Aberhart wants quality time for players in four-day matches

New Zealand coach Denis Aberhart is not concerned about the apparent lack of time his players have to prepare themselves for the forthcoming Test series against India.

The main thing he wants is for the players to fully utilise the time available in the two rounds of the domestic four-day competition before the first Test of the National Bank Series starts in Wellington on December 12.

"They need some good cricket, time in the middle for both batting and bowling.

"There's always enough time, a couple of good innings and they will be ready for the Test match," Aberhart said.

However, Aberhart did admit that his side would have to be at their best to compete against an Indian side that is playing some fine cricket at the moment.

After the players went through a fitness test at the High Performance Centre at Lincoln early this morning he was confident they had been maintaining the schedules they were set at the end of the ICC Champions Trophy tournament.

This week's three-day camp was to check that fitness and to make any changes that might be necessary to individual plans.

While the distraction of the players' strike had been a problem for the organisation of the side for the summer, the time had been put to use for the planning side of New Zealand's approach.

Aberhart said the side would be trying things out against India ahead of the World Cup.

"We've been looking at a few things and checking on the opposition, but the key thing is we have to improve. Our batting through the middle of the innings is one thing and we have to be more consistent with our bowling."