A pitch more like the Apollo XI mission caused the three-day warm-up against a Cricket Australia XI to be called off early.

New Zealand should not have been surprised by the state of the pitch for their pre-first test warmup match which began in Sydney yesterday.

Kiwis have a day to forget against a Cricket Australia XI in Sydney, with Aaron Finch scoring a double century.

Forget the rumblings from the other side of the Tasman over the suitability of the pink ball - ticket sales for the third test in Adelaide are rocketing.

The inability of New Zealand to have won a test series in Australia since 1985 won't be preying on the minds of the current touring squad.

One of Lou Vincent's closest friends said the cricketer's depression stopped him from getting out of bed some days when he was dropped from the New Zealand team.

Former cricketer tells court close friend of Chris Cairns openly made the claim at event before defamation trial.

Former Black Cap Chris Harris remembers an "unusual" expression on the face of Chris Cairns when his team won, a London court heard overnight.

A remarkable fourth innings run chase has earned Wellington an outright victory over Central Districts in the Plunket Shield today.

Aussies say it's not too late to abort the looming test against the Black Caps due to concerns about the pink ball.

After NZ co-hosted the Cricket World Cup there has been an unprecedented boost in junior numbers this season.

With his testimony in Chris Cairns' London High Court perjury trial behind him, the stage is set for Brendon McCullum to seal his leadership legacy.

A record Central Districts 10th-wicket partnership of 134 between George Worker and Andrew Mathieson dominated the second day of Plunket Shield's second round yesterday.

The Cricket Australia XI dominated the opening day of the two-day match against NZ in Canberra, moving to 325 for four at stumps on a flat wicket.

The pink ball has found another critic in Australian batsman Adam Voges.

Daniel Vettori was "shocked and then angry" when Brendon McCullum told him that Chris Cairns had approached him twice to fix cricket matches.

When Doug Bracewell looks back on his finest week as a test cricketer, it's the simplicity he remembers best.

An anti-corruption investigator denied putting pressure on Daryl Tuffey or offering him a "deal" to give evidence against Chris Cairns.

Brendon McCullum's attention has turned from a courtroom on the other side of the world to preparing to face Australia.

Anti-corruption chiefs denies investigators ignored match-fixing allegations against Chris Cairns.