Kiwis on ice just what the doctors ordered

New Zealand's request to have ice baths available for players after play in Pakistan next month may have produced some surprising reactions from Pakistan administrators but the requirement was an important one.

New Zealand A coach Ashley Ross, who is in India with the side competing in the annual Buchi Babu tournament said the hot/cold regime was a regular part of recovery in sporting health nowadays.

"It assists the removal of waste products from the body, lactic acid and things like that, and is a method of recovery," he said.

The Pakistani authorities expressed surprise at the New Zealand request to have ice facilities available.

Ross said he first heard of the process from the world-ranked Australian Institute of Sport.

New Zealand started using the technique last year when playing in the early season Singapore one-day tournament and had been using it ever since.

His A team was doing the same thing in India.

"When the players get into the cold water the blood shifts to the core of the body and then when they get into the hot, the blood moves to the periphery of the body and the blood moves around without having to be exercised and takes nutrients to the muscles while taking waste products away.

"It makes a big difference when players get up the next morning," he said.