Ganguly rues the fact India did not have more runs to play with

Lynn McConnell

December 22, 2002

Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was left lamenting the fact his batsmen had not been able to score another 40-50 in their runs to shut New Zealand out of the second National Bank Test in Hamilton yesterday.

New Zealand got home by four wickets today in their quest for 160.

The result had been very disappointing, he said.

But those extra runs would have made them competitive.

He had been disappointed that more batsmen could not stay with Rahul Dravid to get those extra runs but he didn't blame his lower-order players as he doubted they had the techniques to get by in the conditions.

Ganguly said he didn't want to make any excuses but there had been two 50s from the Indian batsmen and one from the New Zealanders in four innings for each side in the series.

"That would show that it was not an easy time for the batsmen," he said.

Indian coach John Wright said in his experience, when playing in New Zealand, the Basin Reserve wicket had been something like those in the series, but today's pitch had been a good one for Test cricket.

"What was interesting from my point of view was that both the wickets were watered three or four days before both Test matches. The one in Wellington had been watered the day we turned up for training two days before the Test match, covered with scrim the day before the Test match and this one was watered before we arrived because the groundsman had said he was worried it would dry out too quickly and obviously the weather before the Test match probably delayed the pitch recipe or preparation.

"Today was about right for a good Test wicket," he said.

The formula appeared to be one that was working for New Zealand from the way they picked their side and it was successful and he congratulated them on their success because India hadn't been good enough to win on either occasion.

While more runs were needed in the second innings, he had been very pleased with the way the side competed in the match, especially in the field. To get New Zealand out for a score less than their own in the first innings had been a good effort.

Batting conditions today had probably been the best in the match but his players had stuck at it very well.

"We had no complaints. We could make some observations but we are certainly not complaining," he said.

Ganguly explained the reason Virender Sehwag was dropped down the order in the second innings with Parthiv Patel opening.

Patel had shown good technique in the first innings and it was thought if Sehwag could come in later he might be able to score 50 or more runs that could be useful. But, unfortunately, for India he got out before he could give them what might have been a winning advantage.

Wright looked ahead to the one-day series and hoped that good wickets would be available for the series.

"I think it is very important for both sides heading into the World Cup that they go in there with batsmen in form. From what I understand the wickets in South Africa are going to be very flat and so the preparation and for the sake of a good series I hope the wickets are really batsmen friendly, which will suit us.

"But if you are going to win a World Cup you've got to put big scores on the board so from that point of view I imagine the New Zealanders perhaps will be thinking along the same sorts of lines," he said.

India were looking forward to the one-day series and he remained hopeful that the New Zealand public would yet see his batsmen in full cry.

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