Australia v New Zealand 2008-09

Australia v New Zealand, 1st Test, Brisbane

Vettori slams 'poor' batting effort

Nov 17, 2008: New Zealand will consider playing an extra batsman in the first Test and dropping one of their four fast bowlers after the side's disappointing effort in the tour match loss to New South Wales

New South Wales v New Zealanders, Sydney, 4th day

New Zealand lose but find some positives

Nov 16, 2008: New Zealand slid to a six-wicket defeat but there were positive signs ahead of the first Test as Brendon McCullum was cleared of a broken foot and Jesse Ryder returned to the action following his mystery illness

New South Wales v New Zealanders, Sydney, 3rd day

Vettori holds off Henriques assault

Nov 15, 2008: Daniel Vettori performed his familiar rescue act with bat and ball as most of New Zealand's batsmen again struggled at the SCG

New Zealand in Australia 2008-09

Ryder struck down by mystery illness

Nov 14, 2008: New Zealand batsman Jesse Ryder has contracted a mystery illness ahead of the first Test against Australia starting November 20 in Brisbane. He has been quarantined from his teammates and placed on an intravenous drip

New South Wales v New Zealanders, Sydney, 2nd day

Undermanned New Zealand forced to toil

Nov 14, 2008: New Zealand's fast bowlers wanted to get plenty of overs under their belts in their only tour match and they got their wish as Dominic Thornely and his New South Wales colleagues batted throughout the second day

New South Wales v New Zealanders, Sydney, 1st day

How shines but New Zealand struggle

Nov 13, 2008: Jamie How returned to form spectacularly but the rest of his batting colleagues failed just as emphatically on the first day of New Zealand's only tour match ahead of the first Test