Cricket: Livelier pitch expected for second test

Newstalk ZB

11 Mar, 2013 05:58 PMQuick Read

New Zealand can consider themselves moral victors after the first test draw against England. The world's eighth ranked team exceeded expectations by dominating more than they were dominated against by the second best team. The onus goes on them to sustain that form when the second ANZ test starts in Wellington on Thursday. New Zealand have won only one series in 17 against England at home; further such history can be made.

The second test between New Zealand and England is expected to be played on a far livelier pitch than the first.

The Dunedin pitch was noted for being a low, slow wicket, and the Basin Reserve has had nearly 2,000 runs scored on it over three domestic one-dayers in the last fortnight.

However, groundsman Brett Sipthorpe said there will be more in it for the test bowlers.

Sipthorpe said they knock a lot more life out of one-day wickets, so you can't make any comparison between the two.

Former England test player Geoffrey Boycott slammed the University Oval pitch, claiming it couldn't produce a result in a 10-day match.

Both teams train today, ahead of the start of the test on Thursday.