Papps ready for fast bowlers

Recalled New Zealand test cricket opener Michael Papps reckons he has no lasting hang-ups about being hit by fast bowlers.

The gritty Papps says he is comfortable with the likelihood the South African pacemen will be trying to rattle his helmet with bouncers in the upcoming two-test series.

"Oh, fine with it. It's just one of those things that happens in cricket," Papps said from Brisbane where the New Zealand A team arrived for a short tour yesterday.

"I've been pinned before, mate, and I'm sure I will be pinned again."

The Canterbury 28-year-old said he had worked on his game and was "sure I can handle whatever is thrown at me".

Papps confirmed that he had made a couple of technical adjustments and things had obviously gone well last season with him establishing a batting record for the province.

"So I'm just looking forward to kicking on with it, keep working on my game and score some runs in the tests coming up."

After a catalogue of misfortunes Papps said he was looking forward to staying out of trouble and having a clear run with injuries.

He was excited about playing for New Zealand for the first time in 18 months and set on trying to establish himself as a test opener.

The first and last of Papps' six tests were against South Africa, and he said the majority of his international cricket had actually been against that country.

"It's opposition I'm familiar with, so hopefully I can take that familiarity and use it to my advantage."

Papps will be looking for a much better return than the 57 runs he managed in four test innings on the 2006 tour of South Africa.

New Zealand used three different sets of openers in the three tests, and Papps and Craig Cumming will be hoping to become a more permanent fixture at the top.

"Hopefully Craig and I can establish a partnership at the top of the order and set a platform for the rest of the guys to come in and do their thing," Papps said. "And hopefully we can set ourselves up to win some test matches this season."

The Black Caps are going into the wet season and coach John Bracewell had been told by the South African-born Canterbury coach Dave Nosworthy that the wickets would be a lot bouncier in the Johannesburg area than for the Twenty20 World Cup.

Papps said it was good to have a couple of warm-up games against South Africa A to assess conditions and formulate a plan of attack.

Meanwhile he was looking forward to a "good hit-out" in the four one-dayers against Australian state teams over the next week.

- © Fairfax NZ News