously we're delighted with what happened in Pakistan, but now we have to set new goals and reassess where we need to be.
"We're coming straight out of Pakistan and foreign conditions, while New Zealand have been here for a couple of weeks which makes it necessary for us to change game plans quickly."
All-rounder Shaun Pollock has been added to the South African Test squad but Arthur was not convinced they would include him to make provision for the long tail they fielded in their two Tests against Pakistan that preceded the one-dayers.
"For a long time we've had the luxury of being able to bat quite deep, but I'm very much of the opinion that you choose your best six batsmen, your wicketkeeper and then the bowlers for the job of taking 20 wickets," Arthur said.
"The tail begins at eight, but we don't want to tinker too much with the starting XI. The conditions will determine whether Shaun plays."
- NZPA
