New Zealand taking warm-ups against Jamaica seriously

Shane Bond, New Zealand's senior men's cricket coach, is stressing the importance of his team's two warm-up matches against a Jamaica Select team as they prepare for the first test against West Indies at Sabina Park starting, June 8.

The touring New Zealanders will play a two-day game starting on Thursday with a three-day contest to follow, beginning on Monday, both at the Trelawny stadium.

According to Bond, it's important the Kiwis have an opportunity to properly acclimatize to Caribbean conditions.

“With the modern playing programme being so busy, often teams do not have a chance to play the warm up games and they can be caught on the hop end. For the squad who are here at the moment those guys have been coming out of winter and training indoor, so they come into these conditions where the ball is turning and bouncing. So it is crucial for us that we get that turn under our belt,” he said.

Jamaica will field a largely inexperienced line up, led by former youth captain Paul Palmer for Thursday's match. The team also includes in-form regional batsman Shacoya Thomas.

Leg spinner Odean Brown, who missed most of the regional four day season through injury, is the only senior member in the squad.