Fleming ready for tough battle

Stephen Fleming: 'They've been playing a level of cricket which makes you hard because Australia push you to the limit' © Getty Images

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, expects South Africa to offer a stiff challenge despite their recent 3-0 defeat against Australia. The New Zealand squad has arrived in Johannesburg ahead of a three-Test tour and Fleming is ready for a tough battle.

"South Africa will still be very tough, you don't come here expecting anything less," Fleming told reporters. "They've been playing a level of cricket which makes you hard because Australia push you to the limit. South Africa had some good performances in isolation, but they needed a bit more."

The form of Makhaya Ntini, who took 19 wickets in the Australian series - including 10 at Johannesburg - is of particular interest to Fleming. New Zealand are arriving with a top-order that is still trying to prove itself at Test level and they will be put through their paces by Ntini.

Fleming said: "The nature of their defeats [to Australia] was more interesting than the actual results, South Africa were by no means out of it. Makhaya Ntini bowled very well, it's pretty clear that he's in good form."

However, New Zealand are not without firepower of their own with a fully fit Shane Bond in the squad to lead the attack. He will be supported by Chris Martin, Kyle Mills and James Franklin, while Daniel Vettori will provide the spin option. The Kiwis have also spent extra time preparing their batting line-up for the autumnal conditions they are expected to face.

The Tests are being played extremely late in the South African season, with the final match not starting until May 5. Light will also be a factor, and the South African cricket board has brought forward the start times of the Centurion Park and Wanderers Tests to 9.30am.

John Bracewell, the New Zealand coach, said the team has been chosen with the conditions in mind. "New Zealand playing conditions are often green seamers so there are not too many guys volunteering to bat up top. So the top-order batting has been a problem going back a long time to John Wright and Bruce Edgar.

"But that's why we've chosen two specialist openers and a specialist number three for this tour, guys who want the job in Michael Papps, Jamie How and Peter Fulton."

New Zealand begin their tour with a three-day match against a Rest of South Africa team on April 7 at Benoni.

Rest of South Africa Neil McKenzie (capt), Stephen Cook, Alviro Peterson, Davey Jacobs, JP Duminy, Justin Ontong, Thami Tsolekile (wk), Rory Kleinveld, Robin Peterson, Garnett Kruger, Monde Zondeki, Vaughn van Jaarsveld