Shane Jurgensen reckons he has new tricks up his sleeve as he prepares for his second stint as New Zealand bowling coach.
The Queenslander will take over from Dimitri Mascarenhas when the second test against Australia ends. So it's a case of out with the old, in with the, er, older.
Jurgensen was with New Zealand from 2008-10, then did a stint with Bangladesh and he's now in charge of Fiji.
With no international commitments with Fiji this year, Jurgensen appealed as a solid interim choice, covering next month's world T20 in India and the tour of Zimbabwe and South Africa in August.
How long it runs beyond that remains to be seen but the 39-year-old former first-class seamer, who did stints with Western Australia, Tasmania and Queensland, is relishing the chance.
"This is an opportunity for me to work in other areas and keeps me in touch with the latest areas of preparation and playing at international level," he said. "It's good for me, works for the Black Caps and, if all goes well, we'll look at it at the end of the African tour."
Jurgensen has an advantage in having worked with several New Zealand players in his first stint who have matured into senior figures. He also believes he's learned bowling skills in his time with Bangladesh which can enhance New Zealand's slow bowlers' work.
"There are new deliveries I've learned in the sub-continent. That's something I'd like to bring to the table, working with spinners.
"The squad has quite a few spinners with the T20 World Cup. I hope my experience there will be a benefit to the team."
New Zealand lost seamer Doug Bracewell yesterday for the second test, starting in Christchurch on Saturday. His right shoulder is troubling him but, with Matt Henry and Neil Wagner vying for his spot, no other player has been brought into the squad.
The options for New Zealand are straightforward - they pick one of Henry or Wagner as a straight replacement or play both and omit offspinner Mark Craig, who has been treated roughly by Australia's batsmen all summer.
New Zealand need to learn from how the Australian bowlers did their job in the innings and 52-run win in the first test in Wellington.
They were more demanding, notably seamer Josh Hazlewood and offspinner Nathan Lyon, than New Zealand's bowlers.
"They're the best team in the world for a reason and that's what you play for, to play the best teams and perform against the best players," said New Zealand spearhead bowler Tim Southee.
"We've been in this situation before so we're looking forward to hopefully levelling the series."
New Zealand left-armer Trent Boult expects the Hagley Oval pitch to be green.
"It definitely swung around there nicely," Boult said of New Zealand's one previous test at the ground, a convincing win over Sri Lanka late in 2015.
- David Leggat
