Cricket: CD to fine tune build-up in South Africa

The Central Districts cricket team will relish the prospect of training on some real grass, and with a full complement of players, when they touch down in South Africa to ramp up preparations for the Champions League Twenty20 competition.

New Zealand's sole representatives in the tournament fly out for Johannesburg early tomorrow morning and will need to make the most of a 10-day buildup before their first match against Indian Premier League champions Chennai in Durban on September 12 (NZT).

Players have been trickling into camp from England, Australia and Sri Lanka, while training itself has been largely limited to indoor net sessions because of wintry weather across the lower half of the North Island.

But CD coach Alan Hunt is confident the New Zealand Twenty20 champions will be up to speed with more than a week's preparation in South Africa, which includes warmups against South Australia and Bangalore.

"Given we've been limited to indoor training, I think we've made the best of what we've been able to do," Hunt told NZPA.

"Obviously the weather has been a bit of a hindrance, and we've had players overseas, but those who have been here have worked hard and we've certainly tried to be purposeful in what we've done.

"We've done pretty much everything we can in New Zealand so we're ready to get on the plane now.

"It will be great when we actually get out on the grass so we can focus on getting out fielding up to speed and then get into some open wicket training, which we really haven't been able to do."

CD, who have added Shane Bond to the staff as a specialist bowling coach, will be missing three key players.

Ross Taylor is required by Bangalore for the tournament, Jacob Oram is out with an injured knee, and English allrounder Graham Napier has a back stress fracture.

But a core of experienced players remain, including five - captain Jamie How, Mathew Sinclair, Peter Ingram, Brendon Diamanti and Michael Mason - who have all played for New Zealand.

CD also face Victoria (Australia), the Wayamba Elevens (Sri Lanka), and Chevrolet Warriors (South Africa) in pool play. The top two teams from each of the two pools of five teams will progress to the semifinals.