Weather again a factor in run-up to second Test (23 December 1998)

23 December 1998

Weather again a factor in run-up to second Test

AFP

WELLINGTON, Dec 23 (AFP) - After the first Test was abandoned without a ball being bowled, the weather is again disrupting preparations for the second Test here Saturday between India and New Zealand.

The tourists Wednesday missed out on training because the practice pitches at the Basin Reserve were too wet.

"They were too soft. We would have liked one long session today but it was not to be," said an irritated coach Anshuman Gaekwad.

Nevertheless Gaekwad remains confident of a strong performance by his team. He said the unofficial one-day game against New Zealand in Dunedin on Monday, wich replaced the washed-out Test, had been a useful exercise and their loss was not a cause for panic.

"The game on Monday night didn't count for much. The idea for us was to get a feel of the conditions and we got that."

However Gaekwad must be worried at several aspects of the team's play. More damning than New Zealand's 66-run winning margin was the different level of intensity at which the two sides played.

New Zealand captain Stephen Fleming said he was pleased with all aspects of his team's performance.

One bright point for India was the second wicket partnership of 112 between V.V.S. Laxman and Rahul Dravid.

However new-ball exponents Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad bowled short and were wayward in direction and Indian captain Mohammad Azharuddin admitted the bowlers needed to tidy up their efforts.

"The batsmen did well (in Dunedin) but I wasn't happy with our bowling. We bowled both sides of the wicket; the length was good but not the line."

Laxman's innings of 82 has left Gaekwad with a problem since veteran opener Navjot Sidhu and tour vice-captain Ajay Jadeja were his original first-choice Test openers.

Sidhu is the rock India like to base their batting on and should hold his place while Jadeja suffered an ankle injury last week. "Laxman batted well in Dunedin and comes into contention," was all Gaekwad would say.

However he suggested Jadeja's injury would not stop him being considered for the second Test.

New Zealand received a boost Tuesday when injured swing bowler Simon Doull, who was forced out of the first Test squad, made a brief appearance at training.

Providing he can bowl at full pace for a sustained period at Thursday's practice he will be considered.

Doull has taken 83 wickets in 24 tests but would be well past the century mark had his career not been hit by injury, most notably to his back.

Should he pass, it will be the first time in more than a year that New Zealand will field all of their first-choice players.