We need to execute our plans: Fleming

Stephen Fleming said that New Zealand had come to India eminently prepared to meet every challenge thrown at them, but he added that executing tactical plans in Indian conditions would prove to be the real challenge. "We have a lot of plans," he said in Visakhapatnam, where New Zealand start their first three-day game tomorrow. "A lot of things in mind for a number of players. But the most important part in India is executing those plans."

According to Fleming, the Indian tour would be even more arduous than tours of the West Indies and Sri Lanka. "India have three or four of the top batsmen in the world. They also have a very good spin attack. That's where the challenge lies."

New Zealand beat India 2-0 late last year, on green wickets that came in for a fair bit of stick. Fleming reckoned that the wickets prepared for the upcoming series would also have a similar influence on the outcome. "Generally, spin bowlers get assistance from Indian tracks while the pacers have to do it the hard way. I'm not saying that we're not talented, but we have to play extremely well to put it across India in the coming series. Also, spots are up for grabs in the side."

His hopes of at least attaining parity rested largely on the two slow bowlers, Daniel Vettori and Paul Wiseman. "Daniel is the more experienced bowler, while Paul has developed his skills and is also now turning the ball well. They have got different roles to play and we will make full use of their skills," he said. Vettori and Wiseman bowled well in Sri Lanka, where New Zealand managed to end Sri Lanka's triumphant nine-match run in Test matches.

The first challenge for New Zealand starts tomorrow when they take on a Board President's XI captained by Virender Sehwag.