Don't let the rain come down ... again

How ironic it would be if the long-awaited re-match of India and New Zealand in Indian conditions becomes as weather-affected as last summer's series in New Zealand. And the way the first tour match became a washout, it may not be beyond the realms of possibility.

For the Indians who felt set-up when New Zealand's groundsmen were caught out in their wicket preparation by unseasonal rain, this was going to be the chance to put matters right. That is not to forget that both teams had to play in difficult conditions last year, and the New Zealanders, who had started to become used to better pitches in recent years, especially at Hamilton, were forced to quickly adapt to changed circumstances.

But all that aside, it would be a big disappointment if the series was affected by the weather. If last summer's sole home series for New Zealand is considered, and taken alongside the tour of the West Indies in mid-2002, and then this year's tour of Sri Lanka, all have been affected by climate concerns. Admittedly, so late were the West Indian and Sri Lankan series scheduled that they were always dicing with the monsoon.

New Zealanders will recall that a similar tour of India in 1995 was badly affected by rain at around the same time of the year as now. None will remember that more than transplanted Englishman Roger Twose, who made his Test debut for New Zealand in the second match, at Madras. After 168 minutes of play on the first day, the rains arrived with India on 54 for one. It continued to rain until last day by which time another 136 minutes of play were possible and India had batted on to score 144 for two.

In the third Test at Cuttack, India won the toss and batted for three hours before the rains fell when India were 120 for three. It was the fourth day before play started again. India declared at 296 for eight, and on the fifth day, Twose finally got to bat for the first time in a Test match, 10 playing days after his career had started.

The tour was notable for another reason. It signified the end of Martin Crowe's career. It was his only tour of India, although he had played there during the 1987 World Cup. And although the New Zealanders did not realise it at the time, the batting flame was being passed on. Early on it might have been felt that Twose was accepting the responsibility, but in reality it was Nathan Astle, who joined the tour - his first with New Zealand - for the one-day matches.

Just how potent Astle would be was obvious as New Zealand posted a total of 348 for 8 - their highest score in a one-day international - with Astle achieving the first of his 13 ODI centuries with 114. He has since left all other New Zealand one-day batsmen in his wake, including Crowe. Crowe has a better Test record but Astle still has 20 Tests in which to score 2024 runs to pass Crowe's record of 5444 runs.

The Indian series is a big one for Astle in more ways than one. It is the first trial of his knee since the operation he had after the World Cup. And it is also a chance to add to his batting credits with a good series. In his three previous Tests in India, he averages slightly above his career average of 38, but his highest score is only 74, scored in the third Test of New Zealand's 1999-2000 series in India at Ahmedabad.

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New Zealand are understood to be sending a team to the Hong Kong Sixes tournament for the first time since 1996. The country's best one-day players will be tied up in their tri-series with India and Australia when the Sixes are played on November 1 and 2, but there should still be some impressive players on show.

Missing from the international one-day side are players like Andre Adams, Chris Nevin and Mathew Sinclair, all of whom could make a significant impact in the Hong Kong environment, while other prospective team members could be players like Tama Canning or Joseph Yovich, the Northern Districts bowler who topped the wicket-taker's list in the State Shield last year. It will be interesting to see if the selectors are prepared to look at a player like Matthew Walker, the allrounder from Wellington, for the side.

Others who could also come into contention include Neal Parlane, who had an outstanding season in league cricket in England this year, and Michael Papps from Canterbury.

It is a timely prospect for the fringe players in the New Zealand one-day team who will face some highly competitive opponents, like the Pakistan side who have won the tournament for the last two years. With a prize fund of US$260,000 it will be a great chance for the sixes to match the efforts of Daniel Vettori and Jacob Oram, who won an international double-wicket tournament in the West Indies earlier this year.