Enjoy the excitement and the challenge - Bracewell

John Bracewell might be thousands of miles removed from the New Zealand players of whom he will take charge in December, but he will be keeping up with their exploits on their Indian tour courtesy of CD technology, at least until he arrives at his new Christchurch base in mid-October.

Before then, however, he has a hectic round of social engagements as the Gloucestershire county club he is leaving celebrates what he claims was probably the most successful year in their history. Another one-day title came their way as well as promotion into the first division of the county championship next summer. He couldn't really have achieved too much more. Still to be done, however, is the tidying up work of end of season player assessments and contract negotiations and putting a budget in place for the incoming coach.

Then it is on to new heights with New Zealand. The New Zealand team is in the hands of Ashley Ross for the Indian tour. He and Bracewell have been in regular contact, via email, in the side's preparations and Bracewell has been kept informed of all the aspects of the build-up.

"I'm quite excited by the things he has tried to introduce. He has tried to simulate the conditions the players will face as much as possible. He has kept the practices realistic and has used a lot of modern-day terminology and practice procedures. A lot of the things he does excite me, he thinks in modern terms," said Bracewell.

Based on his own experience in India in 1988, during which he bowled New Zealand to only their second Test victory on Indian soil, Bracewell did offer some advice to the New Zealand players. "The biggest thing about touring India is that if you don't enjoy it, it becomes a hell and in that situation you can look for every reason not to be there. But if that is a problem, you shouldn't be there in the first place. It is an adventure, India is an exciting place."

And to the spinners? The former offspinner Bracewell said this was always an interesting one for spin bowlers, and it was something he had talked about with spin bowlers from England during his time there with Gloucestershire.

"Generally, the experience has been the same. As soon as the captains and coaches of sides arrive in India they want their spinners to bowl like the Indians. You have to be careful that you don't entrap spinners into changing what has worked so well for them. Those spinners need to be open-minded and to be extremely clear of their plan of attack because if they go into a Test with a plan that they don't agree with, it is doomed to failure," Bracewell said.

He said he didn't have a lot of specific expectations from the team, it was not really his team yet. But he did want the side to do well and to play to its potential. New Zealand's first game on the tour, against the Board President's XI, begins on Friday. The first Test at Ahmedabad starts on October 8.