India need to bat their way back into Test series - Wright

Lynn McConnell

December 18, 2002

Indian coach John Wright won't be attempting to stifle his players' batsmanship as they go out to bat in the second National Bank Test against New Zealand starting in Hamilton tomorrow.

While India were twice dismissed in less than 100 overs in total in the first Test, Wright said it would be dangerous for him to be telling his batsmen how best to do their job.

"Coaching is more of a process. Obviously you can hope for the outcome but you don't necessarily control that," he said.

It was unrealistic to expect the Indians to change their approach overnight.

They had come to New Zealand from playing a series against the West Indies on some of the flattest pitches they had ever seen.

His side were definitely the most attractive batting line-up in the world and he was hopeful that New Zealanders would get to see them playing their natural game.

"It's very important that you may give a message to players of what you want to achieve, it's very dangerous when you start telling them how to do it.

"I really don't think that Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid and [V V S] Laxman and [Sourav] Ganguly have achieved what they have in the game by playing a certain way. They have to express themselves.

"Obviously there are guidelines about how to play in the conditions, and they have to work that out for themselves. If you start changing natural inclination, the way you play, that's what's got them there. I believe that from a coaching perspective. So hopefully, we will perform better with the bat and we know we've got a reasonable chance of getting 20 wickets.

"It is dangerous to tell players how to achieve what you try and set out to do.

"The biggest thing they need to achieve is the self-belief and confidence to go out and play their game," he said.

Because all of them wanted to go out and get runs, he added.

India had shown several times in recent years that it could come back from 1-0 down in the series. While it was a little disappointing that this series only involved two Tests that was the way circumstances dictated.

But a three-Test series at least allowed the chance for a comeback because players got to know each other better, he said.

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India tour of New Zealand

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