It is not as much the New Zealand cricket supporter who stands to benefit from the 1998 Indian tourists, as the country's general practitioners. "I think the Kiwis can win a test series, Doc." "Oh yes? Well, take these pills twice daily and everything will be all rightsoon." The dizzy spells will probably be long gone by the time the first test is over next week and the idea is all a ludicrous dream, but for the moment at least India continue to play like a team who might struggle to beat a West Coast Country Club XI.
With a couple of notable exceptions, their batsmen have struggled to dominate modest opposition attacks, and -- at a time of the year when seam bowling rules the game -- their bowling lineup lists heavily in favour of spin. It might be that legspinner Anil Kumble -- who finished with five wickets on the second day of the tourists' match against Wellington at the Basin Reserve -- is of world class, but the rest of the attack has yet to impress and is running out of chances to do so before the test team are picked.
Veteran opening bowler Javagal Srinath has been used economically in Wellington and new-ball partner Venkat Prasad not at all, but India's remaining two pace-bowlers have shown all the accuracy of a scatter gun, and none of the penetration.
