West Indies batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul, enjoying a rich vein of form, could be promoted to open the innings in the one-day international series against New Zealand that starts on Wednesday, captain Carl Hooper said. Chanderpaul enjoyed a stunning average of 140 during the five-match Test series against India that ended in May, scoring three centuries and three fifties in just seven innings while batting at number six. Hooper, also in form with the bat, said that Chanderpaul's place in the order was being discussed. "He's a bit wasted at number six. We might explore putting him up as an opener," Hooper told a news conference.

Chanderpaul made his international debut in 1994 but has played in the shadow of Brian Lara, whose form has been patchy recently. Lara was seventh in the West Indian batting averages during the Test series and has looked uncharacteristically hesitant at the crease.

Hooper said his squad was tired after the series of five Tests and five one-day internationals and some of the seam attack might be rested for the series of five one-dayers before the two-Test series. But he said the West Indian team was benefiting from a policy of building a stable squad.

"We have been playing together for almost a year now. Players are beginning to believe in themselves a bit more. We don't have the depth to chop and change players."

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said he had a full squad to choose from after all-rounder Craig McMillan's recovery from a twisted ankle. Fleming said the team had benefited from Monday's 50-over warm-up match against a West Indies junior side, in which he and all-rounder Scott Styris both scored 64 as New Zealand won comfortably.

It was the first competitive cricket match for the New Zealanders since their tour of Pakistan ended violently when a bomb exploded outside their hotel.

Bad weather since their arrival in the Caribbean had also limited their practice. "We feel a lot better after that 100 overs yesterday. If we had not had that we would have been very short in terms of preparation," he said. The Sabina Park wicket prepared originally for a game against India looked hard and dry on Tuesday, although rain swept in over Kingston on Monday afternoon.

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