Cricket: Opening pair give NZ some hope

Mark Greatbatch is happy with the draws. Photo / Mark Mitchell

Who would have thought it? With 15 sessions of the test series against India remaining, the New Zealand cricket team have cause to back themselves to create history.

A team riddled with self doubt, wild inconsistencies and flights of fancy in recent years have gone toe to toe with the world's leading nation through two high scoring draws.

Now the third and final test is upon them starting at VCA Stadium at 5pm (NZ time) and providing they remain level headed, don't get ahead of themselves and retain a steely determination to stay in the battle, the tourists have it in them to pull off a shock result and become the first New Zealand team to win a test series here in eight attempts stretching back over more than half a century.

Even New Zealand coach Mark Greatbatch, in a pre-tour interview, said he would be satisfied with two draws, leaving the result of the third match up to your imagination.

"Through two tests we've had some dominant moments but in the last one I think we showed some other character from behind," Greatbatch said ahead of the decider.

"We were behind the eight ball after not getting enough runs in the first innings. We fought back with the ball then fronted with the bat for the last day and a half.

"They are good wickets but you still have to do it. I think mentally we have been pretty tough."

Given the expectations, New Zealand have nothing to lose and everything to gain, while the opposite holds true for a star-studded Indian team under mounting pressure to crush the interlopers.

India have suffered a severe setback due to the groin injury which has forced the withdrawal of left-arm quick Zaheer Khan, who is expected to be replaced in the starting XI by Ishant Sharma.

New Zealand's specialist batsmen have matched the output of their opposites to date, while both bowling attacks have performed containing roles on unhelpful surfaces.

That may change in Nagpur on a VCA Stadium pitch said to offer more pace and bounce.

It is also predicted to give more encouragement to the spinners later on, so it essentially meets the needs of both combatants.

New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin knows what victory here will mean for himself and his colleagues.

"If we were to pull off a win it would be career defining. It would be one of those great moments for New Zealand if we did it," Martin said.

New Zealand will probably need a more menace in their seam attack, meaning a possible test debut for left-arm fast bowler Andy McKay at the expense of Brent Arnel.

- NZPA