India get match but not practice

The expected has happened. India, as desired by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), will get to play an extra Test in New Zealand but will have to make do without a warm-up match. In the revised itinerary, agreed upon by the BCCI and New Zealand Cricket (NZC), there is no scope for a practice match — as reported by this paper already — although there is provision for an extra twenty20 game.

After weeks of deliberations, the two boards have zeroed in on a 46-day itinerary during which Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co. will play two T20 games, five ODIs and three Tests. The revised programme will necessitate the team to advance their flight to New Zealand by eight days. They will, however, return as scheduled on April 8, well in time for the Indian Premier League.

“Under the current situation, this was the best possible itinerary. We have got what we have wanted,” said a top BCCI official when asked about lack of a practice match before the Test series. “Our secretary has consulted the captain and the coach before agreeing to that schedule,” the board official added.

Captain Dhoni was not available for comment but coach Gary Kirsten, now in South Africa, said he cannot comment on this because he has not seen the itinerary yet.
A former coach, however, said India would go into the Test series under-prepared.

“The bowlers and batters need some kind of acclimatisation when they play in places like Australia and New Zealand. I can readily cite the example of our performance during the Test series in Australia last year. We were hammered in the first Test in Melbourne but we came back strongly in Sydney where we could have beaten the Aussies. In this case I think the Test specialists will not be fully prepared,” said Lalchand Rajput, who was India’s coach during the tour of Australia. Traditionally, India have come a cropper in the cold climes of New Zealand.

Significantly enough, India, in their pursuit to be the No. 1 team in the ICC Test rankings, can reap more dividends in a three-Test series than in a two-Test series. If they win the series, Dhoni’s team will be close to the top spot.

N Srinivasan said he was delighted. “My thanks go to New Zealand Cricket for responding so positively to our request. There have been a number of issues and I am pleased we have been able to achieve a high quality programme,” the board secretary said.

The extended stay of India, predictably, brought cheers to the NZC which can now sell six extra days of cricket with the most precious team in the world. “India is probably the most exciting side in the world at present packed full of superstar players, and the chance to see six more days of high quality international competition will be welcomed by all New Zealand cricket fans,” Justin Vaughan, CEO of the NZC, said.