Radical changes for NZ-World XI games

In a dramatic break with tradition, New Zealand and the World XI - who are to play a three-match series after Sri Lanka cut short their tour following the tsunami disaster - will be allowed to practise on the match surfaces ahead of the games.

According to the New Zealand Herald, organisers hoped that such a measure would take some of the early juice out of the pitches, thereby neutralising the early advantage which has been known to settle matches in New Zealand. Each team is likely to be allowed an hour of practice on the pitch the day before the game, whereas traditionally the playing surface has been the groundsman's preserve until the start of play.

The experiment has been made possible by the ICC deciding not to give the matches full one-day international status, and Stephen Fleming, New Zealand's captain, was interested in finding out how the new provisions would alter the balance between bat and ball.

"People are obviously working hard on solutions, and if this is going to make a better contest I'm all for it," he said. Fleming added that no-one would be taking the games lightly, with the funds raised providing even more aid to the tsunami victims.

"The importance of the series is very clear to us - we need tough matchplay before Australia arrive, so we'll be working very hard," he said. "It's crucial we keep our structure and shape and treat these games like fully fledged ODIs."