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Ringing the changes
Wisden CricInfo staff - June 12, 2002

New Zealand, angry and frustrated at consecutive losses to West Indies and poor training conditions, plan to make several changes to their team for Wednesday's fourth one-day international. Stephen Fleming, who has only been able to hold one full net practice since arriving in the Caribbean almost two weeks ago, told reporters that pace bowler Shane Bond and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori would return to the side. New Zealand are 2-0 down in the five-match series after the first match in Jamaica was rained off. They lost back-to-back matches in St Lucia at the weekend, and now need to win the last two games to avoid defeat against a resurgent West Indies.

"We need all the practice we can get. It's frustrating but there's nothing we can do about it," Fleming said after his team was banished from the outdoor nets at the Queen's Park Oval following heavy overnight rain. New Zealand and West Indies players trained in small indoor nets where bowlers could only use a short run-up.

But Fleming said it was up to his players to correct the faults that have cost them losses in eight consecutive one-day internationals. "We can chop and change the personnel but the bottom line is that the guys have to do it better and longer."

Fleming also said he was thinking about changing his strategy about batting first, which New Zealand have done three times out of three so far in the Caribbean. Fleming hinted there might be room for medium-fast bowler Jacob Oram as New Zealand search for a victory over a West Indian team that is growing in confidence following a Test series victory over India and a close one-day series and the increasing strength of their batting order.

Brian Lara was the latest to show flashes of brilliance on Sunday, when he won the match with an unbeaten 59. Lara will be hoping to confirm his return to form in front of his home-town fans on Wednesday after being out of action for several months with a broken elbow.

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