New Zealand plan changes against West Indies

New Zealand, looking for improvement after big losses in Pakistan, plan to reshuffle their side for the first one-day international against West Indies on Wednesday.

Captain Stephen Fleming said his players were keen to get over heavy defeats in their Pakistan tour of April and May which was cut short after a suicide bombing outside their hotel in Karachi which killed 14 people.

"Losing by a lot can affect your confidence and we picked up injuries," Fleming told a news conference on Tuesday.

"But the way the tour ended was the type of experience that can toughen up individuals. We are looking forward to the challenge here."

Fleming said New Zealand would benefit from the return to fitness of pace bowler Shane Bond and batsmen Craig McMillan and Nathan Astle.

Bond has recovered from a stress fracture in his left foot, McMillan has overcome an ankle problem and Astle is over a knee injury incurred during the Pakistan tour.

HITCHCOCK CHANCE

Medium-pace bowler Paul Hitchcock is expected to get his first chance of international action and wicket-keeper Lou Vincent is also likely to play.

"Injuries give you a chance to introduce young players and this gives them a chance to show what they can do ahead of the World Cup," Fleming said.

New Zealand team manager Jeff Crowe said: "We've got a great blend of youth and experience and players coming back from injury. Bond is showing real pace again and Fleming is a great leader."

Robbie Hart, Mark Richardson and Chris Martin are likely to join the New Zealand squad for the two Test matches in late June. The five-match limited-overs series ends on June 15.

West Indies have chosen continuity for Wednesday's match at Sabina Park.

West Indies named the same 13-man squad beaten 2-1 by India in a one-day series which ended last Sunday. They are hoping to build greater cohesiveness from some encouraging individual performances.

"We were chopping and changing, looking to find the right balance... but the present team has now been playing together for close to a year and this has helped players feel that the selectors have faith in them," West Indies captain Carl Hooper said.

TIRED TEAM

But Hooper admitted that his team were tired after the India series and hinted at a possible rest for either Mervyn Dillon or Cameron Cuffy later in the series.

"Ideally we would like to bring on a couple of players but we haven't got much depth at the moment. We have a couple of tired fast bowers and there may come a moment to give some younger players a chance," he said.

Hooper also hinted that Shivnarine Chanderpaul would be rewarded for his strong batting performances against India by moving up the order.

"He is on form and we are looking at this possibility, because he may be a bit wasted in the middle," Hooper said.

Hooper's own batting in the Indian Tests and that of Chris Gayle in the second one-dayer have raised West Indian hopes but Brian Lara is still struggling for form.

Hooper acknowledged that weak resistance in the lower order was also a cause for concern.

Mail Cricket Editor