2nd Test: New Zealand look to continue India’s losing streak

Latham replaces Taylor; opponents to announce team before toss.

WELLINGTON: New Zealand will bring in two new players in the second Test against India starting in Wellington Friday as they look to cap a golden summer without star performer Ross Taylor.

Tom Latham replaces the high-scoring Taylor, who will remain at home with his wife due to give birth, while the green wicket has earned all-rounder Jimmy Neesham a start at the expense of leg-spinner Ish Sodhi.

New Zealand, who won the first Test by 40 runs, will take five seamers into the match with Kane Williamson acting as the spin option.

“With this wicket the best method of attack against this Indian side is to roll out another seamer,” said captain Brendon McCullum.

“Neesham’s batting is a bit of a bonus but he comes into the frame for his ability to bowl it pretty heavy as well.”

McCullum further added that the Basin Reserve wicket for the India Test looks even juicier than the strip used two months ago.

“It looks a little bit greener than what we had against West Indies and looks a bit harder too. We expect a bit of pace and bounce and maybe a bit of sideways movement as well.”

Dhoni takes positives from greener wicket

Although New Zealand wickets are not what India experience at home, captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni sees positives, especially after his bowlers rolled New Zealand for 105 in their second-innings at Auckland in the first Test.

“I personally always like, when we are playing outside the subcontinent, a greener wicket as it assists our fast-bowlers and they can get the opposition out which means it will be testing for our batsmen but I always prefer it that way,” he said.

McCullum lost the toss to Dhoni in all five ODIs, which New Zealand won 4-0, as well as in the first Test. He was philosophical about the prospect of losing again.

“Obviously we’ll look to have a bowl if we win the toss. But if we find ourselves batting we have Neesham at eight. We have quite a bit of batting,” he said. “We’ve been in some precarious positions having to bat first this summer and we’ve come through those tests pretty well, so it’ll mean one more big effort if we do find ourselves batting first.”

India will announce their team before the toss on Friday.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 14^th, 2014.

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