Cairns - 'This side is one of the best ever'

Chris Cairns has said he believes this New Zealand side is one of the best ever to leave their shores. Cairns is captaining the New Zealanders against Kent today in their final warm-up game before the first Test, which starts a week today at Lord's.

With Nathan Astle and Shane Bond back in the side from injury, the squad are at full-strength for the first time since the touring 2001 side drew 0-0 in Australia. Cairns, who has announced he will retire from Tests at the end of this series, said, "I've always thought this is one of the strongest teams, if not the strongest, that New Zealand's sent away."

However, he also rued the wet English weather, which has intervened in all three of their games so far on tour. "The unfortunate thing is that we haven't had much cricket - I haven't had a bat on tour going into a Test match next week. It's a concern, but we're not too worried because we were playing a Test match four to five weeks ago."

While Cairns would like some time in the middle, he was still happy to let the rest of the team take on the responsibility. "The ideal scenario is I don't get a bat because it means the guys at the top are doing their jobs. Then again, I want a hit-out so I can contribute." He added, "The issues we have are not often ones I've been associated with in New Zealand teams. We've got a very strong squad here. If I can get a bat that's great, but I'm happy to hand it over to the guys to score runs at the top."

John Bracewell, the coach, was also frustrated by the bad weather, and by the lack of quality indoor facilities. The bowlers have struggled to adapt with the Duke make of balls, which have a more pronounced seam than the Kookaburra equivalent, and the wet run-ups and damp outfields have troubled all the bowlers. "They've all been stop-start affairs so far and we've been bowling with wet balls," Bracewell said. "I'm happy with how they've dealt with very difficult circumstances. It's the cricket mecca of the world, but if it rains everything stops. Their indoor facilities make it very difficult for the bowlers."

Cairns, meanwhile, wasn't complaining. "I love it over here because conditions suit me. I'm not a big swinger of the ball, I'm a seamer and conditions help that," he said. "At the moment they're a bit slow, but I suspect Lord's will have more pace in it."