New Zealand Test cricket credibility 'on the line' (18 December 1998)

18 December 1998

New Zealand Test cricket credibility 'on the line'

By Geoff Longley in Dunedin

Beating India in the first cricket test will go some way to restoring the New Zealand team's credibility in the eyes of the public, says captain Stephen Fleming.

Fleming said while New Zealand had comprehensively downed Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in its past two home test series, India was regarded as one of the quality sides in the world.

"Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe aren't probably two of the major players in the test arena, but India is certainly recognised as one."

Fleming is aware that the Black Caps' inconsistency has stretched public loyalty to breaking point and beyond.

He is convinced that New Zealand's best chance of winning is if it bowls first. The New Zealand bowlers want to exploit a wicket expected to have pace and bounce that may unsettle the opposition.

"I think we've got a better seam attack than theirs and we want to make the most of that," said coach Steve Rixon.

"The bounce we can get bowling first is an issue. I'm not saying we are going to try and bounce them out or anything silly like that, but we want to test them. We also want to exploit any sideways movement.

"They have only played four tests this year, but a truckload of one-dayers (40) in their own conditions where the ball doesn't get up much above stump height."

That means Otago off-spinner Paul Wiseman is most likely to sit in the stands as 12th man.

And Rixon will be happy for cooler conditions to prevail to maximise New Zealand's advantage.

India has already felt the Carisbrook cold at practice and have not enjoyed the mid-teen temperatures. They are used to double that in the Sub-continent. Even if New Zealand batted first, India might not appreciate fielding in chilly temperatures, just as it affected Sri Lanka two seasons ago.

Rixon said the New Zealand team was as well prepared as it could possibly be. The players have come off the first-class Conference series and a lengthy lead-up, including a two-day match against Otago earlier in the week on Carisbrook.

India is not as committed to bowling first as New Zealand. With its spin bowling influence, it may be just as content bowling second - and last - on a wicket which shows cracks at one end.

Chief groundsman Mark Perham, preparing a test strip for the first time, said while the cracks might widen a little during the five days, the wicket would not break up.

Fleming confirmed that Cantabrians Geoff Allott and Chris Cairns would open the bowling, now that Simon Doull is injured.

Cairns says he will relish the responsibility of bowling with the new cherry. In the past he has been more content to bowl first change.

Fleming said just because he felt New Zealand had the slightly stronger seam attack did not mean he didn't respect India's pace bowling headed by Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad.

He was also aware of the danger of brisk leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who has taken 204 test wickets.

"A wicket like this with bounce should suit him, so we must be careful. There is no hard and fast way to play him, we will be looking at some tapes, but guys have to do what suits them best."

India has delayed finalising its playing XI, with the last place coming down to either seamer Debahash Mohanty or teenage spinner Harbhajan Singh.

Despite its star players, India is a notoriously poor performer away from the Sub-continent, proven earlier this year when it beat Australia at home, 2-1, but then lost a one-off test in Zimbabwe.

Since 1986, India has only won one of 14 series played away from home - against Sri Lanka in 1994.

Source :: The Christchurch Press (http://www.press.co.nz/)

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