New Zealand coach wants curators to show no mercy to India

Published December 24, 2013
"We've been in India before and they've changed the pitch the day before a game because it wasn't as dry as they'd like." -Photo by Reuters
"We've been in India before and they've changed the pitch the day before a game because it wasn't as dry as they'd like." -Photo by Reuters

New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson has called on the country's curators to serve up green pitches when India tour for their two-test series in February.

New Zealand were belted 2-0 on India's dry wickets last year and Hesson said it was only fair to prepare bouncy tracks for the Auckland and Wellington tests which might trouble the visitors' batsmen and blunt their spinners.

"I think everyone is aware of the type of surfaces we like," Hesson said in comments published by New Zealand media on Tuesday.

"We've been in India before and they've changed the pitch the day before a game because it wasn't as dry as they'd like. We certainly don't get any favours when we travel overseas, so I'd be disappointed if we provide any at home."

New Zealand have not beaten India in a test series since their 2-0 win in 2002-03, when the visitors' star-studded batting lineup, which included Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, crumbled on two fast, green pitches presented at Wellington's Basin Reserve and Seddon Park in Hamilton.

In the next home series in 2008-09, New Zealand's curators were slammed for preparing more docile pitches as the hosts lost 1-0.

New Zealand thrashed West Indies 2-0 in their recent three-test series, with their seamers Trent Boult and Tim Southee taking most of the wickets, and Hesson backed the pair to prosper against India on Eden Park's drop-in wicket and at the pace-friendly Basin Reserve.

"We'll back our seamers over anyone's at the moment, to be fair," he said. "We know they've got good seamers who will challenge us, but we back our seamers to put any order under pressure."

The first test begins on February 6 at Eden Park, with the second starting in Wellington on February 14.

Opinion

Editorial

Hasty transition
Updated 05 May, 2024

Hasty transition

Ostensibly, the aim is to exert greater control over social media and to gain more power to crack down on activists, dissidents and journalists.
One small step…
05 May, 2024

One small step…

THERE is some good news for the nation from the heavens above. On Friday, Pakistan managed to dispatch a lunar...
Not out of the woods
05 May, 2024

Not out of the woods

PAKISTAN’S economic vitals might be showing some signs of improvement, but the country is not yet out of danger....
Rigging claims
Updated 04 May, 2024

Rigging claims

The PTI’s allegations are not new; most elections in Pakistan have been controversial, and it is almost a given that results will be challenged by the losing side.
Gaza’s wasteland
04 May, 2024

Gaza’s wasteland

SINCE the start of hostilities on Oct 7, Israel has put in ceaseless efforts to depopulate Gaza, and make the Strip...
Housing scams
04 May, 2024

Housing scams

THE story of illegal housing schemes in Punjab is the story of greed, corruption and plunder. Major players in these...