KEY POINTS:
When most of New Zealand's leading cricketers are putting their feet up, a clutch of up-and-comers are settling into a month's competitive play in Australia.
New Zealand A, which include six full test or ODI players, kick off their trip against Northern Territory state team in a one-dayer at Darwin tomorrow. Then, after two weeks' training, they head to Queensland for a four-way ODI series involving Australia's Centre of Excellence team, and emerging players from South Africa and Indian state side Karnataka.
Coach Dave Nosworthy likes what he's seen of the players since their arrival this week.
"The fitness evaluations have gone well. The guys have arrived pretty fit and prepared," he said.
Their numbers are boosted during the Darwin leg of the trip by five under-19 players, including Northern Districts bowler Tim Southee and Canterbury 16-year-old Corey Anderson, who will train with them as part of their buildup for the world under-19s in Kuala Lumpur next February.
It's no cushy mid-winter jaunt. Nosworthy, who coaches Canterbury in the domestic championship, is expecting tough, competitive cricket. The New Zealanders have seen the Australian squad, which includes three internationals, batsman Mark Cosgrove (3 ODIs), spinner Dan Cullen (5 ODIs and a test) and Ben Hilfenhaus, who made his ODI debut against New Zealand in Hobart this year.
"We are expecting hard cricket. We're not going to participate, we've got to learn to play winning cricket," Nosworthy said.
"The World Cup is finished, now we're looking forwards, over the next four-year period."
New Zealand will have two Twenty20 games at Caloundra before playing each of the other three sides twice to decide finalists.
For captain James Marshall, opener Jamie How and allrounder Andre Adams, the trip offers an early chance to push their claims, after being part of the national side last season. Of the three, only How has a New Zealand contract.
Marshall, who led Northern Districts to the State Championship title last summer, said the players were excited and enthusiastic.
NEW ZEALAND A SQUAD
James Marshall (c), Jamie How, Michael Papps, Rob Nicol, Grant Elliott, Neil Broom, Gareth Hopkins, Aaron Redmond, Andre Adams, Nathan McCullum, Warren McSkimming, Bradley Scott, Iain O'Brien, James McMillan, Hamish Bennett.
Schedule (all one-dayers unless stated)
Tomorrow: v Northern Territory, Darwin
July 16: v South Africa emerging players, Caloundra (Twenty20)
July 17: v Karnataka (India), Caloundra (Twenty20)
July 19: v Australia Centre of Excellence, Caloundra
July 20: v South Africa, Maroochydore
July 22: v Karnataka, Maroochydore
July 24: v Australia, Brisbane
July 25: v South Africa, Brisbane
July 27: v Karnataka, Brisbane
July 28: Final, 3rd-4th playoff, Brisbane
