Pitch offered more bounce and movement than expected - Wright

Lynn McConnell

December 14, 2002

India's expected familiarity with the Basin Reserve pitch because of their recent experiences in England was of no assistance as seen from their 10-wicket loss to New Zealand today.

Team coach John Wright said the pitch for the first National Bank Series Test seamed and bounced more than the pitches the side struck in England.

"I said before the match that the biggest Test for us was adjusting to the conditions, and clearly we didn't manage that," he said.

On pitches like the Basin Reserve, batsmen had to spend a lot of time at the wicket and India hadn't achieved that. Wright said he thought New Zealand's Mark Richardson had shown what sort of application was needed.

Asked whether he thought the side had enough time to adapt to New Zealand conditions, Wright said: "This is one country where the more you get before a Test the better and that would probably have helped.

"But it is a fact of life. We've got the players. We have got some wonderful batsmen who, when they get in, can express themselves with their shots and they are good to watch.

"In their shot selection they have to be a lot more judicious on these wickets.

"We have to be a lot stronger in that area in the next Test," Wright said.

He thought the side had done a good job in containing New Zealand to a lead of only 86 and he felt that if India could get to 150-160 runs ahead that they could put the pressure on the home side.

Captain Sourav Ganguly was clearly disappointed at the after-match press conference but he was in no mood to offer excuses.

The side had failed to bat well in either innings and in the second innings especially, it was below par.

"We just did not bat well. We had come back and I was hopeful that we could score 250-300 runs to make a contest of the game.

"We will have to do our best in Hamilton to try and square the series.

"All we can do is hope we will bat much better in this game," Ganguly said.

The side's batsmen had scored runs all around the world on different types of pitches. They would need to get their mindset right to get back in the next match," he said.

Wright said the performance of left-arm medium-fast bowler Zaheer Khan had been a bonus for the side and India's job was now to fine someone to pair up with him from the other end.

Wright said he was not surprised at New Zealand developing pitches more like that at the Basin with more bounce than has traditionally been the case.

"You always play to your strengths. It is a successful formula, they are winning matches, although they might miss the odd day or two's play but all credit to them.

But the art of touring was to adapt to the conditions you were faced with.

"At home in the last two years we have been reasonably strong but you have to adjust to conditions when you are touring," he said.

"If we can put the runs on the board in Hamilton we will have the same opportunity," he said.

India had been beaten fair and square and it didn't serve any purpose to make excuses. The side was a strong one but it had batted badly. He believed it could turn things around.

Getting through the new ball would be a key, he said.

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India tour of New Zealand

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