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Cape Town - Former Proteas bowling coach Vincent Barnes has warned that South Africa should be mindful of New Zealand's possible dodgy tactics.
The Proteas will shortly embark on their tour there where they will play three T20s, three ODIs as well as three Tests. The first match starts on 17 February.
Barnes was in the Proteas' camp on their last tour to New Zealand in 2004 and he told Rapport that it "definitely won't be an easy tour".
"New Zealand is a very pretty country and I believe as tourists it is wonderful to visit.
"As an overseas cricket team it is, however, not an easy tour.
"It's almost as if they realise they don't have the talent and depth of the bigger cricket nations and they then try everything possible to improve their winning chances," said Barnes.
But Barnes believes this time round the South Africans are mentally tougher to handle the situation.
"Back then we were the inexperienced team, while New Zealand had guys like Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns, Scott Styris and Nathan Astle.
"They constantly tried to unsettle us and it's something that Gary (Kirsten, SA coach) has to be mindful of. Luckily we're now very experienced and I don't think they (the Proteas) will be caught off guard," said Barnes.
In 2004 Fleming constantly tried to unsettle Smith and the home team's training facilities were often much better than South Africa's.
There was also big drama when the Kiwi's "fixed" a poor pitch (on which South Africa already batted on) to help their batsmen.
It was the third Test in Hamilton, before the third day's play was due to start. South Africa had made 459 in their first innings while the Kiwi's stood on 102/2 overnight on a pitch which by now had some visibly damaged patches on it. When South Africa came out on that third morning they realised the damaged patches had been fixed, which is illegal to do during a Test match.
They also made improvements to a poor sightscreen to help their batsmen.
The Proteas will shortly embark on their tour there where they will play three T20s, three ODIs as well as three Tests. The first match starts on 17 February.
Barnes was in the Proteas' camp on their last tour to New Zealand in 2004 and he told Rapport that it "definitely won't be an easy tour".
"New Zealand is a very pretty country and I believe as tourists it is wonderful to visit.
"As an overseas cricket team it is, however, not an easy tour.
"It's almost as if they realise they don't have the talent and depth of the bigger cricket nations and they then try everything possible to improve their winning chances," said Barnes.
But Barnes believes this time round the South Africans are mentally tougher to handle the situation.
"Back then we were the inexperienced team, while New Zealand had guys like Stephen Fleming, Chris Cairns, Scott Styris and Nathan Astle.
"They constantly tried to unsettle us and it's something that Gary (Kirsten, SA coach) has to be mindful of. Luckily we're now very experienced and I don't think they (the Proteas) will be caught off guard," said Barnes.
In 2004 Fleming constantly tried to unsettle Smith and the home team's training facilities were often much better than South Africa's.
There was also big drama when the Kiwi's "fixed" a poor pitch (on which South Africa already batted on) to help their batsmen.
It was the third Test in Hamilton, before the third day's play was due to start. South Africa had made 459 in their first innings while the Kiwi's stood on 102/2 overnight on a pitch which by now had some visibly damaged patches on it. When South Africa came out on that third morning they realised the damaged patches had been fixed, which is illegal to do during a Test match.
They also made improvements to a poor sightscreen to help their batsmen.
