CASTRIES, St. Lucia (AP):
THE WEST INDIES and New Zealand teams head into this weekend's cricket double-header at the new Beausejour Stadium just outside Castries conscious of the importance of the second and third one-day internationals.
The five-match series is still level 0-0 following the rain-ruined opener in Jamaica on Wednesday.
"It's very important for both sides," New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said yesterday on the eve of the two internationals. "The team that does well can pretty much get close to winning the series, certainly can't lose it."
"The West Indies have played a lot of cricket, so energy-wise, we are probably the fresher of the two teams so we have to make that count," Fleming added.
"The most important thing is to be mentally prepared for the games on the weekend," West Indies captain Carl Hooper said.
West Indies held the upper hand for most of the opening match in Jamaica before the rains came. But Hooper warned against complacency.
"We have to keep it in perspective. The New Zealanders were not exactly ideally prepared for the first game so I expect a much better showing from them in this game," Hooper said. "We're under no illusions that they'll come out tomorrow (Saturday)."
