By Ross Karl
A little extra moisture in the pitch will always put a smile on a bowler's face, especially at traditionally batting friendly grounds.
While groundsman Phil Stoyanoff was reluctant to talk about or show us the pitch after being misquoted in the past, there is a green tinge to it two days out from the test.
But Tim Southee isn't getting carried away with the idea of extra movement, with a couple of days of sun to come.
“I guess you can't really tell until the morning of the test so it depends on the weather over the next couple of days. So it's hard to tell this far out but usually it's a pretty good wicket,” Southee says.
And Zimbabwe bowling coach Heath Streak, the only tourist with experience as a seamer at McLean Park, feels his quicks – like Kyle Jarvis – could take advantage, even if it's only for a little while.
“Hopefully they can make use of the conditions if there is a bit of grass but generally wickets in New Zealand when you leave grass they don't go huge. I think it just makes them carry through and there's a bit in it for the bowlers a bit longer in terms of bounce and carry,” he says.
If the pitch does offer bowlers a little extra, the Black Caps might stick with the four quicks that secured the victory on a green top in Hobart.
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