Cricket: Black Caps go for pace over spin

Martin Guptill comes in at no. three in the batting lineup. Photo / Christine Cornege

The Black Caps have reverted to a seam-based bowling attack for the second cricket test against India starting this afternoon (NZ time).

The tourists have cast aside offspinner Jeetan Patel in one of three changes in playing personnel from the drawn first test.

Patel makes way for Northern Districts workhorse Brent Arnel, a 31-year-old who earns his third test cap to share the seam bowling duties with his provincial colleague Tim Southee, in for the injured Hamish Bennett, and new ball spearhead Chris Martin.

As well, batsman BJ Watling's run at first drop is over after one test, after the tour selectors opted for Martin Guptill.

Watling's past five tests have netted him just 203 runs at an average of 25.37.

The changes have been made to promote the Black Caps' chances on a Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium pitch which promises to favour the batsmen.

But they mean the tourists' specialist slow bowling resources hinge entirely on captain Daniel Vettori with part-time support from Guptill and Kane Williamson.

Patel didn't grasp his opportunity in the first test which produced five centuries, his match analysis of three for 207 off 52 overs leaving plenty of room to argue he cannot tie down the vaunted Indian batsmen for long enough periods to build pressure.

"We just felt that Jeetan didn't give us enough penetration and was probably a little bit expensive in the first test," Vettori said today.

"We are hoping that our seamers can replicate a little of what Chris Martin did," he added in reference to the 35-year-old's withering fourth day burst which had India on their knees at 15 for five before they stood tall to force a draw at Ahmedabad.

Not that Vettori can exactly see the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium pitch encouraging bowlers to do a jig in anticipation.

"It may have a little more pace in it but generally it will be a batter friendly wicket and big scores are going to play a huge part in this match.

"The team which can dominate the first innings will give themselves a real chance of winning the test.

"The challenge for the seamers is to bowl straight and be as disciplined as they can be for long periods of time."

India's newest test venue has already earned a reputation for churning out the runs. West Zone won a domestic Duleep Trophy five-day game here last year by scoring 541 for seven in the fourth innings, so the surface should certainly go the distance.

That means New Zealand's batsmen will again have to step up to the plate to match the production of their Indian rivals.

Newcomer Kane Williamson and Jesse Ryder produced the goods at Ahmedabad with quality centuries and they have been told more of the same is expected of them here.

While there was much to admire from the tourists in the first test, coach Mark Greatbatch has emphasised the need for his batsmen to make the most of their time in the middle.

"We are going to need one or two guys to get 150. It's a matter of going on for longer, to bat another 30 overs.

"I don't want to be too tough on our batters because they did a pretty good job in the first test but we did lose two or three wickets at vital times right at the end of sessions."

Vettori has not beaten about the bush in reminding his players of the necessity for them to rise to the challenge again and to push the world No 1 Indians hard for the duration.

"We need to improve vastly on what we did in the first test and therein lies the challenge for us.

"Whether it was a win, draw or loss, we now have a new challenge in new conditions against an Indian team we know will come at us hard."

The Indians are not expected to make any changes, although there could be a case for tall fast bowler Ishant Sharma to replace Shantakumaran Sreesanth because his extra height would enable him to exploit any extra bounce on offer.

Play gets underway at 5pm (NZT).

New Zealand: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Tim McIntosh, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Gareth Hopkins, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel, Chris Martin.

India (from): MS Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Pragyan Ojha, Shantakumaran Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Amit Mishra, Murali Vijay.

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka).

Umpires: Simon Taufel (Australia) and Kumar Dharmasena (Sri Lanka).

- NZPA