“We are capable of adapting”, he said. The Bengaluru Test was washed out. Sitting at the Queen’s Park Oval with no play, the Indian players had already started thinking about the long home season ahead.
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Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja too has an opportunity to gain important points on home pitches to better his eighth position, while for New Zealand, left-arm pace bowler Neil Wagner will be leading a pack of pace bowlers ready to take the challenge of slower pitches in India. During his global career, Lee was recognised as one of the two fastest bowlers in the world of cricket along with Shoaib Akhtar.
“We hope that the performance we showed in West Indies continues here. we go with the aim of winning the test and the series”. “It’s important we adapt quickly and if we do and play positively, then let’s see”. Overall, there is no doubt that India will win the Test series with authority.
Their opponents, New Zealand come into this clash after losing their two-match Test series to South Africa 1-0. In hot and dry conditions here, they wait for the ball to either spin or reverse swing.
However, the threat of rains looms large on the opening Test of the three-match series with predictions of heavy downpour in the next six days.
But any suggestion that history meant his team would be satisfied with a draw did not wash with Kiwi coach Mike Hesson. Equally the same for the home team as well.
The seven decades in top flight cricket have seen India make giant strides from minnows to world beaters both on home friendly and hostile overseas conditions.
Sri Lankan spinner Rangan Herath had wreaked havoc past year during the Galle Test, where India struggled to chase 176 and were all out for 112.
But as that home series progressed, the pitches got worse.
Ishant is the most experienced of India’s four pacers with 209 wickets from 72 Tests. It is little doubt that sooner than later he should be captaining India in all formats of the game but for now Test cricket is in focus.
Lee, who has played for various T20 leagues across the world, including the Indian Premier League (IPL), credited the cash-rich IPL for helping Australian cricketers better understand subcontinental conditions.
“We’re starting to get a lot of guys who are really confident in their game plan [in spinning conditions] and have had some success in that”, Hesson said. Yes, we know we are playing 13 Tests.
“It is the first match of the home series, I knew the first question would be about the pitch and also the last”, said Kumble ahead of the season opener, drawing an instant laughter from the packed press conference.
Asked about coach Anil Kumble, Kapil said, “Give him a couple of years, he has always been very dedicated and knowing his temperament, he will be very good for the team”.
New Zealand are likely to play all three spinners and two quicks, which would leave wicketkeeper BJ Watling as the sixth batsman.
With the venue not used for a Test since 2009, Rahane is not sure how much it will turn, but feels that Mark Craig, Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi will be formidable opponents, and India will try to dominate the conversation.
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If India go in with five bowlers, there is a slim chance of going in with the extra seamer in Bhuvneshwar if the pitch offered is a green deck. There can be a lot of insecurities: ‘Whether I’ll play in the next game or whether my position is secure or not.’ It’s all about getting them rid of that feeling.
