Windies to play Super Max Friday

Christchurch, New Zealand - The West Indies step into the cricketing unknown for the first game during their New Zealand tour - a Super Max match at Jade Stadium on Friday night.

A West Indies selection, dubbed the Caribbean Calypsos, will meet the New Zealand Max Blacks in the game which comprises two innings of 10 overs a-side each.

West Indies captain Brian Lara confirmed it would be a first for his players to take part in such an abbreviated game.

The visitors will polish up on the game rules, which includes double value for shots hit into the Max zone between long-off and long-on, during their time in Christchurch.

New Zealand Crickets chief executive Chris Doig believes the match is a coup for the game globally.

The match will be closely watched by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and cricket authorities around the world, Doig said.

The ICC has officially endorsed Super Max cricket as its preferred short version of the game and is seen as a development tool for introducing the game around the world.

The ICC recognises that cricket has to appeal to all sectors of the community to survive successfully into the next millennium.

With a Super Max game lasting only three hours it meets the needs of a society which is experiencing increasing de-mands on leisure hours.

The Max Blacks, chosen by the New Zealand selectors and coached by David Trist, was named yesterday and includes internationals Roger Twose, the captain; Chris Cairns, Nathan Astle, Chris Harris, Craig Spearman, Daniel Vettori and Carl Bulfin. The others are Chris Nevis, Richard Petric, Jacob Oram, Alex Taitt, Aaron Barnes.

The international will be played on the portable pitch at Jade Stadium.

The match is the fourth Max international in New Zealand. Two seasons ago the Max Blacks beat the England Lions 2-1