Zimbabwe are setting out on a learning curve in international cricket and coach Alan Butcher said in Auckland on Wednesday that confidence in the side was slowly growing.
Time out of international cricket after internal turmoil forced the International Cricket Council to withdraw Zimbabwe from Test match cricket had taken its toll and it was a case of having to rebuild the experience among the best players.
Opportunities to play during the hiatus were not always good experiences for the side, Butcher said.
"They're starting to get some good experience under their belt and starting to play some much better cricket," he said.
The lack of top cricket had affected the country but there was still interest in cricket and a lot of talented players coming through the systems.
"There are issues in trying to develop that talent at international level."
Butcher said he didn't agree with the view held in some quarters that Zimbabwe should still be denied Test cricket.
"From everything I've seen in the country I'd say I don't believe that is correct. There are many countries in the world on the international cricket circuit whose politics are a bit dodgy – I don't want to get into that.
"But all I've seen since I've been in the country is people...who need this sort of exposure, the cricketers need this sort of exposure, but so does the country because they all enjoy it when anything to do with Zimbabwe is successful," he said.
Zimbabwe arrived in Auckland after what was described as a successful week-long camp, some more Logan Cup play and then a 'dreadful' flight via Johannesburg, Dubai and Brisbane.
Butcher said after the opening session of the tour in the Auckland nets at Colin Maiden Park: "The guys are pretty tired but they worked hard and we had a pretty good session today."
The side fly on to Gisborne on Friday for their three-day game against a New Zealand XI starting on Saturday.
Central to their gaining maximum benefit from the tour would be their ability to adapt to New Zealand conditions, he said.
Tour vice-captain Hamilton Masakadza, who was standing in for captain Brendan Taylor who was still in Wellington where he has been playing HRV Cup cricket, said: "We've been playing very well at home and for us it is just a matter of proving we can do as well away from home. That's the main thing for us on this tour to prove to ourselves and everyone else that we are not just good at home."