Martin Snedden, New Zealand Cricket's chief executive, took his crystal ball to a media briefing at Eden Park today, and rather suggested that he was wise to divert from the law to cricket administration rather than take up employment as a TAB tipster.

Running through the New Zealand team's programme for the new season, Snedden listed the two home Tests against Bangladesh in December as bringing a must-win 2-0 result for the home side.

"There is no point in doing a media beat-up to suggest that Bangladesh and New Zealand are at the same level," said Snedden. "New Zealand should go out and beat them comfortably in both Tests.

"New Zealand should totally impose themselves on Bangladesh, play some good cricket and win."

Apart from a good crowd for the traditional Boxing Day Test at the Basin Reserve, Snedden did not think Bangladesh would draw big crowds - "but the spectators would have the chance to see New Zealand playing well."

Snedden was also confident the New Zealanders would do well in the triangular VB one-day series in January against Australia and South Africa.

In the past New Zealand, said Snedden, seemed to have the knack to perform well in these competitions - "we usually get to the finals."

The inference was that New Zealand would finish in the finals this time.

The later home series against England, said Snedden, might well bring out the best New Zealand effort of the summer.

"We can look forward to this tour, as I think New Zealanders get the greatest enjoyment from beating England at any sport.

"They are a bit like us at the moment. We have a lot of talent, but sometimes get it wrong, and I think England are the same."

Snedden suggested England were inconsistent - they lost 11 one-dayers in a row, and then won five in a row.

"We had great Test series against them recently when we have come out on top, and then England have had their share of victories.

"This will be the real benchmark for New Zealand in the new season, and we have the ability to beat them in the Test and the one-day series."

Snedden had started his summary with the November-December three-Test tour of Australia.

The New Zealanders' behaviour before the team left, and recent reports from Australia, showed Snedden that the New Zealanders were very keyed-up, very intense.

"They see this challenge as much greater than some of their recent series."

Snedden said the loss through injury of Daniel Vettori had been a huge setback, but felt that if a door had been closed with Vettori's departure another may well have been opened by Paul Wiseman's addition to Glen Sulzberger in the spin-bowling department.

Snedden said he felt Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, might help Wiseman or Sulzberger improve their Test-level performance with more conservative field-settings.

"Sometimes I think Steve might be too quick to attack with a new bowler, and thus make the bowler more vulnerable, whereas a bowler might settle into a groove with slightly more defensive fields early on - and that is what Shane Warne does."

Snedden cited the 1985 case of John Bracewell struggling along just below Test level, and then with one or two outstanding performances cementing his place as an effective Test bowler.

"That might be all that Wiseman or Sulzberger need, a really good day and their Test careers could take off."

And how did Snedden forecast the result of the toughest challenge of the summer?

"If the New Zealanders are at the absolute top of their game we might be satisfied with a 2-1 result."

The White Ferns should know by the end of this month whether their nine-match tour of India, including five One-Day Internationals and one Test, will go ahead. Snedden, who won praise for his quick cancellation of the men's tour of Pakistan, said NZC would take advice from foreign affairs and security organisations before making the decision. The women's tour is scheduled to start on November 29.

© CricInfo