India's away record a damper despite top batting stable

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid are world stars but New Zealand coach Steve Rixon said when the Indians were playing away from the sub-continent they came back to the pack.

India's recent test record away from home reinforces Rixon's claim that the tourists might be vulnerable in the three-test series.

India have only played four tests this year and they have not beaten New Zealand in a series away from home since 1968 when Nawab Mansur Ali Khan Pataudi led his side to a 3-1 win.

Rixon said the hard, bouncy Carisbrook Park wicket would upset Indian batsmen and the bitterly cold weather that hit the region late Wednesday was a bonus.

``They don't see the ball bouncing in the sub-continent so that should be to our advantage and let's face it we suffer in the heat over there so they can play in the cool here,'' Rixon said.

New Zealand's four-pronged pace attack is likely to have first use of the pitch Friday. New Zealand will bowl if captain Stephen Fleming calls correctly but the Indian camp are concerned about the lack of moisture in the pitch and are leaning towards batting first.

``We want to win the toss and bowl and initiate the game from there,'' Rixon said.

``Hopefully a few other factors like the cool weather supports our cause and we get on top.

``In my view we've got a better seam attack than they have and I would like to think we could utilise that and that will be one of our strengths in this test series.''

Rixon is mindful of the danger India's batsmen pose, especially Tendulkar who has 16 centuries and 19 half-centuries in 62 tests at an average of 54.03.

``I'm not taking anything away from India, you can't because they've got six great batsmen. Dravid is a quality player, Tendulkar speaks for himself and (Mohammad) Azharuddin's record indicates he is a great player.

``But we are not talking about the sub-continent we are talking about New Zealand conditions and our preparation has been good and we are as well prepared as we could possibly be.''

The only hiccup in New Zealand's buildup came when Simon Doull was Wednesday ruled out with a strained calf and replaced by Otago leftarmer Shayne O'Connor.

O'Connor will be used as a third seamer with fellow left-armer Geoff Allott opening the attack with his Canterbury team-mate Chris Cairns.

Fleming confirmed wicketkeeper Adam Parore would bat at six in the test with Cairns and Nash to follow him.

New Zealand spent Thursday afternoon watching tapes of the Indian bowlers, particularly medium pace legspinner Anil Kumble.

Kumble, the taker of 204 test wickets, is expected to be a handful because of the bounce he generates, particularly with his well-disguised topspinner.

India's new ball attack of Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad have 172 test wickets between them and are useful campaigners in all conditions.

They are certain to test out new test cap Matthew Bell, who will open the batting with Matt Horne.

New Zealand are expected to make offspiner Paul Wiseman 12th man, while India are still undecided on whether to go with a third specialist seamer in Debashish Mohanty or teenage offspiner Harbhajan Singh.

Teams:

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming (captain), Matthew Horne, Matthew Bell, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan, Adam Parore, Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Shayne O'Connor, Geoff Allott, Paul Wiseman (one to be omitted).

India: Mohammad Azharuddin (capt), Navjot Sidhu, Ajay Jadeja, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Nayan Mongia, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Harbhajan Singh, Debashish Mohanty (one to be omitted).

Umpires: Steve Dunne, Edward Nicholls.
Third umpire: Evan Watkin.