Weather forces pitch change

Indian supporters who have tended to believe a grand conspiracy theory was in place in New Zealand last year will have nodded their heads knowingly when hearing that Pakistan's first match on their New Zealand tour has been transferred from Eden Park No. 1 to the outer oval.

The three-day game against Auckland starts on Sunday, and has had to be moved due to bad weather which hit the city earlier in the week. Wicket preparation was affected and rather than play the match on a greentop, it has been transferred to the No. 2 ground, that used by Auckland for its State Championship home games.

New Zealand's elongated geography makes the country susceptible to weather patterns and at the same time last year there was excessive rain. The longer term forecast this year is for better weather with drought on the menu in many parts of the country.

However, both teams are likely to be better served by the decision to transfer the game because it has already had some play as it was prepared for the Auckland-Otago State championship match which was abandoned after rain started on the third day and wiped out the fourth day completely.

Auckland named their side for the game today and it includes three players just back from the Black Caps tour of Pakistan. Tama Canning, Paul Hitchcock and Kerry Walmsley will bolster the side that also includes likely Test selections Mark Richardson and Lou Vincent.

Auckland: Brooke Walker (capt), Andre Adams, Tama Canning, Paul Hitchcock, Matt Horne, Tim McIntosh, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol, Mark Richardson, Lou Vincent, Kerry Walmsley, Reece Young.