NZ looking to exploit Indian ‘weakness’

We will continue to use short-pitched deliveries, says McClenaghan.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand’s joy at exposing a weakness in the Indian armour and beating the top one-day team was tempered on Tuesday with the loss of their new strike weapon.

India’s failure to handle short-pitched pace bowling played a large part in their 24-run loss in the opening match of the five One-Day International (ODI) series on Sunday.

But the downside for New Zealand was the loss of express bowler Adam Milne after he strained an abdominal muscle. Hamish Bennett has been called into the squad for the second ODI in Hamilton on Wednesday.

Suresh Raina, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni all fell to the hook shot – as Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan and Tim Southee delivered a barrage of short-pitched deliveries.

But rather than abandon the hook, Dhoni said India needed to be more judicious how they used it.

“At times we will get caught because it is a difficult shot to play,” he said. “Especially overseas, we need to master it because you cannot have bowlers always bowl short to you.”

McClenaghan said New Zealand had plans on how to unsettle each Indian batsman.

“We know there’s a few of their guys who like to hook compulsively,” he said. “It’s about picking and choosing the times that we use it.

“The Indians are good players but at no point will we back away from a fight.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 22^nd, 2014.

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