Dunedin, Mar 5: An incident involving New Zealand fast bowler Doug Bracewell and a decision taken by his England counterpart Steven Finn diverted attention from potential batting weaknesses in the lead up to the first cricket test which starts at the University Oval on Wednesday.
Bracewell was ruled out of the match, disrupting New Zealand's preparation and raising the issue of off-field behavior, when he cut his foot on broken glass, reportedly cleaning up after a party at his home which attracted noise complaints from neighbors.
Finn's decision to operate from a shortened run-up also provoked interest on the eve of the opening match of the three-test series. The paceman said he was initially reluctant to reduce his run-up from around 25 to 20 meters, but has now accepted the move will benefit his bowling.
New Zealand manager Mike Sandle faced reporters on Tuesday, explaining Bracewell's injury and insisting the bowler had been told sternly "he needs to do all he can to ensure his preparation for international cricket is not compromised."
Finn said he first tried the shortened approach during the three-match, one-day series against New Zealand in which he took four wickets for 60 runs, finding it worked to his advantage.
"It took me three years to agree to do it, I suppose," Finn said. "It is something I think will help me be more consistent, help me get more bounce and help me bowl for longer.
"In reality it is more about the momentum I can gain towards the crease off the shorter run-up (which) is greater than off the longer run-up, because the temptation is to decelerate at the end of the longer run-up."
Finn and his new-ball partner James Anderson tormented New Zealand's top order during the one-day matches, bowling England to a 2-1 series victory. They shared 12 wickets, including Anderson's five-wicket haul in the second match at Napier, and Finn's 3-27 in the third.
New Zealand's failure against the fast, swing bowling of Finn and Anderson and its continuing top order batting worries seemed a likely theme of discussion in the buildup to the test. But the win by a New Zealand XI over England in a four-day warm up match in Queenstown lightened those concerns and pointed up potential deficiencies in England's batting.
At the same time, Bracewell's latest disciplinary lapse diverted attention in the immediate prelude to the test from the form of respective batting lineups.
Bracewell `s place will be taken by South African-born fast bowler Neil Wagner, who impressed by taking six wickets in the Queenstown match while making 11 not out and 28 not out in the New Zealand XI's three wicket win.
Veteran medium pacer Ian Butler has been added to the New Zealand squad and will likely vie for a place in the XI with left-armed spinner Bruce Martin, although Martin seems likely to make his test debut aged 32.
Bracewell was previously censured over his involvement in an incident while drinking with teammate Jesse Ryder after a one-day international against South Africa in February last year. The pair became involved in an altercation with members of the public and were both reprimanded.
Ryder has not played for New Zealand since that incident, withdrawing from international cricket to address personal issues.
"Doug is very sorry for any inconvenience he has caused his teammates and members of the public and has apologized to his neighbor in (the town of) Napier," Sandle said. "We want to ensure that incidents like this are not repeated and that we provide ongoing support for young players to ensure they are meeting all their obligations and responsibilities."
The incident was an unwelcome distraction for New Zealand as it seeks to repair its reputation in test cricket after a disastrous series at South Africa in January. New Zealand lost both test matches by an innings and was bowled out for 45 in the first innings of the first test at Cape Town.
It is currently 8th in the test rankings and is determined against second-ranked England to prove it can still be competitive in the longer form. New Zealand will have to do so with a new-look batting order, with Hamish Rutherford making his debut in an opening partnership with recalled veteran Peter Fulton.
Captain Brendon McCullum will bat down the order while wicketkeeper B.J. Watling, who batted the New Zealand XI to victory, strengthens the lineup by coming in at No. 7.
The Queenstown warm up match exposed some questions around the England lineup. Nick Compton will likely open the innings, despite making scores of 21 and 1 against the New Zealand XI while Kevin Pietersen, in his only lead up to the test, had scores of 14 and 8.
England coach Andy Flower backed Compton to rediscover his best form in Dunedin.
"I thought Nick Compton did a really good job in India in tough conditions and often opening against spin," he said. "He dealt well coping with India as his first series and put on some good partnerships with Cook. They saw off the threat of the new ball pretty consistently.
"When the ball was jagging around in the first innings in Queenstown he did pretty well too, but missed out in the second innings. He looks a well-organized cricketer who knows his own game."
