Bond may not be fit in time for the tour of India

Ross, who has regularly toured with the Kiwis in his role as player development manager, is keeping the seat warm for John Bracewell, the long-term replacement for Denis Aberhart.

He was asked to take on the coaching role when Bracewell decided to fulfil his duties at Gloucestershire for the remainder of the English county season. Bracewell takes on the international role on 1 November.

Ross told Wisden Cricinfo he was surprised to be given the temporary post. "It's always surprising when you don't apply for something and you get asked to do a job like this," he said.

Ross expects to be in close consultation with Bracewell before the side leaves for India, on 23 September. In seven tours to the country, New Zealand have never managed to win a series and had drawn only one series.

Ross believes New Zealand are an improving outfit. "This side has played extremely well away from home in recent years," he said.

"We won in Sri Lanka, we won our first series last year in the West Indies and when we toured England in 1999 we won that series and the bulk of players from those teams are still together.

Fixtures: Australia and New Zealand in India

"We have a very good record in Asia recently."

New Zealand have 250 days of cricket from the start of the Indian tour until the end of the England tour midway through 2004.

But paceman Shane Bond is still some time away from returning to training after suffering a stress fracture in his back in May.

But there is better news concerning batsman Nathan Astle.