Mark Richardson: Getting the runs in India

Everyone wants answers about what is wrong with the Black Caps. I know what needs to happen - runs must be scored and a heck of lot more of them than currently being scored.

But how? To tell you the truth, I can't answer that. It's the million dollar question and perhaps if New Zealand Cricket had a million dollars to spend on a coach, maybe the answer could be found.

They don't and so the status quo continues as they head to India.

I believe the best batsmen are in the team so the selectors are doing their jobs well. Coaching could be an issue but I believe expertise is being sought outside of the immediate staff.

When I look at a potential batting list that reads - Watling, McCullum, Guptill, Taylor, Ryder, Williamson, Vettori - I have confidence. Yet when I look at what this list has achieved in reality, I've no right to confidence.

With the exception of Vettori and the untested Williamson, all these players have so far failed to realise their various potential and the sad fact is most of them have had 10 times the time it should have taken to do so.

Maybe I am just like them - and believe they are a little better than they actually are. I hate to say that and they should hate it being said, but a world-class performance here and there does not actually make you a world-class performer.

After Bangladesh the public wanted blood and they didn't get it, so the stakes are high now. Expectation is, however, low so the Black Caps can breathe a little easier that they don't need to win in India.

Soft capitulation, however, will be a PR disaster.

I doubt the Black Caps' ability to take 20 wickets in a test on Indian soil so once again all the pressure will fall upon the batsmen to ensure they score enough runs to not lose.

Sounds a bit negative and it is but, then again, score enough runs and you give yourself a chance of winning. You never know what could happen late in a game on dry Indian pitches. However, if you get rolled in your first turn at bat, the jig is usually up; it's generally game over.

Starting this tour with test matches is a godsend for our batsmen. They will have time to take their time - which, for many, is a strange concept.

Strike rate pressure is removed in test cricket which can help players low on confidence and out of form. The problem with our batsmen, however, is that at times they can look lost given too much time to bat.

What our batsmen may find to their liking is that runs in India tend to come in boundaries - which is how our prominent players like it.

They have three tests to play, a rare luxury for New Zealand cricket nowadays and, in the first innings of each test at least, they will have good batting conditions. The goal must be to score 400-plus in each first innings and to take home at least three test hundreds from the squad.

I would see that as an improvement. It would also lead into the ODIs with some batting time and some sorely missing confidence.