Kiwis looking for revenge against Windies in Test series 

Bridgetown, June 20: New Zealand's cricketers are set on revenge when they meet the West Indies in the first of two test matches on Friday after losing a five-match limited overs series in controversial circumstances.

The Barbados Daily Nations newspaper said Wednesday that umpires Asoka de Silva of Sri Lanka and West Indies' Billy Doctrove could be censored by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the home team's last ball victory against New Zealand in St. Vincent on Sunday.

The victory gave West Indies a 3-1 series victory but Black Caps captain Stephen Fleming stormed after the match that the umpires had failed to keep account of how many overs each player had bowled, depriving him of a specialist one-day bowler for the crucial last over.

Batsman Shivnarine Chanderpaul smashed 15 off the last over to win the match and the series for the West Indies.

"This has certainly given us plenty of motivation to do well in this Test series," said Fleming as he put his team through their paces at Bridgetown's Kensington Oval.

Match referee Wasim Raja told on Wednesday that he had filed a report on the match to the ICC in London and that the ICC would decide if any measures should be taken against the umpires.

He would not comment on the Daily Nation report that De Silva and Doctrove could face ICC sanctions over their conduct in St. Vincent.

"I do not recall anything like this occurring before," said the former Pakistan player.

New Zealand need to win the test series to maintain their newly acquired status as the third best test playing nation, awarded after Sri Lanka lost their series in England.

New Zealand are considering several changes to their line-up for the test team, with three players, Matt Horne, Mark Richardson and Lou Vincent competing for two opening spots.

All-rounder Chris Harris, on form since being recalled to the test team against England earlier this year, is being considered for the number four spot after Fleming.

Pace bowler Chris Martin has joined the squad to try and strengthen New Zealand's fragile pace attack. Shane Bond looked to have returned to his speedy best in the final one-dayer but strike bowler Daryl Tuffey has struggled throughout the tour, taking a total of one for 159 from 25 overs in four matches.

The West Indies batsmen are currently playing more consistently than for many years, with Guyanese pair Shivnarine Chanderpaul and skipper Carl Hooper at the top of their game. Chanderpaul averaged an astonishing 140.5 in the five-match test series against India which ended last month, scoring three centuries and three 50s.

The left-hander was elevated to open for the one-day team, where he scored a century and averaged 61, but Wavell Hinds and Chris Gayle are likely to open in the tests.

Brian Lara, once the only reliable West Indies batsman, now finds himself being outscored but played two crucial innings in the one-day series and looks to be rediscovering his form gradually after breaking his left elbow during a tour of Sri Lanka in December.

The bowling attack is less sure. Uncapped pace bowler Darren Powell has been recalled from the West Indies A tour of England to provide back-up to the team's jaded-looking pace bowlers.

Merv Dillon missed the St Vincent match because of a strained back and it is not known if he will be fit for Friday's match. Leg spinner Mahendra Nagamootoo returns after a two-month lay-off due to a combination of injury and the effects of a car crash.

The island of Grenada stages a test match for the first time when the second test is held there, starting on June 28.