Cricket: Kiwis win toss and bat

HARARE - New Zealand won the toss and chose to bat first in the second cricket test against Zimbabwe in Harare last night.

An hour after play started, New Zealand were 21 for one.

Craig Spearman was caught for two. Mark Richardson was 11 and Mathew Sinclair five.

The tourists made two changes from the side who won the first test in Bulawayo by seven wickets.

Spearman, who still has stitches in his leg just above the knee, replaced the injured Matthew Horne, and paceman Dion Nash came in for spinner Daniel Vettori, who has a back injury.

Spearman had an extended net session to test his leg and was still clearly not 100 per cent, but coach David Trist was happy to take the risk and play him.

Zimbabwe made three changes, bringing in Guy Whittall for Craig Wishart and pace bowlers Mpumelelo Mbangwa and Henry Olonga for Bryan Strang and David Mutendera.

Vettori is scheduled to have a scan today and, if it is confirmed that he cannot play in the meantime, he will accompany Horne on the flight home on Friday.

Vettori's absence will hamper New Zealand on a pitch looking likely to assist the spinners, but with more pace than the first test's Bulawayo featherbed.

Chris Harris, who arrived at the weekend, was made 12th man.

Another emergency player on his way to Zimbabwe is Central Districts' Glen Sulzberger.

Trist, fully aware of Vettori's huge value to the team, said not much more could be done for him medically.

"We'll look closely at his situation and try to get to the bottom of it because as yet I don't think we have," the coach said.

"The symptoms remain, so we probably have no alternative but to get him home into an environment more conducive than touring to speedy recovery."

There is no indication of how long the injury will keep Vettori out, but the test series against South Africa starting on November 17 in Bloemfontein is an obvious target.

His rehabilitation is likely to include a full analysis of his bowling action, including his posture, to try to determine the problem.

Meanwhile, Grant Flower, who was called for throwing on Saturday, has had his bowling action cleared by Zimbabwe's cricket authorities.

Left-arm spinner Flower was called three times by Australian umpire Darrell Hair during the final day of the first test, and was automatically suspended from bowling in the second innings.

But the Zimbabwe Cricket Union's illegal deliveries committee has decided Flower's action is legal.

"We held a hearing at which we viewed video footage of the match and at which Grant was present," said Andy Pycroft, the union's convener and Zimbabwe's representative on the International Cricket Council's illegal deliveries committee.

"We have cleared him from an internal point of view and we're happy for him to bowl for Zimbabwe.

"But he will still have to undergo the same process at ICC level."

Pycroft said the union had decided to study Flower's action before Saturday, in response to media speculation in South Africa that it was suspect, and was able to gather valuable evidence.

"The three balls that he was called on were among those we viewed, frame by frame and from side on, as well as front on."

Stephen Fleming, aged 27, will make history if he leads the side to victory. In just his 52nd test, he will become New Zealand's most successful captain.

A win would give him 11 from 29 tests in charge, bettering Geoff Howarth's 10 wins from 30 from 1980-85.

Fleming was more than aware of the impending milestone.

"It plays a huge part. I'd be very proud to hold that record. It's not really a personal accolade, but something for the team to aim for," he said.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Craig Spearman, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Chris Cairns, Adam Parore, Dion Nash, Paul Wiseman, Shayne O'Connor. Twelfth man: Chris Harris.

Zimbabwe: Heath Streak (captain), Grant Flower, Gavin Rennie, Stuart Carlisle, Alistair Campbell, Andy Flower, Guy Whittall, Mluleki Nkala, Paul Strang, Henry Olonga, Mpumelelo Mbangwa. Twelfth man: David Mutendera.

Umpires: Ian Robinson (Zimbabwe), David Shepherd (England).

- NZPA