New Zealand v England: Doug Bracewell must prove fitness for first Test after ...

England have no such worries as they seek to put Saturday’s warm-up defeat in
Queenstown behind them.

Steven Finn, rested along with his pace partner James Anderson in the four-day
match against a New Zealand XI, is hoping home comforts may prove to his
advantage.

Finn played four matches for Otago in late 2011, including one fixture on this
same ground – but it is the dramatic change in weather conditions, from the
wall-to-wall sunshine so far on tour to strong wind and showers here, which
he thinks could suit him most.

“It’s a taste of home, I suppose – cold and wet,” he said. “We
have to adapt to the conditions.

“But I hope if there’s a bit of weather around, it will nip around for
the seamers.”

Finn impressed, off his new shortened run, in the latter stages of England’s
one-day international series victory over New Zealand last month.

But he has not played red-ball cricket since England’s historic Test success
in India before Christmas.

He said: “I’m looking forward to getting out there and playing Test match
cricket.

“The one-day stuff went well for us here. We really put some good
performances together, and people stood up when we needed them to.

“That’s what we’re going to have to transfer into the Test series.”

He insists England’s unexpected three-wicket defeat against the Kiwi second
string will not adversely affect confidence.

“I don’t think so,” he said.

“Some people did spend quality time in the middle; bowlers got overs
into their legs.

“It’s inevitable that in warm-up games some batsmen are going to miss
out.

“I’m sure that whoever plays in the first Test on Wednesday will be
ready to face whatever’s thrown at them.”

Source:
http://www.news.ezonearticle.com/2013/03/04/new-zealand-v-england-doug-bracewell-must-prove-fitness-for-first-test-after/