For once, the straight bat heaved excitedly across the line. "I think it's a great addition to the game," enthused Stephen Fleming as he discussed the new bouncer rule on the eve of the National Bank one-day series between New Zealand and England. "The old plant-the-foot-and-swing-from-the-hip has gone," he said. "The bowler has more ammunition and that's a great thing." You might think that strange coming from a batsman, particularly one like Fleming who loves to get onto the front foot and turn half-volleys into straight-drives. But Fleming is a thinker, and the new rule, which allows the bowler one delivery per over between shoulder and head height, has got him thinking. "I'm finding myself more stimulated by the one-day game," he said. "There's an opportunity to take wickets and bowlers feel that they're always in with a chance."

One bowler Fleming will have to do without is Shane Bond, who was all set to make his home debut in his home town, only to learn that the niggle to his left ankle that first appeared two weeks ago had deteriorated badly. He will be out for six weeks, and Fleming cut to the quick: "We're going to miss him massively."

But just when New Zealand had been waiting for years for one genuinely pacey bowler to come along, up pop two at the same time. The 20-year-old Northern Districts tearaway Ian Butler looks set to make his debut – Fleming won't be telling him to pitch it up. "He's there to bowl fast, he's there to express himself, and he's there to have fun," he said, poker-faced.

"It is a gamble," conceded Fleming, who has never seen Butler play, "but it's one that's calculated on the way to play one-day cricket in the future. It's perhaps an indication of the way the one-day game will be played in the World Cup South Africa. And with the new bouncer rule I just think the game has changed." The days of Rod Latham and Gavin Larsen wobbling around outside off are not quite a thing of the past – how can they be with Chris Harris still chugging in? – but the present is evolving quickly. "Butler's job is to provide the strike power that we'll miss with Shane Bond, and I'm sure he can do that."

Fleming was less keen to talk about England, although he did admit that those wins in Delhi and Mumbai had caught his eye. "Any tour of India can be difficult for many reasons, and to come back towards the end of a tour shows good fortitude. We respected those last two results in particular."

But the pre-match kidology will be quickly forgotten when the series gets under way at 2.30pm local time tomorrow. After a steaming hot day yesterday when Princess Anne was in town, the weather forecast for Wednesday is mixed. Even so, Fleming can't wait. "We're looking forward to showing what we've learned in Australia," he said. "And playing at home is always special." If New Zealand are to continue the royal progress they made in the first half of the VB Series, nothing less than a convincing win over England will do.

Lawrence Booth is assistant editor of Wisden.com. His reports will appear throughout the tour.

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