John Wright, the Indian team coach, swished the cane at his young team, after they lost the second one-day international at Napier on Sunday. "We really haven't played with the hunger and intensity we showed earlier in the year. I think that eagerness and energy has been lost," Wright said after India's fourth consecutive loss in what is turning out to be a nightmare tour in the Pacific.

Wright said India have lost their intensity during a demanding year: "This is not the team that performed pretty consistently for a period of nine or 10 months." By the end of the World Cup, India will have played 15 gruelling months of cricket, including unsuccessful tours to the West Indies and England.

Wright refused to blame any external cause for India's surprisingly disappointing perfomance - which barring a century from Virender Sehwag and good bowling from Javagal Srinath - looked like one from a physically and mentally weary side.

Wright declared that he was not aware of players being distracted by the ICC contracts row between their board, the BCCI, and ICC.

"We represent a passionate and proud cricketing nation and every match is important. There should be no distractions," Wright pointed out. "In one-day cricket, as long as the conditions are the same for each side, which was the case in Auckland and the case here, there shouldn't be any excuses."

"Everything was in our favour," Wright mentioned. "We won the toss, the wicket was good, the target was achievable and we got another batsman in form, and yet we lost."

Stephen Fleming, the New Zealand captain, admitted that New Zealand were nervous as Sehwag and Mohammad Kaif put on 78 for the fifth wicket. "They are very talented stroke-makers," he said. "We finally saw today what they are capable of."

Fleming praised Mathew Sinclair and Nathan Astle, who put on a 136-run stand for the second wicket after Fleming himself fell early to a poor shot. "We could have asked for more, but the groundwork was done very well with the partnership at the top.

"The running between wickets was outstanding and the basics were done very well. That's the area we outscored India the most."

Sachin Tendulkar is expected to be back for the third match of the series at Christchurch on Wednesday, a day-night game. Tendulkar was rested after he strained an ankle before the first one-day match at Auckland.

"Tendulkar will make a difference," Wright hoped. "He is an inspiration in the field and of course in the batting line-up."

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