The NZ test tour to Australia in the summer of 2001/02 was extremely competitive, with NZ almost pulling off victories in the tests at Brisbane and Perth.
It was no concidence that this tour featured an excellent programme of build-up matches prior to the tests, which had the NZ players acclimatised and in the groove.
2 three day matches against the QLD Academy of Sport, 1 three day match against the ACT Presidents II, and a 4 day first class game against South Australia was the build up programme, with NZC arranging the extra matches in order to ensure their preparation was as good as possible.
Yet despite the successful outcome, surprisingly this formula was not adopted again. Instead the build up was test tours to either of Zimbabwe or Bangladesh - playing on pitches diametrically different to those in Australia - and then a sole warm-up game. Totally inadequate preparation.
This time around, I'd like to see NZC take a 'no stone left unturned' approach and endure the best possible build up possible, scheduling extra warm-up matches.
We have to realise the importance of these 3 tests in Australia. Right now other nations are noting our recent results, and we do have a very good team. We are going to be coming off a one-day tour of South Africa, and with no long format cricket since England in May. A truncated build up of one game will not cut the mustard.