Cricket: Gatting boys in a real Test

ENGLAND A go into the first five-day Test of their New Zealand tour today here with their spirits high after a series of encouraging performances in the warm-up games against all the opposition they have encountered to date on this leg of their expedition.

There was a certain rustiness about the one-day warm-up wins against the New Zealand Academy, and there was never quite enough time for the tourists to overcome a strong North Island team in the first of the four- day first-class matches on a very good pitch.

But then everything came together in the match against South Island, which Mark Alleyne's team won comprehensively by eight wickets.

Now the tour steps up a gear and the New Zealanders have named a strong side for the two A Tests and three one-day internationals.

Andrew Penn, who was called into the senior party touring England last summer, and his fellow tourists to India Gary Stead, Chris Drum, Paul Wiseman and Scott Styris are all included. So too are Matthew Bell, who finished top of the Test averages in England last summer, and another England tourist, the leg-spinner Brooke Walker.

As far as the England tour manager Mike Gatting is concerned this is where the really serious part of the tour begins. He said: "I'm very happy with the way the team have prepared so hopefully it's going to be a good series. The fielding was one area we were a bit worried about but I think the boys have adjusted. With the batsmen getting runs, it's given the bowlers the chance of a good go at the opposition."

With the New Zealand selectors using the match as a trial to decide places for the series against the West Indies, there will be no shortage of commitment from England A's opponents on what promises to be a good pitch. The weather forecast, however, is not as promising.

New Zealand A (from): G Stead (capt), M D Bell, M S Sinclair, L Vincent, M H Richardson, S Styris, G J Hopkins (wkt), B G K Walker, P J Wiseman, A J Penn, W A Wisneski, C Drum.

England A (from): M W Alleyne (capt), M A Gough, I J Ward, V S Solanki, M E Trescothick, D J G Sales, R J Turner (wkt), C P Schofield, P J Franks, R J Kirtley, M K Davies, A Sheriyar.