Former England captain Nasser Hussain expects the Rose Bowl to become a premier international venue - once the wicket improves.

Hussain played at the Rose Bowl in one of his last games for Essex, a totesport league defeat against the Hampshire Hawks in May, but was making his first trip to the ground as a Sky Sports commentator when New Zealand play the West Indies today.

He said: "The Rose Bowl has fantastic facilities. I played there at the beginning of the summer and the support for the ground is incredible, but the wicket is a bit spiky.

"It needs to calm down a bit before it hosts regular international fixtures.

"There is still too much sideways movement and it is taking a lot of spin, but Durham have a pretty good wicket now and hopefully the Rose Bowl will go the same way."

The Rose Bowl has made quicker progress on the international stage than Durham's Riverside ground, which opened in 1995, staged World Cup cricket in its fifth season, its first England one day international in its sixth and its first Test match in its ninth.

Hampshire's new home hosted its first one day international last year, its third season, and will stage five ICC Champions Trophy matches in September, including its first England match and a semi-final.

Daily Echo columnist and former England bowler Alan Mullally said: "The Rose Bowl square is still relatively new and is slowly but surely getting better.

"It's playing better this year than it has in previous years and hopefully we'll get Test cricket at the Rose Bowl in due course."

Groundsman Nigel Gray, who declined to comment on Hussain's words when told of them, said: "It's been a step forward this year - as always we've just tried to create the best possible wicket for every match."

New Zealand coach John Bracewell has also had negative words to say about the Rose Bowl wicket.

"It is an ideal preparation to have a game on the Thursday for the final two days later," said the ex-Gloucestershire coach.

"But unfortunately the two pitches look as if they are poles apart.

"This one looks soft and slow. The one on Tuesday (for the Windies' win) looked a superb wicket."

Meanwhile, Hussain, right, expects unbeaten New Zealand to continue their Natwest Series form against the West Indies today in front of a record 9,000 Rose Bowl crowd - weather permitting - as the two countries prepare for Saturday's final at Lord's.

"New Zealand were the form outfit going into this series and that's continued, they've got experience as well as a very good coach in John Bracewell," said Hussain.

"James Franklin has done well since he's come in and Chris Cairns has put his hand up as well. They would have to be the favourites because you never know what West Indies side is going to turn up.

"If it's the West Indies side that beat England at Trent Bridge and at Lord's they would have a chance - they've got the best player in Brian Lara and several other players that can turn a game on their day."

The Natwest Series is being shown exclusively live on Sky Sports.