WI gear up for Max

They have played cricket of all types during their time - from beach, road and tip-and-run in their youth to Tests, first-class and One-Day Internationals in their maturity.

But the West Indies players found themselves here yesterday receiving a crash course in the unfamiliar regulations of Cricket Max, a version new to them.

The creator, former New Zealand captain Martin Crowe, explained the intricacies of the game on a whiteboard and with video assistance in preparation for tonight's tour opener against a New Zealand combination at Lancaster Park.

The West Indies changed to morning practice to fit in Crowe's evening tutorial and immediately gave the impression they had the shorter game in mind, with at least eight practice balls sailing out of the training facility and into a nearby industrial warehouse.

Captain Brian Lara emphasised his team would be taking the 20-over, two innings contest very seriously.

"We see this as the official tour opener and are anxious to acquit ourselves well," he said. "We don't know much about it but this is the first match of an international tour and we'll be giving it our full attention. It's also a chance for the players to demonstrate some early form."

Lara said the West Indies' line-up for tonight's match would not be named until today, but whatever combination is settled upon, a feature should be the number of left-handed batsmen. In addition to Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jimmy Adams, Wavell Hinds, Adrian Griffith and Ridley Jacobs are all lefties.

With shots in the so-called Max Zone, the "V" between long-off and long-on, counting double, exciting power-hitter Ricardo Powell could be a key man in the West Indies team.

The New Zealanders are well-versed in the game that is now in its third season. Their team - called the "Max Blacks" - includes seven Test players.

Teams:

New Zealand (Max Blacks): Roger Twose, Nathan Astle, Aaron Barnes, Carl Bulfin, Chris Cairns, Chris Harris, Chris Nevin, Jacob Oram, Richard Petrie, Craig Spearman, Alex Tait, Daniel Vettori.

West Indies (Caribbean Calypsos) from: Brian Lara (captain), Sherwin Campbell, Adrian Griffith, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jimmy Adams, Wavell Hinds, Ricardo Powell, Ridley Jacobs, Nehemiah Perry, Courtney Walsh, Pedro Collins, Mervyn Dillon, Dinanath Ramnarine, Reon King, Franklyn Rose, Daren Ganga.