"I see these matches as being an ideal learning curve for us. There are two matches under floodlights and a lot of razzmatazz surrounding the games. A lot of our players just have not experienced this."It was only last season in domestic cricket that a 50-overs competition was played, and we are some way behind all other countries in our experience of this modern one-day format."One of the things which pleased me about the first game was that we anticipated their bowling strategy and we competed well in the field, especially because with a squad here largely picked for the Tests we might have some lesser fielders in certain departments compared to the opposition. The first 15 overs are important, and you have to work out where you put your two close fielders as well as the two allowed outside the circle."They used their off-spinner, Dipak Patel, in those early overs and one of our options might be to use Robert Croft in a similar manner But then the last 15 overs are also vital. When you're batting, each individual has to take responsibility to keep things going, and when you are bowling you have to keep your nerve and try things like slower balls, yorkers, and anything to deceive the opposition."New Zealand's Australian coach, Steve Rixon, yesterday issued a warning to his players: perform at Eden Park or face the sack. "If we don't play well, I'd expect a witch hunt," Rixon said.

"We'd like to stay together as one squad - I personally would like to work with one squad - but if they're not performing, that's the way it is.". Surrey are planning to revolutionise the way they present the Sunday League next season. The reigning champions aim to emulate the hoopla currently on show for the one-day series between England and New Zealand, including loud music, a change of name and a possible floodlit midweek match. Paul Sheldon, their chief executive, said: "We have spent the winter researching and planning means of attracting a wider audience to 40-over cricket. "The Surrey team is highly marketable and our new initiatives will give young supporters an easy means of identifying with their heroes, as well as providing cricket with the spectators of the future."They will be known as the Surrey Lions for Sunday League games, copying a trend popular in Australia for both the Sheffield Shield and the one- day Mercantile Mutual Cup where states are given nicknames.Surrey also hope to stage an evening match under floodlights, the first in this country between two first-class counties, which has been pencilled in for 26 June, when Surrey plan to bring forward their Sunday League match against Nottinghamshire.England's match in Christchurch on Thursday was a day-night game, watched by 25,000, most of whom were in party mood and evidently enjoying rock music blared out at the end of every over and at the fall of each wicket.. Hockey Teddington's run of nine successive victories, which has taken them to the top of the Premier Division of the men's National League, could end at Chigwell this afternoon if Old Loughtonians can reproduce the discipline and concentration which took them to fourth place in the European Indoor Championship in Germany last weekend, writes Bill Colwill. Julian Halls, who was injured in their last game at the championship, trained last night and will play. His fellow Olympian, Jason Lee, is doubtful after turning an ankle last night. Teddington will be without their Great Britain captain, Jason Laslett, who is on holiday.Should Teddington slip up, second-placed Cannock, at home to Barford Tigers, are poised to regain the top spot and will probably use the injured Bobby Crutchley, who has a broken thumb, at penalty corners.Milton Keynes National Stadium resembled a casualty station as England ended a two-day training camp on Thursday.

Guildford's Brett Garrard, suffering from a stress facture, and Cannock's Ben Sharpe, with a gashed leg, are likely to miss this weekend's games while Sharpe's club-mate Andy Humphrey and Hounslow's Guy Fordham have suspected broken toes. But they are expected to play in a busy schedule of league matches today and cup fifth-round ties tomorrow.. Basketball Chester Jets return to the Granby Halls tonight - 10 days after knocking Leicester out of the League Trophy semi-finals - looking for their sixth successive win against the Riders this season to get their Budweiser League challenge back on track, writes Richard Taylor. Third-placed Jets lost 88-76 at home to Birmingham Bullets last weekend, but Mike Burton, the Chester coach, said: "Anything can happen in this League, as we saw with Towers last weekend."London Towers, the defending champions who meet Chester in next Sunday's League trophy final, lost 82-46 at Manchester Giants to record the lowest score by any Budweiser League club this season.London are at home tomorrow against Thames Valley Tigers as the battle for their title intensifies. Birmingham moved joint top with Sheffield Sharks by beating Manchester in midweek and just six points cover the top six clubs.. Football Alex Ferguson, the Manchester United, yesterday denied that his goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel had racially abused the Arsenal striker Ian Wright and described the accusation as a "slur" on the club. Ferguson was responding to claims by Wright in the Sun newspaper that the scuffle with the Danish international in the tunnel at the end of Wednesday's highly-charged Premiership game at Highbury had been provoked by racial abuse.The pair had earlier clashed on the pitch when a two-footed lunge by Wright left Schmeichel clutching his ankle."We can categorically deny any racist remark whatsoever from Peter Schmeichel, I can assure you of that," Ferguson told Sky Sport. "There is no question of that, so it's very disappointing to read that He's very upset.