Cricket: Trist: no experimenting

DURBAN - New Zealand will not be experimenting with wholesale player changes despite the one-day cricket series against South Africa now being a non-event.

New Zealand are desperate to win at least one of the remaining two games and do not need a huge improvement from Sunday's five-wicket loss in Kimberley.

South Africa clinched the series at Kimberley 3-0.

But they achieved their target of 288 with only seven balls to spare after some late jitters.

New Zealand coach David Trist said the team would be largely unchanged for the fifth game at Kingsmead in Durban tonight, and knew what they had to do to grab their elusive first victory in South Africa.

"Just doing what we got close to achieving in the last game is what this side needs to do to win," Trist said. "I don't believe changing the side significantly will make any difference."

While the bowling remains a key area of concern and the batting was just about right on Sunday, it is the other of the three disciplines Trist is still focusing on.

New Zealand held some sharp catches when the pressure went on in the Kimberley heat, but the rest of the fielding still needed work.

"We need to bat at least as efficiently, field 10 per cent to 15 per cent better, and hopefully bowl straighter lines," Trist said.

"We aren't as efficient fielding along the ground.

"We're making those odd little fumbles and when you're playing a good side everything has to be at its best."

Captain Stephen Fleming took the side in a one-hour fielding drill yesterday in a bid to address something which has long been a New Zealand strength.

Trist was disappointed the chance was not taken on Sunday when South Africa slipped from 215 for one in the 40th over to 255 for five in the 46th.

"It was pleasing that we held up under a barrage early on, fought back and nearly cracked them.

"They gave us the opportunity, but we didn't take it as well as we did in Nairobi."

The team were still in good spirits, according to Trist, despite their recent losing streak against a class opposition.

Left-armer Geoff Allott was likely to return after resting for the last game, while the rest of the squad remained focused on claiming their first win.

"I'm impressed with the general attitude, discipline and camaraderie that exists in a side that still has seven weeks to go," Trist said.

"There hasn't been a cross word. I think everyone wants to beat South Africa's sequence and start our's off."

Meanwhile, Trist has received the news from New Zealand that yet another of his pace bowlers has broken down.

This time it is Wellington's Andrew Penn, who has joined the injured list with a rib problem. He will be replaced by Canterbury's Chris Martin.

There are still grave concerns over Chris Cairns' knee, while the man with whom he is bracketed in the test squad, Scott Styris, is still nursing a back strain.

A decision on both will be made after the final one-dayer in Cape Town on Sunday, with Trist optimistic about Styris' condition.

He said it was pointless getting carried away by the injury woes.

"Sometimes out of nowhere comes spectacular things.

"We've already had that in Nairobi. That wasn't our best side, but we still beat the best in the world.

"We've got to retain a resolve and focus which befits any New Zealand cricket side, no matter how difficult the situation is.

"We want New Zealanders to see that irrespective of where we are, we're fighting."

With the series wrapped up, there are two likely changes from the South African side who have stormed through the matches so far.

Pace bowler Makhaya Ntini should come in for Roger Telemachus, while allrounder Andrew Hall is due for a game, possibly at the expense of Boeta Dippenaar.

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (captain), Chris Nevin, Nathan Astle, Roger Twose, Chris Cairns, Craig McMillan, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Scott Styris, Brooke Walker, Shayne O'Connor, Paul Wiseman and Geoff Allott.

South Africa (from): Shaun Pollock (captain), Gary Kirsten, Andrew Hall, Boeta Dippenaar, Nicky Boje, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Jonty Rhodes, Lance Klusener, Mark Boucher, Allan Donald, Roger Telemachus and Makhaya Ntini.

- NZPA