Daijiworld Media Network
Auckland, Feb 6 : The first Cricket test match between India and New Zealand will start shortly at Auckland. Cricket lovers in India will wake up early in the morning at 3.30. But India need to perform better this time to prove its overseas record wrong.
Captain Dhoni has already warned his medium pace bowlers to perform or perish. Though pitch looks like pacer-friendly, spinners could take vital role from Day 3 onwards.
Team winning the toss is expected to bat first to get the day 1 advantage.
Teams:
New Zealand (From): Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum(c), Jesse Ryder, BJ Watling(w), Corey Anderson, Tim Southee, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Ish Sodhi, Neil Wagner
India (From): Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishwar Pandey, Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav
Match Preview :
It has been over two months now since India have been away from home and they are yet secure a win in any format of the game. New Zealand, on the other hand, have surprised many, including themselves, with their outstanding show in the ODIs. Against West Indies, earlier at home, they were dominant in the Tests. The pace group has gelled nicely and would definitely be the key against the suspect Indian batsmen.
India:
For all their repeated losses away from home, India still remain quite unpredictable. After their success in the Champions Trophy, India were expected to challenge South Africa and boss New Zealand in the ODIs but were consistently outclassed.
In the Tests in South Africa, the greenhorn side was expected to be steam-rolled but they came out gaining a lot of respect. They came agonisingly close to winning the first Test and that in itself was a huge confidence boost.
The batting department has garnered a lot of attention and criticism, some fair and as always a lot unfair too. Murali Vijay showed tenacity against the top class South African attack. Ajinkya Rahane showed a lot of promise with twin fifties in the second Test. Virat Kohli and Cheteshwar Pujara were a class apart as well. The other two - Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma - however have been found out on seaming tracks. They will be persisted with considering their stupendous batting form in the past year. How this young batting line up faces up against a talented bunch of fast bowlers will be one of the key aspects in the Tests.
Picking twenty wickets has been the biggest thorn in the flesh for MS Dhoni's men. Zaheer Khan's best was certainly a long way in the past. He still poses a lot of challenges but despite his improved fitness, he lacked penetration against South Africa.
Aged 35, Zaheer still remains India's best prospect in the pace department. The lack of adequate support from the younger pacers has been a bane. Mohammad Shami will be an automatic choice considering the promise he's shown. It will be a toss up between Ishant Sharma, Ishwar Pandey, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav for the third seamer's slot. Ravindra Jadeja's five-fer in the Durban Test should make him an automatic selection for the lone spinner's slot.
New Zealand:
The positives have been plenty for the Kiwis in recent times. The form of Ross Taylor and Kane Williamson has been exceptional. Brendon McCullum's captaincy has come in for a lot of praise for its attacking nature. His own form with the bat is also on the up. The pace group consisting of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner is bordering on world class. The presence of Shane Bond as their bowling coach has certainly had a tremendous impact.
Ish Sodhi, the India-born, leg-spinner adds another dimension to the bowling line up. It will be a test by fire for the 21-year old against the accomplished Indian batsmen. They will, no doubt, be looking to attack him if the pressure is built by the pacers. That presents an opportunity for the leggie to bag some wickets as well. Brendon McCullum will be backing him to the hilt to look for wickets.
Stats and Trivia:
India have never lost a Test at Eden Park, Auckland although they last played a Test here 24 years ago.
Peter Fulton scored twin tons at this ground against England in 2013.
Quotes:
There is a lot of experience in Zaheer, he is a world-class bowler and I am sure they will prove a point after a disappointing One-day series - Ross Taylor is not taking things for granted.
The plus point in Test matches is that you can pick and choose when you want to hit it and when you don't - MS Dhoni looks at the brighter side of facing short-pitched balls in Tests.
Need more intensity from pacers: Dhoni
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Wednesday said his fast bowlers have to be ready to bowl long spells if needed during the two-match Test series against New Zealand that starts here Thursday. PTI File Photo.
India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni Wednesday said his fast bowlers have to be ready to bowl long spells if needed during the two-match Test series against New Zealand that starts here Thursday.
Dhoni, who blamed the bowlers for India's 0-4 loss in the ODIs, asked his pacers to show the same kind of intensity they had showed during the Test series in South Africa.
"In South Africa, I felt they did a very good job. Even when we bowled too many overs, when they came for the last spell, they were still putting in a lot of effort. That is what is important. You don't want to give away easy runs. Let the opposition score off good shots. It was a good performance from them, depending on the scenario," he said.
Dhoni said on New Zealand tracks, that offer little help to the spinners, they fast bowlers may have to go for long spells.
"The good thing was, their approach was really fantastic (in South Africa). What we have done as a team is, I like to give them short spells so that they are fresh thinking about the third or the fourth spell, if needed. Use them in short bursts. But if the situation demands, they will have to go for long spells. With (Ravindra) Jadeja, he can hold one side, he can bowl long spells, of course, that depends on how well he is bowling," he said.
Dhoni said Indians pacers have to be patient and that is where veteran Zaheer Khan's experience will come handy.
"It is about bringing up new plans, and helping the youngsters to execute those plans. In the subcontinent, at times the only thing fast bowlers look for is wickets. They want to get wickets in each and every spell. Sometimes they only have two or three spells in the whole day.
"But over here the scenario changes. They have to bowl more overs, they have to keep coming back for second spell, third spell. Sometimes if you are bowling well, maybe even a fourth spell on the same day, which means you have to be a bit more patient. Bowl one line and length. Try to build on the pressure. It will be a real help to the fast bowlers as he (Zaheer) is someone who has played a lot outside the subcontinent. It is always good to have an experienced bowler in the side," he said.
Dhoni said having Jadeja as the lone spinner in the side will also give the pacers some rest since the spinner can bowl long spell and hold up one end.
"In the Test format, what we have seen is he is definitely someone who can keep it tight," Dhoni said. "He gives the liberty to our fast bowlers to attack a bit more. Jadeja can keep one end closed, and not give too many runs so that we can build some pressure and the fast bowlers can attack from the other side."