Cricket: Give us more tests - Greatbatch

Replacement New Zealand pace bowler James Franklin is in a selection battle to pair up with Chris Martin in the second test. Photo / Hawke's Bay Today

National coach Mark Greatbatch has a challenge for New Zealand Cricket officials.

One-day internationals and T20 slogfests may pull in the paying punters, but Greatbatch wants more tests in his team's schedule because he believes that arena best serves players wanting to develop their games.

Greatbatch's comments come on the back of New Zealand's encouraging draw in the first test against India at Ahmedabad, where the tourists had the better of three of the five days before a lifeless pitch made a stalemate inevitable on Monday.

"It was our fourth test of the year and it's November. We don't play a lot of test cricket, and I think that is a real work-on for New Zealand Cricket," he said, as preparations swing towards the second test starting here tomorrow.

"These guys [India] play 12 tests a year, and I have always believed it is the best way to get into form whether you are a bowler or a batter.

"It teaches you to learn your game, and someone like Kane Williamson will grab a huge amount out of the first game and batting 300 balls in a test match."

The New Zealanders took a great deal out of their overall performance at Ahmedabad, dismissing the world's top ranked test nation twice and scoring 459 in their only complete innings, boosted by quality centuries to new cap Williamson and Jesse Ryder, plus half-centuries to Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor.

Expectations outside of the team had been basement-level low heading into the opening game of the three-match series, principally because of New Zealand's wildly fluctuating form but also because of the unquestionable strength of the Indians, particularly in their home conditions.

As well, the tourists came in cold, having last played a test in March at home against Australia, and fresh from an embarrassing one-day series loss in Bangladesh.

India, meanwhile, last month wiped Australia 2-0 in a test series with their batsmen again in imperious touch.

So to fully stretch the Indians has given the New Zealanders a huge boost in confidence, which Greatbatch does not want to see wasted in Hyderabad where a virginal test surface awaits their inspection.

Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium has hosted two one-day internationals, but this will be its unveiling as India's newest test venue, one which the Indian media promises will provide more bounce than at Ahmedabad.

They would have to say that, though, because the Ahmedabad pitch had all the elasticity of a sand pit.

Any extra encouragement will be appreciated by the bowlers but it will also add to the disappointment surrounding quick bowler Hamish Bennett's premature return home to seek treatment on a groin strain.

He was the only seamer on New Zealand's roster who bowls into the wicket, and the selectors now have to decide who of Andy McKay, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel and James Franklin, due to join them today as cover for Bennett, will share the fast bowling duties with the indefatigable Chris Martin.

- NZPA