Pitch prediction sometimes brings to mind the reading of palms or tea leaves.In the days before a Test, coaches and captains take familiar positions near one end of the track and stare pensively down at the clay; silently nodding or shaking heads, or murmuring softly under their breath. They drop ritualistically, to their haunches to lay hands on the surface, sometimes feeling it with closed eyes, as if searching for the pitchs life force. Towards the end of the exercise, glances are often thrown skywards and divine guidance is sought. Occasionally, the pitch curator consulted.Members of both teams observed this tradition, at Seddon Park, on Tuesday, and if they were especially intense during the examination, it is because the Hamilton pitch has had many avatars in recent years. It bounced for Sri Lanka last December, when even a visiting seamer prospered with the short ball, and Sri Lankas top order treated the crowd to an unforgettable slapstick collapse. In 2013 it had sung for offspinner Sunil Narine, who took 6 for 91 in the first innings. In the two Tests before that, reverse-swing had defined the outcome. All the way back in 2010, when Australia came, pace and seam movement had proved significant.Pakistan say they are happy to play on any track, but two days out, this track is just as green as the one at Hagley Oval had been. And although it was a warm, cloudless day, Seddon Parks curators also kept the surface covered for much of the afternoon. Much of the grass will be retained - all the better to mute Pakistans spinner, said New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman BJ Watling, who also plays on this surface for the Northern Districts domestic side.A lot can depend on the cloud cover we get here when conditions are around, he said. It can swing when its overcast. Im hoping it doesnt spin too much because Yasir Shah is a world-class bowler, and we really dont want to bring him into the game too much.In addition to aiding swing, the cloud cover and rain expected for the first three days of the match may also prevent the track from drying out as much as Pakistan and Yasir would like. The forecast has improved through the week, however, and Watling suggested that even a little sunshine could change the pitchs character. Our pitches here can flatten out quite quickly. If its green on day one, I can guarantee that by the end of day two, if it stays sunny, it wont be that green anymore.If the pitch does turn out seam-friendly again, the visiting quicks had shown competence in such conditions - particularly on the third morning of the first Test, when the claimed six wickets for 96. Their success had largely come from bowling shorter lengths than they had initially ventured, the previous day.Their bowlers are very good, and conditions like these can suit them, Watling said. They would have learned from that last match and will adjust their lengths accordingly. They would have learned a lot with the bat as well and we can expect a tougher challenge in this game.New Zealand are likely to retain the quicks that played in Christchurch, but will likely swap Mitchell Santner for Todd Astle in the XI. Watling said the hosts attack is varied enough to be menacing, even if the ball does not move for as long as expected.We know we always have Neil Wagner, who when conditions flatten out, can change a game and give you those couple of crucial wickets to bring our swing bowlers back into the game as well. Weve got a good balance there. With Colin bowling quite a few overs for us as the allrounder, I think it really helps Kane. 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Chris Bosh has failed his preseason physical and will not be cleared to participate in training camp, the Miami Heat?announced Friday.The Miami Heat and Chris Bosh, in consultation with team doctors and other physicians, have been working together for many months with the mutual goal of having Chris return to the court as soon as possible, the teams statement said. Chris has now taken his pre-season physical. The Miami Heat regret that it remains unable to clear Chris to return to basketball activities.In a documentary released this week by Uninterrupted.com, Bosh said Heat doctors told him last February that his basketball career was probably over when he was diagnosed with a second blood clot in his leg. Bosh fought the diagnosis and believed he had found a regimen that would allow him return to playing full-contact basketball. The team doctors continue to disagree.Seeing the team doctors, they told me that my season is over, my career is probably over and this just happens, this is just how it is, Bosh said in the documentary. I felt right away that I was written off. It was [claps his hands together] put it to the side matter-of-factly. If a doctor tells me, Hey thats it and this is how that is, and I dont buy that. I have the right to disagree with you.I know inside me I have a lot of talent and a lot of ability. I have it. I know I have it. It wasnt a matter of if I play again; it was when. So we took the bull by the horns.The Heat declined to explain why Bosh failed the physical and cited a clause in the collective bargaining agreement that prohibits the team from releasing certain medical information. Therefore it isnt clear if this is a new issue or the same issue that caused the doctors to inform Bosh his career was likely over six months ago.Traditional treatment for blood clots typically makes taking part in professional sports impossible.Team president Pat Riley and managing general partner Micky Arison have both said in recent weeks that they would be open to having Bosh in camp, and the 11-time All-Star forward was examined by multiple doctorss in recent days in an attempt to be cleared.ddddddddddddThe team holds media day in Miami on Monday and starts training camp in the Bahamas on Tuesday. Its unclear if Bosh will even be present for those events.Boshs representatives did not return messages and have declined to comment during the process.Dwyane Wade, now with the?Chicago Bulls, told The Associated Press on Friday that he supports Bosh, but has reservations about his former teammates health.I wouldnt be a friend if I didnt express to him my concerns, Wade told the AP. To me, the biggest thing is Chris has five kids and a wife and a family that depends on him being there. To me, thats always most important. I told him, Make sure you focus on that first.Bosh, 32, is in the midst of releasing a self-directed documentary about his attempts to return to the NBA. In it he has been somewhat critical of the Heat, saying they had written him off after the diagnosis last All-Star Weekend.He has three years and $75 million -- which is guaranteed -- left on his contract. If he is declared disabled by an independent doctor, the Heat would be able to remove his salary from their books starting next season. Miami would still have to pay Bosh the money, though a portion would be covered by insurance. If the team just released Bosh, it would be unable to get full cap relief.It is possible that another team could trade for Bosh, but another team would have to clear him to take part in basketball activities.Boshs first bout with a blood clot was in February 2015. One that was believed to have formed in one of his legs traveled to a lung and caused problems so severe that he needed to be hospitalized for several days. He recovered and was averaging 19.1 points last season when the second bout with clots began in February -- though the ones discovered then did not cause health issues anywhere near as serious as what he dealt with in 2015.The Associated Press contributed to this report. ' ' '