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| October 14, 2001 | Sunday | Rajab 26, 1422 |
Upbeat Kiwis promise tough fight
BRISBANE, Oct 13: New Zealand arrived here Saturday promising to give Steve Waugh’s world beaters a tough time in next month’s three-Test cricket series, starting here.
The Kiwis have been bolstered by the availability of key bowling trio, Chris Cairns, Daniel Vettori and Dion Nash from injury.
The New Zealanders say they have come armed with their best squad in recent years but they have already been posted distinct outsiders against an Australian team which swept them 3-0 in New Zealand early last year.
Captain Stephen Fleming said his squad was much improved and ready to rally around the capable senior players, led by dashing all-rounder Cairns and quality left-arm spinner Vettori.
“I rate (our chances) very highly and, if you do anything less, there is no point in coming over here,” Fleming said.
“We had a great series in New Zealand against Australia, with chances in every Test, and the belief comes when you start turning those situations in your favour.
“I’m very happy to have a very strong squad here because we’ve gone through some very tough times trying to introduce new players over the last 18 months.”
The New Zealanders will be desperate for Cairns, Vettori and Nash to avoid more injury problems this summer if they want to push the Australians in the Tests in Brisbane, Hobart and Perth.
The Kiwis arrived well ahead of schedule Saturday after their tour to Pakistan was cancelled because of the terrorist strikes in the United States.
New Zealand are further strengthened by left-arm swing bowler Shayne O’Connor’s recovery from knee surgery, but even though they can now choose from a full-strength squad their task remains formidable.
Steve Waugh’s Australians have won 20 and lost just three of their last 23 Tests, a sequence culminating in the recent 4-1 Ashes series triumph in England.
The 36-year-old captain and his twin brother Mark were two of the influential batsmen against England, averaging 107 and 86 respectively, with Steve scoring a courageous 157 not out in the fifth and final Test despite a calf muscle injury.
Waugh has since battled a deep vein thrombosis complaint and been prescribed blood-thinning medication but has been cleared to resume training in the nets next week.
New Zealand’s first tour match is a four-day game against a Queensland second XI in Brisbane starting next Tuesday.
The first Test against Australia starts in Brisbane Nov 8.
After playing New Zealand, Australia have a three-Test home series against South Africa which is a showdown between the top two sides in the world.
South Africa are second to Australia in the International Cricket Council (ICC) Test Championship table. They meet again in a return three-Test series in South Africa next February and March. —AFP/Reuters
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