Published>Fri, Nov 19 10 07:18 PM
Nagpur, Nov 19 (IANS) After two draws in the series, New Zealand will like to grab a rare chance of pulling off a series win over India, but captain Daniel Vettori will be wary of the hosts' depth in batting and the rain forecast during the third and final cricket Test starting here Saturday.
Persistent rain and a waterlogged outfield have cast a shadow over the Test at the Vidarbha Cricket Association (VCA) Stadium at Jamatha. The situation improved Friday as the sun came out, but that was not enough for the Indians to practice.
Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni said missing the practice was a blessing in disguise for the team.
'At times, it is better not to have a practice session. Given the amount of cricket that we have been playing in the last two years, I think it is actually a blessing in disguise. We are geared up for the Test,' Dhoni said.
He said that there is no pressure on the Indian team to force a draw in the match so the series can end on level terms.
'I don't think there is any extra pressure on the side because we are the number one Test team. We don't read too much into the rankings. If we can take care of the small things, the rankings will take care of themselves,' he said.
Dhoni, however, said that they would be concerned about the presence of Andy McKay, who has been tipped by Vettori to be in the playing eleven.
'It will be wrong for us to try and change things. We are not sure about the pitch here but McKay comes into our calculations,' he said.
Vettori said that New Zealand will be judged by their performance in the third Test and not by the results of the earlier two.
'You always hope that the team plays its best cricket. Unfortunately, in Bangladesh, the team didn't play well. Also Bangladesh played really well. Fortunately, our performance improved and the boys responded well,' Vettori said.
The left-arm spinner said the Indian lower order is a massive challenge for his team.
'It (Tendulkar's hundred) is not a focus for us. He will get it sooner or later. He scores a century in every three Test matches. He is too good a player. They (Indian lower order batsmen) have really taken the game to us. It will be a real challenge,' he said.
Vettori said Harbhajan Singh, who scored back-to-back hundreds in the previous Tests, hasn't been performing well as a bowler but has the ability to come back strongly.
'Its been difficult for him (Harbhajan) as he didn't get the results but he has a vast repertoire of experience to come back strongly,' he said.
In-form opener Virender Sehwag will also be a headache for New Zealand.
'Does anyone have an idea about how to tackle Sehwag? Anyone would be keen to know. He is one player who can intimidate the bowlers and put in a lot of pressure,' Vettori said.
Vettori, hoped that the Jamtha strip will help the pace bowlers.
'The pitch will have a little bit more pace than the earlier two. Dale Steyn bowled a great spell earlier this year. But we can only evaluate the pitch once the Test match unfolds.'
Talking about pacers, Vettori agreed that India would miss Zaheer Khan's experience.
'He is a bowler who runs in and takes wickets. He is someone you would want in the team also for the fact that he can reverse the old ball too. So no doubt India will miss him,' he said.
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