A promising weather forecast suggests Dunedin will turn on mainly fine weather for the first test starting tomorrow between the Black Caps and England at the University Oval.
As the teams go through their final preparations under sunny skies and in temperatures around 20degC today, they can look forward to more of the same in the days to come.
Dave Stewart, of Rain Effects, told the Otago Daily Times yesterday that Dunedin was locked into the southwesterly airstream until Friday.
''There may be a couple of showers coming in from the southwest on Wednesday afternoon and there may be a shower or two on Friday afternoon as another weak front comes in,'' he said.
''Thursday is OK and Saturday and Sunday look pretty good.''
The good news is there are ''none of the easterlies that killed us for two tests when we got washed out'', Stewart said.
''It was an easterly rainstorm that hangs around for two or three days.''
He was referring to the tests at Carisbrook against Pakistan in 1989 and India in 1998. Both were abandoned without a ball being bowled.
''There is no chance of an easterly this week as far as I can see. There could be some light northeasterly drizzle in the morning but that will soon clear away.''
The onus will now be on the players to make sure the test at the University Oval lasts the full five days.
''They are not going to be saved by rain,'' Stewart joked.
