India not consistent enough: Turner

NZC chief selector Glenn Turner tells DNA that no Indian opener matches Gavaskar’s class.

What do you make of the series so far?
I’m a bit surprised that New Zealand won the T20 so easily. India obviously have adjusted to the conditions later.

You agree India have outplayed New Zealand?
I would have agreed if they had not followed on in the second Test. The team lacked consistency. They have done well to save the Test but good teams would have done better than that.

What do you think the NZ team needs?
We need a bigger pool of talent to select from. We always struggle in the number game. Then we struggle in spin bowling. I want a New Zealand spinner with the flexibility of Asian wrist. We have Jeetan Patel. But we can do well with a couple more.

What do you make of the Indian team?
Almost all the international teams need some kind of consistency. Most teams are more consistent than India. India, when they are running hot, they are really hot. We have also seen they have their moments other ways as well.

You were an opener of classical mould. What do you make of the current Indian opening pair?
The classical openers are not really there. When you look at the Indian side, VVS Laxman and Dravid are more like openers. But they really don’t open. That makes for a contradiction. So days of seeing the new ball off is no longer an opener’s job. The current Indian opening pair makes for an exciting viewing but the strategy is fraught with a lot of dangers. The consistency is lacking.

Do you still prefer a classical opening pair?
It is a difficult answer because of Sehwag. When he gets going, he puts his team in a very advantageous position. It is highly entertaining and exciting. But it takes an exceptional talent to be playing the new ball that way. That is why I say Sehwag is an exceptional talent.

Who is the best opener you have seen in your career?
There were a number of good openers in my list. In the application point of view, it has to be Geoffery Boycott. Sunil Gavaskar was very good not only in application but also playing shots. I thought Barry Richards was an aggressive opener.

Among the current crop of openers, who comes the closest?
None I think. I’m not sure there is any body in the class of Gavaskar. Neither of the current Indian openers is in the class of Gavaskar.

You have seen many Indian teams. Where do you place the present Indian side?
No Indian team ever had such a quality pace attack as the present one. But in the past the team did not need a great pacer. Spin wise I don’t see the ability of the past spinners in Dhoni’s team. I’ve noticed that Harbhajan Singh has not got his doosra going. He is bowling top spinners but his doosra doesn’t seem to be working. The Bedis, Prasannas and Chandrasekhars have vanished from the Indian squad.

But they are touring well, aren’t they?
That is because of their batting. Earlier they were not good because the Indian players were not accustomed to the alien conditions, in seaming and bouncing pitches. Your batsmen are not only much more experienced but also are better served at home because of good fast bowling which helps them abroad.

What’s your prediction for the series — 1-0, 2-0 or 1-1?
We’ve struggled to score more than 300 in an innings. At Napier we scored more than 600 but I would say we can do that again if we had scored big runs in regular intervals. I see India start as favourites but you never know how the Test will pan out, because the weather in Wellington will play crucial role.