Cricket: India test in more ways than one

All sorts of issues are swirling round the cricket world: alleged spot fixing, the latest Indian Premier League franchise fiasco, plans for souping up Australia's domestic T20.

There are dollar signs everywhere and New Zealand's players don't need distractions at a time when they must keep their eye firmly on the ball.

As they fly to India today, there's also the on-field issue of putting to bed their wretched ODI series in Bangladesh. Three tests and five ODIs in India don't immediately appeal as the ideal way to recover from that calamity in the backyard of cricket's youngest full international nation.

It may be coincidence, but a mischievous mind could read something into the timely return to health of two of India's galaxy of batting stars, Gautam Gambhir and V.V.S. Laxman, ahead of New Zealand's arrival.

If you say it quickly, it doesn't strike as much fear as a slower perusal does: Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Tendulkar, Laxman, Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, plus a couple of talented extras to fill out the roster.

New Zealand depart with the words of coach, and selector, Mark Greatbatch ringing in their ears, particularly the crunchy expression in a radio interview that "we played like dicks, really" in Bangladesh en route to the 4-0 drubbing.

The batsmen were in his sights at that time and while it might not endear him to some of his players, it was a frank assessment and not a million miles off the mark.

Greatbatch suggested "some aren't good enough, I think some think they are better than they are" and wondered if they all possessed the necessary cricketing smarts.

So the batsmen, in particular, shouldn't lack for motivation to prove themselves against the world's No 1 test nation.

Tim McIntosh and BJ Watling will resume their opening partnership, needing to prove themselves; Brendon McCullum is expected to get the chance to show he's the man for the No 3 job (and remembering he's given up the test wicketkeeping job, must justify himself with bat alone); Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder are the middle order anchors; while Kane Williamson should get his chance to show his test credentials, after a maiden ODI hundred in Bangladesh.

Not one of those players, including the recalled Martin Guptill, can argue that they don't have a strong reason to perform.

The first test starting on Thursday will be the 11th played in Ahmedabad.

Five were drawn, including the last, a year ago. It was a batting orgy over five days as India and Sri Lanka produced 1598 runs, lost 21 wickets, six players scored centuries and Mahela Jayawardene stroked 275.

Five seamers are likely to vie for three spots, with the quicker pair, Andy McKay and Hamish Bennett expected to squabble over one place at most.

Chris Martin must improve on his 2009-10 season, Tim Southee has to aim for consistency and Brent Arnel should build on his tidy international start against Australia.

Most of all, there's a collective need to reassert themselves after the nadir of Bangladesh. It will be an examination not only of their ability but also their mental resilience.

The team

The New Zealand test squad: Dan Vettori (c), Tim McIntosh, BJ Watling, Brendon McCullum, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins, Jeetan Patel, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, Chris Martin, Andy McKay, Hamish Bennett.