Rixon's gibes fire up Indians (18 January 1999)

18 January 1999

Rixon's gibes fire up Indians

The Christchurch Press

The Indian cricketers are fuming at another public criticism of their team by New Zealand coach Steve Rixon.

For the second time this summer Rixon has had a dig at India and, on this occasion, it has sparked a terse response from the normally unflappable Indian coach, Anshuman Gaekwad.

Gaekwad said Rixon was out of line to say publicly before the fourth one-dayer in Auckland on Saturday that " ... to me the Indians look like they've got only one thing on their mind - and that's the flight home".

Gaekwad said the Indian management was prepared to overlook Rixon's criticism of them during the first test wash-out in Dunedin, when he said the tourists were looking for reasons not to play. But the latest remark struck a raw nerve and the Indians responded with an emphatic five-wicket win with 6.1 overs to spare at Eden Park, Auckland, on Saturday.

India leads the one-day series, 2-1, and the best New Zealand can hope for now is to square proceedings with a win in the final game at Jade Stadium (Lancaster Park) in Christchurch tomorrow.

Gaekwad said that Rixon should concentrate on preparing his own team.

"The boys are pretty upset about it - they are," Gaekwad said.

"Mr Rixon has no right to comment on our team - he can say what he wants about his team - that is fine, but not us.

"Something appeared in the newspapers during the test in Dunedin and we didn't react to it and now it has happened again. I would appreciate it if he sticks to talking about his own team rather than the Indians."

Gaekwad said Rixon's judgment was a long way off the truth and his team was enjoying its tour. It was determined to win back some credibility after losing the test series, 1-0.

"At the end of the day, actions speak louder than words," Gaekwad said.

"All the boys were ready to go for it (on Saturday) and they said 'we'll prove it about whether we want to go back to India or play cricket here'."

New Zealand will have to overcome a day-night jinx at Jade Stadium to beat India and square the series.

The ground has not been a happy one for the Black Caps since the lights were introduced.

The side, under Rixon, has lost five successive games at the ground since 1996-97:

to England by four wickets.

to Sri Lanka by six wickets.

to Australia by seven wickets.

to Zimbabwe by one run.

Add to that a test loss against England and Rixon is beginning to wonder what has to be done to win in Christchurch.

"It doesn't look that good on paper but I'm sure we can turn things around."

New Zealand has not been helped on this tour by India winning the toss six out of seven times.

New Zealand will not have injured skipper Stephen Fleming for the match. After initial hopes that he might be available for the final game in the five-match series, it has been decided it is more important to get him right for the South African series, starting next month. Fleming aggravated a groin injury in the first one-day match at Taupo.

Meanwhile, fellow New Zealand representative Geoff Allott hopes to be available for Canterbury in a final-round Shell Cup match next week.

Allott suffered a hamstring strain just 2.2 overs into a bowling spell in the second one-dayer against India at Napier last week. "It's nothing serious but is probably going to be a couple of weeks out. It's being treated."

The third New Zealand player on the injured list, Nathan Astle, still has his hand in plaster after breaking a bone while batting in the second test in late December. Like Fleming, he is targeting a return in the South African series.

Both India and New Zealand arrived in Christchurch yesterday and will practise at Lancaster Park South today.

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

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