'A' tours losing ground in New Zealand

The 'A' tours essentially provide the stepping stone for domestic stars to enter the national team, but the concept has evoked mixed reactions from players in New Zealand. Suggestions are on to beef up the existing domestic tournament, citing Australia's rise as an example, reports Dylan Cleaver in The New Zealand Herald.

'A' tours are effectively a series of trial matches and are, by definition, artificial in nature and unlikely to provide the competitive edge you get in domestic cricket.