Dhoni expects bat to dominate second test

Published>Thu, Nov 11 10 08:07 PM

Judging by his past experience of the Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni expects bat to dominate ball in the second test against New Zealand starting Friday.

The latest addition to the list of test venues, as the five-day game returns to Hyderabad after a 22-year hiatus, is not expected to provide the kind of result-friendly pitch that India would prefer after having drawn the series opener.

"We have played some one-dayers and IPL (Indian Premier League) matches here and found the pitch to be on the flat side with some bounce, which enables batsmen to score freely," Dhoni said Thursday.

The first test of the three-match series ended in a draw at

Ahmedabad, where India needed a rearguard action by V.V.S. Laxman and a century from bowler Harbhajan Singh in the second innings to resist a looming defeat.

Dhoni said he would like to be more attacking but the team was not contemplating going in with an extra bowler.

"I would like the luxury of playing five bowlers, but then you have to consider what your best side is. We like to rely on part-time bowlers to supplement the four regular bowlers," said

Dhoni, who was not panicking about his side's habit of lax second

innings.

"We realize that there have been instances of us not doing well in the second innings, but there is no reason why we can't do well in the second innings when we can do so well in the first," he said.

The India skipper also backed out-of-form opener Gautam Gambhir - 86 runs in his past 10 innings -- saying his place in the side was not yet at risk despite the claims of Murali Vijay, who scored a century in the final test against Australia last month as replacement for the injured Gambhir.

"With Gambhir it is a the pressure of performance rather than the fear of failure," Dhoni said. "He has set a high benchmark for himself and others like Murali will have to wait for some time."

Dhoni also put pressure upon the umpires, after questionable decisions in the first test.

"Everyone saw Laxman's decision in the first test. Strong measures have to be taken to improve the standard of umpiring," Dhoni said in reference to Steve Davis's lbw decision when replays showed a clear inside edge off Laxman's bat when he was just nine runs shy of a century in the second innings.

New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori urged his team to "maintain the high standards" after the strong showing in the first test.

"We need to back up our performance in the first match with another one here. We are trying to win a game but I have to concede that taking 20 wickets is never easy in India," Vettori said after a practice session Thursday.

"The wicket is reasonably flat but with probably a touch more pace than at Ahmedabad."

India started the series as a strong favorite against its eighth-ranked opponent but was surprised by a resurgent New Zealand in the series opener. The third and final test will be held in Nagpur next week.

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