Win over Zimbabwe would be an ideal tonic: Trist

WELLINGTON, DEC. 25. New Zealand cricket coach David Trist says a Test victory over Zimbabwe would be a welcome tonic for any psychological damage suffered during his side's poor South African tour.

Barely returned from its 0-2 Test series loss and 0-5 defeat in the one-dayers against South Africa, New Zealand hosts Zimbabwe in a one-off Test beginning on Tuesday at the Basin Reserve.

Although jaded after an 18-week tour of Singapore, Kenya, Zimbabwe and South Africa, Trist said the players were enthusiastic about the Test and one-day series against Zimbabwe after practice on Christmas Eve and a brief fielding session on Monday.

``We've come together pretty late but the guys needed a bit of a breather after the tour of South Africa,'' Trist said. ``We have to move on and prepare positively - we have to be right at our best and I think we'll be pretty close to it. We need to get on the winning track again.''

Weather forecasters are predicting drizzle over the next few days. ``Any rain reduces the possibility of a result,'' said Trist. ``We want to get ahead on the first day and stay ahead right through.''

Trist remains cautious of Zimbabwe despite New Zealand's 2-0 series win there in September. ``They play a style of cricket that best supports their player base. We have to be patient as well, we need a clinical approach similar to what we used in Zimbabwe. They will have high expectations after playing reasonably well in India.''

Zimbabwe lost the Test series 0-1 to India but its batting was solid with Andy Flower in strong form with unbeaten scores of 232 and 183 against India.

Flower, a late arrival on tour with his wife Rebecca expecting their baby, said the team was determined to atone for earlier bad performances in Wellington.

``We've been hammered every time we've played here - we have something to prove that we can play in these conditions,'' said Flower.

New Zealand crushed Zimbabwe by 10 wickets in the first of the 1998 series and Zimbabwe has yet to win a one-day international on the ground.

New Zealand has never lost a Test against Zimbabwe, winning five of the 10 encounters since 1992. The New Zealand side will be finalised after a final pitch inspection on Tuesday with the selectors only having to decide between rookie legspinner Brooke Walker and untried all-rounder James Franklin. Zimbabwe has had to contend with injury and illness since its arrival. The most serious setback was top-order batsman Grant Flower's fractured finger, sustained while fielding against Canterbury.

He will stay with the team but is not expected to be fit until Zimbabwe plays Australia and the West Indies in a tri- series in Australia beginning in January.

Zimbabwe prepared for the Test with a dismal display in the three-day tour match against Canterbury when it was bundled out for 150 in reply to the home side's 330 for five declared after being put into bat.

The visiting team was hampered in the Christchurch match by having three top players ill with influenza - Heath Streak, Alistair Campbell and Stuart Carlisle.

Zimbabwe coach Carl Rackemann said with the squad now down to 14, they had a lot of work to do to finalise its starting 11, although the 'flu-ridden trio and Andy Flower will all play.

Batting does not pose Rackemann with as many problems as his bowling attack. Zimbabwe's recent tour of India was highlighted by some great batting from the Flower brothers, Campbell and Trevor Madondo, while the Christchurch match showed the emergence of Doug Marillier as a definite prospect to make his debut.

``The biggest problem we face is to put out a balanced side,'' Rackemann said. ``With Grant out that poses some difficulty because he has been in fantastic form.''

On the bowling front Henry Olonga was the pick of the Zimbabwe bowlers in Christchurch and will play, according to Rackemann, while leg-spinner Brian Murphy was also a certainty.

lThe teams (from): New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Mark Richardson, Matthew Horne, Mathew Sinclair, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Adam Parore, James Franklin, Paul Wiseman, Shayne O'Connor, Chris Martin, Brooke Walker.

Zimbabwe: Heath Streak (captain), Guy Whittall, Alistair Campbell, Stuart Carlisle, Andy Flower, Trevor Madondo, Doug Marillier, Gavin Rennie, Brian Murphy, Henry Olonga, Bryan Strang, Travis Friend.

- AP. Reuters

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