Hyderabad, India - Judging by his past experience of the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expects bat to dominate ball in the second test against New Zealand starting on Friday.
The latest addition to the list of test venues, as the five-day game returns to Hyderabad after a 22-year hiatus, is not expected to provide the kind of result-friendly pitch that India would prefer after having drawn the series opener.
“We have played some one-dayers and IPL [Indian Premier League] matches here and found the pitch to be on the flat side with some bounce, which enables batsmen to score freely,” Dhoni said on Thursday.
The first test of the three-match series ended in a draw at Ahmedabad, where India needed a rearguard action by V.V.S. Laxman and a century from bowler Harbhajan Singh in the second innings to resist a looming defeat.
Dhoni said he would like to be more attacking but the team was not contemplating going in with an extra bowler.
“I would like the luxury of playing five bowlers, but then you have to consider what your best side is. We like to rely on part-time bowlers to supplement the four regular bowlers,” Dhoni said.
The India skipper also backed out-of-form opener Gautam Gambhir — 86 runs in his past 10 innings — saying his place in the side was not yet at risk despite the claims of Murali Vijay, who scored a century in the final test against Australia last month as replacement for the injured Gambhir.
“With Gambhir it is a the pressure of performance rather than the fear of failure,” Dhoni said. “He has set a high benchmark for himself and others like Murali will have to wait for some time.”
Dhoni also put pressure upon the umpires, after questionable decisions in the first test.
“Everyone saw Laxman’s decision in the first test. Strong measures have to be taken to improve the standard of umpiring,” Dhoni said in reference to Steve Davis’s lbw decision when replays showed a clear inside edge off Laxman’s bat when he was just nine runs shy of a century.
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori urged his team to “maintain the high standards” after the strong showing in the first test.
“We need to back up our performance in the first match with another one here,” Vettori said on Thursday.
India started the series as a strong favorite but was surprised by a resurgent New Zealand in the series opener. The third and final test will be held in Nagpur next week. (C. Rajshekhar Rao)
Associated Press
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com