International Test cricket is not, repeat, not only a full test of physical skills. By the time anyone gets to the point of playing Test cricket, one would have, or nearly have, gotten to his best physical shape and ability, or at least should nearly be so. There are exceptions, of course. In the case of perhaps Ricardo Powell and a few others, expectations and promise are the criteria.

International cricket, especially Test cricket, is a devil-take-the-hindmost fight of which of the opposing teams' mental ability and agility are stronger and can adapt quicker to prevailing conditions than the other. Just ask the recent teams to have played against Australia. Both Pakistan and India faltered badly, mentally, and thus-result wise, against the Aussies. Man for man, Pakistan probably has more cricketing ability than the Aussies.

In the mind game, the West Indies may have outmanoevered their hosts, the New Zealanders, already.

Somehow, it transpired that the West Indies started their practice, on the last day before this 1st Test in New Zealand, an absolutely beautiful, even Caribbean day, at about 12:30pm. The New Zealanders ended theirs at about 11:00am You may wonder about the significance here. This might have happened by chance, hopefully by design by the West Indies.

Here is a factoid. Each day of the Test matches will start at the very unaccustomed time, for the West Indians, of 12:00 noon. It is therefore necessary, even opportune, for the West Indies, that they practice in nearly as exact conditions as they may hope to have in the ten days of the Tests.

This experience is not new to Clive Lloyd, the West Indies team Manager and (Sir) Vivian Richards, the team's Coach. I do not think the situation here in New Zealand is incidental either.

In World Series Cricket, the instrument of Australian Mr. Kerry Packer (in 1977/78 etc) that really brought about the world's realization that one day cricket can be wonderful, fullfilling and lucrative, the games started almost invariably at about 2:30pm Australian time, so that the masses could come in to the Sydney Cricket Ground or the Melbourne Cricket Ground after dinner.

Because of this starting time, Lloyd, as captain, made sure that our first practice of any day in Australia started around that time. Even more apt was the fact that the second practice of the day (yes, we practiced at least twice a day), was actually at night, under the lights. Hence, the players, veterans and rookies alike, could quickly become accostomed to conditions, day and night, almost exact conditions as the team would endure during the games.

I am sure that both Lloyd and Richards are very cognisant of that Aussie memory and the facts here in New Zealand now. These two are truly a team of experience, bar none. Not only do they have about 16,000 Test runs and about 200 Test matches between them, but they bring everyday experiences of being on the international scene for so long, experiences which cannot be bought or duplicated anywhere. Incidentally, they both made gazillions of runs in World Series Cricket.

Both seem very relaxed, maybe even relieved, that they are away from the Caribbean, with its continuing insularity and foolish inuendos. From outside appearances, Lloyd and Richards seem to fit so much better together than the Lloyd and Marshall combination which transpired in South Africa and otherwise.

Somehow, it seems that there is more cohesion, in The Management team and cricket team, generally, just from body language, than the predecessing management team(s). As Dennis Waight, the physiotherapist suggested, "no-one is vying, perhaps jossling, for positions. They are just doing the jobs they were employed to do as they are supposed to do it!!" That could only be good for the West Indies. Let us hope that it lasts and is prolonged.

Most of these West Indian players, obviously with the exception of Brian Lara, Courtney Walsh, Jimmy Adams, Shivnarine Chanderpaul and Sherwin Campbell, have really never played cricket under these circumstances as exist in New Zealand's daily cricket. No West Indian cricketer, outside of those five who would have toured NZ before, would have played cricket up to 7:00pm in a "day" game, five days in a row. That takes some getting used to.

Oh, I know that almost all of these guys have played one day cricket, day/night games, which end up late at night. This Test series, and a day of Test cricket in New Zealand, are not the same thing at all. Many adjustments have to be made, in mind, body and soul, none more important than the sleep patterns, if they exist, and the "light" application along with the mental preparation. This time thing is a strange phenomenon, sometimes one difficult to overcome. Most professional sportsmen the world over only need that miniscule situation to affect them either way, to ensure either failure or success. Taking advantage of every positive opportunity is necessary.

At practice, the West Indies looked loose and assured, maybe even quietly confident. The combination of Clive Lloyd and (Sir) Vivian Richards seems, so far, to have brought out the better things available in and for this team.