India can expect even more than the Basin for second Test

Lynn McConnell

December 16, 2002

India can expect no relief when they line up in Hamilton for the second National Bank Series Test match against New Zealand starting on Thursday.

In fact, if India don't improve their approach in batting, the news is nearly all bad.

Westpac Park groundsman Doug Strachan said if the Test started tomorrow his pitch would be slightly slower than the Basin, but if he gets the fine weather to put in the finishing touches to the ground in the next two days, it will be faster and bouncier.

He said he was looking forward to seeing Shane Bond in action on his pitch. Strachan's personal philosophy was to have good, fast, bouncy pitches and that has been borne out in recent history in New Zealand's successive Tests against Australia (lost), Pakistan (won) and Bangladesh (won).

Should India be of a mind to put in some hard work in preparation for more of the same as occurred in Wellington, without the prospect of the same windy conditions, then Strachan said his practice wickets had never been better.

"The bounce on them is the highest I have ever had - they are going through the roof. Hopefully that will be reflected on the main pitch.

"The shorter players could find things a little tricky," he said.

The pitch block is a new one as the whole pitch area was decompacted over the winter and because of that the condition of the pitch was capable of changing rapidly until more density was in the pitch.

Achieving the required density will be his aim in the lead-up to the match.

"We are at the real business end of making the pitch.

"The weather forecast is unsettled but in our preparation we have erred on the side of caution.

"We gave the pitch its final dose of water last night and early this morning but it was scary when you saw the forecast last night. Though I think we might miss the worst of what was forecast," he said.

Strachan said he was "pretty" comfortable with where he was at but he acknowledged that things could change quickly.

"I'm sure we can handle whatever Mother Nature throws at us," he said.

Strachan said he took New Zealand's summer to date into account when allowing himself and his team 50% more time than usual for their preparation but they have found they only needed 33% longer, so they have some time up their sleeves.

He said he would be happy if when the Test starts on Thursday he could have the same sort of pitch as that at the Basin.

At the moment, however, the Basin would be ahead of him in speed.

"But if I can get a good couple of days in, we might just edge the Basin," he said.

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