Cricket: Win or lose, it's best to face the best

By John Wright

The second one-day international proved just what a tough job New Zealand have in the tests against South Africa this summer, but at least it will provide us with the best possible build-up to the World Cup.

Like many other people I rate South Africa, alongside Australia, as the best team in the world, not only individually but also in the way they go about the game as a team.

But it is in New Zealand's interests to face the best before this year's World Cup.

While results are important, not only for the team but in other aspects like public support and sponsors, it is vital New Zealand know exactly where they stand before the world championship.

You can play a weaker side, as India was, and come up with a better result but I believe it is far better preparation to play a stronger side. Win or lose, you know where you stand. South Africa provide the ideal benchmark.

This is a very critical year for the New Zealand team and so far I believe they have made some progress. But it is not until you have a core of world-class performers that you reach your goal, and we're not there yet.

With our smaller population we will probably always battle the odds, and you've got to make sure things like good youth development structures are in place.

But the key for New Zealand is to out-practice and out-work the opposition. And we must also have players with an attitude of not just representing their country, but aspiring to become world class.

Whereas the nature of one-day cricket means you've always got a bit of a chance, the five-day tests against South Africa will provide a far greater challenge for New Zealand.

I think New Zealand can use conditions to their advantage. We have competed very well in places like the West Indies using bowlers like Justin Vaughan and Gavin Larsen.

If we produce slower tracks we can nullify South Africa's pace and use our type of bowlers to make it difficult for the opposition.

Partly for that reason, I believe Chris Harris must be in the test calculations.
Speaking of pace, I rate Allan Donald up there with the quickest bowlers I ever faced.

Of the players I regularly came up against, West Indian Michael Holding and Australia's Jeff Thompson remain etched in my mind as the quickest I had to deal with.

I played against Donald when he was starting off with Warwickshire and, going by that and everything I've seen and heard since, he's up there with the best.

There were plenty of good quicks around when I played, but Thompson and Holding were a little bit sharper than the rest.

Fast bowlers tend to have days when they have perfect rhythm. I remember three spells against Thompson and one against Holding when they were at their peak.

But there are other times when the quicks have to battle a bit more, and that is where the pitch conditions can come into play. I believe in trying to use your home advantage to best advantage.

You have to be solid at one, two and three in the batting order, and the general fear is that Donald and company will knock over our top order too quickly.

The golden rule against the quicks is that you must get into line with the ball, and you need good balance and the ability to play off both feet.

But, while it is a daunting task for New Zealand, I see it as a golden opportunity for our side to stand tall in the test arena.

There was a wonderful spell when England played South Africa at Trent Bridge last year when Mike Atherton was wrongly given "not out" against Donald.

You could see the South African bowler up the ante. It became a personal battle between two fine players.

It is the sort of confrontation that makes test cricket such a wonderful contest, and it is the sort of battle spirit that must be embedded in the New Zealand side as they enter what could be a tremendous series.

Pictured: South Africa's pace bowler Allan Donald will be a threat to our top order in the coming tests, but the series is a chance to learn by facing off against the world's best. PICTURE / FOTOPRESS