India won't lack for inspiration at Queenstown

One more loss for India and the National Bank Series against New Zealand will be all over for them in the fourth match of the seven-game series which is to be played in the magnificent venue of Queenstown tomorrow.

If any one venue in world cricket could be capable of lifting India's spirits then the John Davies Oval at Queenstown's Events Centre would have to be it.

Set against the awe-inspiring backdrop of the Remarkables mountain range as they loom high over the ground, it is an outstanding location, and this occasion is the first time a One-Day International has been played at the ground.

It was used for a three-day warm-up match for England last summer but the match was affected by bad weather. However, a new pitch has been laid at the ground and more drainage has been installed to bring it up to scratch.

The wicket hasn't escaped the extra moisture that has been in the New Zealand air this summer but it does offer hope of having consistent pace and bounce which will allow the prospect of scores in excess of 220-plus. But no-one is second guessing just what the pitch will be like after the surprises that have been in store in earlier matches.

New Zealand's dominance of the summer has not been reflected in any dimunition of public interest as the ground has been pre-sold, and while this represents a crowd of around 8000, that is a fair result for this ground.

Queenstown is one of New Zealand's holiday towns and its summer population is considerably in excess of its usual numbers.

Most will be hoping that they get a rare chance to see the leading Indian batsman Sachin Tendulkar in action, but no-one associated with the series is holding their breath. Indian captain Sourav Ganguly was convinced he would play in the last match but he did not appear.

The official word is that a decision will be made tomorrow morning, but the unofficial word is that he is unlikely to play.

New Zealand have their own aims from this game. They have made three significant changes to their side as they continue their preparation for the World Cup.

Long-serving Chris Harris, and all-rounders Scott Styris and Andre Adams return to the side and will be especially keen to continue the dominance the home side has achieved this year.

Adams is probably the player who will be most under scrutiny as he has been working his way back from a stress fracture to his back. His bowling variations, and the impetus he can bring to the batting will be especially useful.

Styris was a surprise omission from the one-day team after having a good Test series and will have every incentive to get a good performance on the board.

Harris too, was overlooked as the selectors assessed his recovery from injury and in his absence it would be fair to say that players like Jacob Oram and Kyle Mills seized the chance to put him under some pressure.

New Zealand have been fashioning an improved record in ODIs over the last 12 months and their effort in bowling India out for 108 in Christchurch on New Year's Day was the fourth time it has bowled out a side for that many runs or less in the last 12 months.

Those occasions, England for 89 at Wellington in February 2002, India for 108 at both Auckland and Christchurch and Bangladesh for 77 at Colombo in September represent four of the five lowest scores against New Zealand. The record is still the 70 Australia were dismissed for at Adelaide in 1985/86.

The win in Christchurch was the second fastest victory achieved by New Zealand chasing a target, and the fastest against a team with full ODI status, with 139 balls remaining which beat the win with 130 balls to spare over Zimbabwe at Wellington in 1997/98. The record for New Zealand against all teams is 193 balls to spare over Scotland at Edinburgh in the 1999 World Cup.

New Zealand's record in ODIs against India also continues to improve. New Zealand now won their last three ODIs against India, and six of their last seven and of their last 18 matches they have won 12. Before that 18-game spell started however, New Zealand had won only seven of their previous 28 games against India. In a change from recent history New Zealand have won eight of their last 10 ODIs on home soil (and 10 of their last 14).

It's only the fifth time New Zealand have won four ODIs in a row, following streaks of four during the World Series Cup in 1982/83, seven against England, Sri Lanka and Australia, also in 1982/83, seven at the 1992 World Cup and five against the West Indies in 1999/00.

New Zealand cannot afford to relax the intensity of their approach because they need to ensure they are at peak efficiency at the World Cup while India just have to pick up some confidence in their bid to keep the series alive.