A few bravehearts have dared into that terrain, working on it assiduously to unravel its mysteries; after all, it's a stroke that can be as productive as it can be destructive, especially on foreign tracks that border on the express.
The current lot is a lot more adventurous, though, often willing to walk on the thin line; of course, the nature of the game itself has changed, forcing them to go for these shots despite knowing their suicidal side effects.
All this was on ample display during the one-dayers, with one batsman after another succumbing to it and eventually leading to the team's total decimation; yes, they probably didn't have a choice as they were chasing the run-rate in virtually every game.
Plus, it doesn't help that they have been branded; captains, coaches and teams have concluded that India's batsmen are susceptible to bounce and bouncers: their entire game plan is based on attacking them and their egos with a torrent of short-pitched stuff.
Somehow, the trick seems to be working; the key now, as the first Test gets under way, is to find ways and means to not fall for it. The Eden Park track has a layer of grass on it and is known to augment pace and bounce; the thick mat that sits on it, being a drop-in pitch, makes it look spongier too.
So, if the captain finally runs out of luck with the coin, he knows what awaits his team: an all-out, frontal onslaught. India did very well in the Tests in South Africa, though, after cracking the fundamental nature of a bouncy track: the ball goes over the stumps.
Cheteshwar Pujara showed the best strategy to survive in such conditions: leave the ball alone. Even though Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Morne Morkel breathed fire, he showed monk-like discipline and negated them. The others quickly learnt their lessons and India put up a much better, even unexpected display.
They will need to do something similar if they are intent about making something out of this tour; Shikhar Dhawan has been a victim of the hooking syndrome, unable to hold himself back when the ball keeps jumping at his throat. He needs to realise that time is running out, and if he repeats the mistakes he will be squandering a brilliant start to his career.
Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have shown that they can mix aggression with watchfulness, even though the latter has not been so smart in the one-dayers; Rohit Sharma, though, has hit a trough after seeming to have broken through last year. He will have to show a lot more willpower, rather than muscle power, to become a crucial part of this middle-order.
With New Zealand setting a four-pronged pace attack on them, the batsmen will have their task cut out. The question is: how many of them can shake off their happy-hooking habits? If they can't, they will realise that the stroke can be much more harmful to them than to their wickets.
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