New Zealand excited by Indian challenge
Ashley Ross, New Zealand's interim coach, made it clear that he is not on an espionage mission when he turned up to watch the Irani Trophy match between Mumbai and the Rest of India
Anand Vasu
20-Sep-2003
Ashley Ross, New Zealand's interim coach, made it clear that he is not on an espionage mission when he turned up to watch the Irani Trophy match between Mumbai and the Rest of India. At first sight it appears unusual that Ross is here in India before the New Zealand contingent arrives. But with New Zealand arriving late on Sunday night, Ross has hardly had time to have a look around. He kept to himself, refusing the numerous interview requests that came his way, and addressed the press on the third day:
On playing in India
It's a great challenge playing international cricket, but India in India is always one of the greatest challenges. Then again, we're looking forward to the challenge. We're excited by the challenge rather than being daunted by it. I'm here a bit early to make sure that we validate the plans that worked in New Zealand and looking forward to displaying our skills. We are improving in world cricket. We played well in Sri Lanka where we stopped a nine-Test winning streak for them. We recently won a Test series in the West Indies which was a record for us - never happened in New Zealand history before. We won two Tests in England in 1999, at Lord's for the first time ever, and at The Oval.
It's a great challenge playing international cricket, but India in India is always one of the greatest challenges. Then again, we're looking forward to the challenge. We're excited by the challenge rather than being daunted by it. I'm here a bit early to make sure that we validate the plans that worked in New Zealand and looking forward to displaying our skills. We are improving in world cricket. We played well in Sri Lanka where we stopped a nine-Test winning streak for them. We recently won a Test series in the West Indies which was a record for us - never happened in New Zealand history before. We won two Tests in England in 1999, at Lord's for the first time ever, and at The Oval.
On India having a torrid time in New Zealand when they last toured
We had some very good plans. Great players are always involved with their game. We have to see whether the plans we made when India came over are still valid. Otherwise we'll have to change and keep improving.
We had some very good plans. Great players are always involved with their game. We have to see whether the plans we made when India came over are still valid. Otherwise we'll have to change and keep improving.
On NZ's extensive preparations for the Indian tour
We've made the training as difficult as possible in the domestic club season. We were concentrating on checking whether players can cope with the kind of conditions that you can expect here in India. We've worked very hard on those. It's about doing the right training drills in preparation to this tour. The fear is the unknown. A lot of our preparation has been geared towards diminishing the unknown. "If you know yourself and know the enemy then you need not fear a thousand battles" - I think it was Sun Tzu.
We've made the training as difficult as possible in the domestic club season. We were concentrating on checking whether players can cope with the kind of conditions that you can expect here in India. We've worked very hard on those. It's about doing the right training drills in preparation to this tour. The fear is the unknown. A lot of our preparation has been geared towards diminishing the unknown. "If you know yourself and know the enemy then you need not fear a thousand battles" - I think it was Sun Tzu.
On New Zealand's poor track record in India
The great excitement of it is that we have a developing group of players who aren't so much concerned with history - they want to make history of their own.
The great excitement of it is that we have a developing group of players who aren't so much concerned with history - they want to make history of their own.
On the BCCI's decision to extend support to Ross for this mission
The BCCI has been very good to us and the arrangements have been exemplary. It is a public game and I suppose we could have turned up anyway. Really, there are no secrets now. Everyone knows each other and how they play and in the end I suppose it improves the standard of the cricket that we play. That's a great thing for the crowds and for cricket in general. Of course, we would extend the same courtesy if the BCCI had asked. After all, it is home for John [Wright].
The BCCI has been very good to us and the arrangements have been exemplary. It is a public game and I suppose we could have turned up anyway. Really, there are no secrets now. Everyone knows each other and how they play and in the end I suppose it improves the standard of the cricket that we play. That's a great thing for the crowds and for cricket in general. Of course, we would extend the same courtesy if the BCCI had asked. After all, it is home for John [Wright].
On the kind of wickets NZ expect to play on
We're not concerned about the kind of wickets we're playing on. In the end we'll be putting ourselves on the line. Whether they're spinning wickets or grassy wickets, the challenge will be the Indian players, not the wickets we play on. We're very mindful of being ready no matter what the surface is like.
We're not concerned about the kind of wickets we're playing on. In the end we'll be putting ourselves on the line. Whether they're spinning wickets or grassy wickets, the challenge will be the Indian players, not the wickets we play on. We're very mindful of being ready no matter what the surface is like.
On the special preparatory camps in Christchurch and Brisbane
International cricket per se is very demanding. And we're doing our best to make sure that our training programmes are hard as possible. Right through our domestic season and our build-up campaign the players have been making great progress. In Christchurch and in Brisbane we played wickets that were specifically prepared to mirror Indian conditions and in the heat as well.
International cricket per se is very demanding. And we're doing our best to make sure that our training programmes are hard as possible. Right through our domestic season and our build-up campaign the players have been making great progress. In Christchurch and in Brisbane we played wickets that were specifically prepared to mirror Indian conditions and in the heat as well.
On the fact that India's star batsmen failed, giving him little chance to watch them
We saw a few things that we liked. We have information on all the opposition over the last four or five years. That puts us in a great position to give Stephen Fleming information about field settings, where we bowl and that sort of thing.
We saw a few things that we liked. We have information on all the opposition over the last four or five years. That puts us in a great position to give Stephen Fleming information about field settings, where we bowl and that sort of thing.