India were known for struggling on wickets with a little pace and bounce so the
directive was to put them on such wickets. That was the intent but the reality
was they were asked to play on fiery green demons. They didn't play particularly
well, were roundly criticised and left muttering derogatory things about playing
in New Zealand.
The make-up of their team has not changed much over six years and again they will bring a batting line-up chock to the gunwales with class.
Once again New Zealand's only chance may lie in playing on surfaces that offer movement for the bowlers.
India has seam bowlers who would also thrive in such bowling conditions but in flat conditions and in a pure bat-off, India surely would take a huge advantage.
writes Mark Richardson.
Thing is, taking 20 wickets wins you the match. And if the conditions are bowler friendly, India has a much better chance of taking 20 wickets than if the wickets are flat.
And if India get rolled out for 99 but roll in NZ for 94, and do that over the two innings, they still win by 10 runs.
Which is the only thing that matters.
So roll out the green.. Because that gives India its best shot of winning a series in New Zealand in 41 years.
Listed below is the breakdown of the innings played on the three venues hosting the Test series (over the last 5 years)
Seddon Park, Hamilton
In the last 5 years has hosted 2 Tests
| Team | Score | Overs | Target | RPO | Inns | Result | Opposition | Start Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa | 459 | 139.2 | 3.29 | 1 | draw | v New Zealand | 10 Mar 2004 | Test # 1686 | ||
| New Zealand | 509 | 164.4 | 3.09 | 2 | draw | v South Africa | 10 Mar 2004 | Test # 1686 | ||
| South Africa | 313/4d | 116.1 | 2.69 | 3 | draw | v New Zealand | 10 Mar 2004 | Test # 1686 | ||
| New Zealand | 39/1 | 16.0 | 264 | 2.43 | 4 | draw | v South Africa | 10 Mar 2004 | Test # 1686 | |
| New Zealand | 470 | 138.3 | 3.39 | 1 | won | v England | 5 Mar 2008 | Test # 1866 | ||
| England | 348 | 173.1 | 2.00 | 2 | lost | v New Zealand | 5 Mar 2008 | Test # 1866 | ||
| New Zealand | 177/9d | 55.0 | 3.21 | 3 | won | v England | 5 Mar 2008 | Test # 1866 | ||
| England | 110 | 55.0 | 300 | 2.00 | 4 | lost | v New Zealand | 5 Mar 2008 | Test # 1866 |
McLean Park, Napier
In the last 5 years has hosted 4 Tests
| Team | Score | Overs | Target | RPO | Inns | Result | Opposition | Start Date | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 561 | 159.1 | 3.52 | 1 | draw | v Sri Lanka | 4 Apr 2005 | Test # 1746 | ||
| Sri Lanka | 498 | 148.1 | 3.36 | 2 | draw | v New Zealand | 4 Apr 2005 | Test # 1746 | ||
| New Zealand | 238 | 92.4 | 2.56 | 3 | draw | v Sri Lanka | 4 Apr 2005 | Test # 1746 | ||
| Sri Lanka | 7/0 | 1.3 | 302 | 4.66 | 4 | draw | v New Zealand | 4 Apr 2005 | Test # 1746 | |
| New Zealand | DNB | 0.0 | - | 0 | draw | v West Indies | 25 Mar 2006 | Test # 1793 | ||
| West Indies | 256/4 | 78.1 | 3.27 | 1 | draw | v New Zealand | 25 Mar 2006 | Test # 1793 | ||
| England | 253 | 96.1 | 2.63 | 1 | won | v New Zealand | 22 Mar 2008 | Test # 1868 | ||
| New Zealand | 168 | 48.4 | 3.45 | 2 | lost | v England | 22 Mar 2008 | Test # 1868 | ||
| England | 467/7d | 131.5 | 3.54 | 3 | won | v New Zealand | 22 Mar 2008 | Test # 1868 | ||
| New Zealand | 431 | 118.5 | 553 | 3.62 | 4 | lost | v England | 22 Mar 2008 | Test # 1868 | |
| West Indies | 307 | 107.0 | 2.86 | 1 | draw | v New Zealand | 19 Dec 2008 | Test # 1900 | ||
| New Zealand | 371 | 126.4 | 2.92 | 2 | draw | v West Indies | 19 Dec 2008 | Test # 1900 | ||
| West Indies | 375 | 145.0 | 2.58 | 3 | draw | v New Zealand | 19 Dec 2008 | Test # 1900 | ||
| New Zealand | 220/5 | 51.0 | 312 | 4.31 | 4 | draw | v West Indies | 19 Dec 2008 | Test # 1900 |
Basin Reserve, Wellington
has hosted 7 Tests in the last 5 years
14 comments:
Still, preparing greentops is the only way NZ can win the series.
By preparing flat wickets, they may be able to draw the series because even though India has the better attack that has even performed on flat Indian wickets, flat NZ wickets will be new to them and they many not be able to take 20 wickets even against this NZ team. Especially if Munaf breaks down and Balaji is the third seamer.
India have the edge on green tops but I am not so sure - of course, Dhoni is lucky so he may get the exact pitch that suits the team composition of the team he choses :-)
green or roof top, India on top :)
India is the better team of the two and will prevail but it won't be easy as New Zealand is used to playing in those conditions, and do perform better at home.
RGB,
The only way NZ can win the series is to hurt India early and then roll out batting beauties...
And only because we are notoriously slow starters.
Cheers,
Raj,
If the wickets are flat, the spinners will have a greater role to play.
So, how competent are the NZ batsmen playing a quality offie and leggie?
Cheers,
I agree Sam :)
Cheers,
Wasim,
That was the argument when India toured England and when India played at Jo'burg and when India played at Perth.
And we know what happened then :)
Cheers,
That worked in 98-99.I do not think NZ will be able to eke out 1-0 series win this time. India has enough bowling firepower to win on flat pitches while NZ has no chance to win on such pitches.
This time ODIs precede the tests. So the 'Loss in the First Test' syndrome should not be difficult to overcome.NZ can not depend on hurting India early.
For a series win, NZ needs to prepare greentops and reduce the disparity between the two sides.
Interestingly, Mark Richardson has re-written the same article in Cricinfo in a far less balanced style almost designed to get under the skin of Indian readers. The weirdest opening shot yet!
RGB,
On the contrary, green tops will only accentuate the disparity between the two sides. Their bowling is better than their batting and our batting is better than our bowling. And our bowling is definately better than their bowling!
Cheers,
Suhas,
It set the right tone for the rest of the series - way too much bonhomie in the lead up :).
Thanks for your comments and welcome to the blog
Cheers,
It did reduce the batting disparity last time.
RGB,
They had a much better bowling lineup then.. The roles are reversed now.
Cheers,
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