AUCKLAND, New Zealand (CMC):

West Indies are bracing themselves for a backlash from New Zealand in their forthcoming Test series.

New Zealand lost their Test series across the Trans-Tasman peninsula, when Australia swept them 2-0 yesterday.

"Teams come back from a series against Australia, when they're playing well and feel "thank goodness that's over", West Indies head coach John Dyson said.

"From our point of view, it's been great to watch them play against Australia. We'll get some useful tips from it.

"But, Any New Zealand side in New Zealand is a difficult proposition, so I expect they'll come home saying "let's get on with this series".

"They're playing in front of their home crowds on their home soil. They're very patriotic. They dig deep."

Intriguing series

Dyson noted New Zealand have slipped below the West Indies to eighth in the ICC Test Champion-ship, following their defeat to Australia and he believes it sets things up for an intriguing series.

"This is a contest between two teams, who are pretty closely placed on the ICC table," he said.

"Both teams talk about wanting to move up. To me, this is going to be a good indication, this series, of just where they both are."

West Indies start a three-day tour match against Auckland at Eden Park on Friday and Dyson expects it to be a proper first-class game - not one where teams use 12 or 13 players to have a practice workout.

But Dyson is concerned with the lack of international experience of some of his players and acknowledged that a single three-day warm-up game ahead of the Tests was not ideal.

"We haven't played a Test for a number of months (since June against Australia), but these days you've got to get used to playing just one tour match then a Test,Ó he said.

"We had a good practice in Christchurch that was good from the point of getting over jetlag. We'll get them out in the middle for a three-day game, then another week's practice for the Test.

"We're looking for some consistency and some good performances to justify the faith that has been placed in them."

The first Test begins in Dunedin on December 11 and the second Test follows the week after in Napier.

The tour continues with two Twenty20 Internationals against the Black Caps and concludes with five One-Day Internationals.