We will bounce back, say Kiwis

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming is confident his team will find form in time for the three-Test series against Australia after an unimpressive start to their tour.

The bowlers in particular have struggled in their opening matches, with New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden conceding they will need to lift their performance by 30 or 40 percent to challenge Australia.

The loss of left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori for at least one test with an ankle injury has compounded the problem.

Fleming, however, speaking before New Zealand's four-day match against Queensland starting in Brisbane on November 1, said: "What I can happily say is we've got experience.

"Last time we were here it was pretty much the first tour for a lot of us, but we've been around the traps a little bit more and we've got guys who have performed on the world stage.

"Chris Cairns in particular is chaffing at the bit and good guys are around to accompany him."

The first Test starts on November 8 at Brisbane.

81-BALL CENTURY

Cairns, 31, the team's match-winning all-rounder, has not played a test this year because of a knee injury but made a century 119 from 81 balls against Queensland President's XI on October 28 in Brisbane.

Craig McMillan and Lou Vincent also made centuries.

But Cairns returned bowling figures of one for 130 as a squad of Queensland fringe players amassed 477 for six declared against the tourists.

Then last week an Australian Capital Territory Invitational XI made 439 for six declared against them in Canberra.

New Zealand last toured Australia in 1997-98, losing the first two tests by 186 runs and an innings and 70 runs and almost losing the third, finishing on 223 for nine chasing 288 to win.

Australia swept a three-test series 3-0 in New Zealand last year.

Australia, meanwhile, will name their squad on Wednesday for the first test.

It is likely to be unchanged from the fifth Ashes test team of Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Ricky Ponting, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh (captain), Adam Gilchrist, Damien Martyn, Shane Warne, Brett Lee, Jason Gillespie and Glenn McGrath.

All have been in good form apart from Steve Waugh, who has been resting after suffering deep vein-thrombosis following a calf injury. He will warm up with just one club cricket match on November 3 and 4 in Sydney.

Mail Cricket Editor