New Zealand look to cap good season at helpful Eden

They drew the one-day series against India 2-2 and are currently leading South Africa 2-1 in their one-day contest.

New Zealand won their third one-day international by seven wickets as the South African struggled to come to terms with the slow pitch.

“It will be slow and low for sure,” said Nathan Astle, the match-winner in both of New Zealand’s one-day victories with 95 in Dunedin and 100 not out at Eden Park.

“But guys like Allan Donald are quick on anything. You still have to be prepared to take blows on the body and I am. Javagal Srinath broke my hand in the Indian series but it hasn’t broken my spirit. I’m still up for the challenge.”

Pace bowler Simon Doull,architect of the series win over India with a match-winning haul of seven for 65 in the second Test, said the spinners would hold the key.

“It will definitely favour them,” he said. “There won’t be any pace or bounce and the spinners will dominate.”

New Zealand have selected a second left-arm spinner in Matthew Hart to complement Daniel Vettori while South Africa will rely on their left-arm wrist spinner Paul Adams.

Hart scored his maiden first class century for Northern districts in their drawn three-day match against the tourists. He is, though, the likely 12th man with slow-medium pacer Chris Harris providing the backup to Vettori.

New Zealand will take the field without their regular captain Stephen Fleming and all-rounder Chris Cairns who are both injured. All-rounder Dion Nash will lead New Zealand in a Test match for the first time.

South Africa, who thrashed West Indies 5-0 in their last home series, have so far failed to come to terms with the local pitches and have been distracted bypolitical criticism at home.

United Cricket Board of South Africa (UCBSA) president Ray White issued a statement from Johannesburg, without asking the team management in New Zealand, criticising the selection of all-white teams for the second and third one-dayers.

History certainly favours the South African who have not lost a series to New Zealand or a Test on New Zealand soil.

Teams: (from)

New Zealand: Matt Horne, Matthew Bell, Roger Twose, Craig McMillan, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris, Adam Parore, Dion Nash (captain), Daniel Vettori, Matthew Hart, Simon Doull, Geoff Allott.

South Africa: Gary Kirsten, Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis, Daryll Cullinan, Hansie Cronje (captain), Jonty Rhodes, Shaun Pollock, Mark Boucher, Lance Klusener, Allan Donald, Paul Adams.