Kiwis ask ACB for two more matches

New Zealand cricket authorities have asked the Australian Cricket Board to add an extra two matches to their Australian tour after cancelling their trip to Pakistan.

The Kiwis asked to include the matches before the first of three Tests starts in Brisbane on November 8.

The New Zealanders are worried they will go into the series underprepared after they were forced to cancel their tour of Pakistan because of security concerns related to the attacks on the United States.

A spokesman for the Australian Cricket Board said Australia would almost certainly support the proposal.

"We've agreed in principle but we obviously need to work that through logistically," the spokesman said.

New Zealand were due to begin their tour on November 1 with just one warm-up match, against Queensland, before the first Test, but are now likely to start in mid-October.

They have another two matches scheduled before the second and third Tests in Hobart and Perth.

The Kiwis will go back to New Zealand after the third Test before returning in January for a triangular limited-overs series including Australia and South Africa.

Mail Cricket Editor