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Do not ask Chris Cairns to open the bowling for the Black Caps.

That was the advice yesterday from former New Zealand pace bowler Dayle Hadlee in the countdown to the Black Caps' vital Super Six World Cup game against South Africa at Edgbaston tonight.

Hadlee thinks Cairns's bowling skills and New Zealand's interests are best served if he is not opening the bowling.

Several commentators, notably Martin Crowe and Ian Botham, have queried why Cairns is not taking the new ball.

``Chris's greatest asset is his ability to use the pitch. He is not a prodigious swinger of the ball,'' said Hadlee, who has worked with Cairns at NZC's high performance centre at Lincoln.

``Chris also has the ability to bowl a good slower ball, and an off spinner.

``While Dion Nash is not the same pace as Chris, he has the ability to swing the ball in favourable conditions and bowl good channels.''

Apart from bowling one bad spell each, Hadlee felt Nash and Geoff Allott had worked well as the opening combination.

Hadlee said Cairns was effective in the latter stages of the innings because of his ability to vary the pace of his deliveries. ``Having Cairns and Allott to bowl at the end after the likes of Larsen, Harris, and Astle in the middle is a good combination. Allott is bowling the right length for English conditions and is getting the ball to reverse swing after the 40th over.''

Hadlee said the team's fastest bowler did not necessarily have to open the bowling at one-day level, as evidenced by South Africa's Allan Donald. He is a successful first change for the Proteas.

Hadlee said his dream World Cup scenario was for Zimbabwe to win another Super Six match and be top qualifier and for New Zealand to finish fourth. That would see New Zealand play Zimbabwe in the semi-final.

Meanwhile, key New Zealand all-rounder Chris Harris is feeling a little frustrated on the eve of the South African game.

Harris has had few opportunities to shine with the bat in the World Cup and is hoping for a change of fortune tonight.

He has not batted since hitting 42 off 94 balls against Pakistan at Derby 11 days ago.

``It has been a funny tournament. The weather hasn't really intervened until now and we lost that game against Zimbabwe through rain, which was surprising in itself after 33 games.

``It was our best chance of winning as far as the form book goes.

``But we've got to be positive against South Africa's bowlers and get through our first 15 overs without too many casualties.''