Fleming praises team preparations

Stephen Fleming, who captained New Zealand to a memorable 2-1 series victory on their last tour of England, has turned up the heat ahead of the first Test at Lord's in three weeks time. He believes he is in command of a better team than was the case in 1999, and, he added, he does not yet know the limits of his side's potential.

"Individually, it's the most talented side I've been involved in," Fleming said after a practice session at Lord's on Friday. " We're in a better phase as a team and we're coming off some good performances, and we don't know how good we can be, which is exciting."

New Zealand have been training hard in spite of the inclement weather since their arrival in London, and are on a fine run of form following a drawn home Test series against South Africa, and consecutive one-day series wins over South Africa and Pakistan. But Fleming believes that the damp conditions will play right into their hands come the Test series. "They're more natural conditions for us compared with a tour to the subcontinent or Australia," he said. "We're pretty pleased and our seamers are very pleased to be over here."

John Bracewell, New Zealand's coach who was in charge of Gloucestershire last season, was also pleased with his side's preparations. "There is a greater self-belief in our cricketers than there once was," he commented. "There were young kids who walked on to the park as though they owned it, which is very un-New Zealand-like. In the past we've tended to be in awe of people who were perceived to be of greater names than ourselves, and almost apologetic in the way we played."

But New Zealand revel in the role of underdogs, so Fleming was keen to talk up England's progress this winter. "I think England will come back [from the Caribbean] and adjust very well," he added. "They're obviously confident with the way they have been playing in the West Indies. They seem to be a more consistent side now in terms of selection policy and the way the players are performing."

The first of New Zealand's warm-up matches begins at Fenner's on Monday, when they take on British Universities.