Cricket: Thanks for that, say India

By Richard Boock

CHRISTCHURCH - Indian cricket coach Anshuman Gaekwad believes the tour to New Zealand has given his side a flying start to their World Cup preparations.

Gaekwad said the tour, which ends tomorrow when the Indians leave for New Delhi, had given his players a valuable insight into likely conditions in England for the world one-day championship.

India face an exhausting schedule at home and in the Asian test championship before the World Cup in May-June, but Gaekwad said the New Zealand experience was more similar to what he expected in England.

"This tour has helped us tremendously," Gaekwad said, "because the weather conditions and the pitches are very similar to what we'll encounter for the World Cup.

"You see, we're not wanting get home quickly at all. We're using this experience as an important stepping stone to England."

Gaekwad said the performance of his batsmen remained the strongest feature of the Indian one-day team, particularly as Rahul Dravid had prospered so much in New Zealand, but the side still had plenty to work on over the next few months.

"We still need to improve our fielding and our bowling. They are the main areas of concern.

"But the good thing is that we know where we need to improve and it's up to us to make sure we do.

"There is heavy schedule awaiting us when we arrive back home so there'll be plenty of opportunities to work on our game.

"I think if you keep working hard on these things, they're sure to improve."

India's batting was expected to revolve around the prolific Sachin Tendulkar, but instead the right-handed Dravid stole the show in New Zealand, in the process breaking into the one-day side as a regular for the first time.

Gaekwad said it was unjust to label his side a one-man band.

"I wish Sachin would stay there and get more runs, but sometimes it does show that we are more than him because it is not a one-man game," Gaekwad said.

Tendulkar scored five on Saturday to go with his earlier scores of 0, 23 and 45.

"Sachin does contribute a major portion of our runs when he gets going, but others stand by him and contribute as well," Gaekwad said.

Dravid has overshadowed Tendulkar on tour and bulldozed his way into the one-day team with centuries in each innings of the third test.

His scores in the one-day series have been 123 not out, 68, 51 and 38.

Gaekwad said: "Dravid has come right in one-day cricket as well. Some people were saying he wasn't suited to it but he has adjusted well."