After losing the ODI series 0-4, India slumped to a 40-run defeat in the first Test at
He said that the Kiwis were preparing as well as they could against the Indians.
The square at the Basin Reserve looks absolutely green and Southee said it was tough to differentiate between the pitch and the outfield.
"It is a bit tough to see the difference between the pitch and outfield at the moment. It is usually a pretty good deck here. We will have to see how it is on the morning of the match. It is still another couple of days and a bit of sunlight on it will round that off a bit I am sure.
"But the bowlers have a spring in their step having a look at that. We are lucky enough to know the conditions. We have played here not that long ago against the West Indies. So it is not a hell lot of changes for us," he said.
The bowlers will be very interested, as both sets of attacks were amply aided with the pace and bounce available at Eden Park in the first Test.
While the New Zealand bowlers enjoyed the first innings, knocking the visitors out for 202 runs, the Indian bowlers had their say in the second, bowling out the hosts for 105 runs.
"It is nice to have an attack where you can take 20 wickets. We have done that over the last few Test matches. We have shown a lot of promise over the last year, year and a half and we keep continuing to improve. It is good. We all complement each other very well and it is pleasing to see (Neil) Wagner finally get some credit for the hard work he's done over the past few years.
"He compliments Trent (Boult) and me very well. He loves bowling with the old ball and somehow he manages to pick up wickets just before the second new ball and that makes it easier for us," he said.
Southee felt that the Kiwi bowlers impressed with their ability to chalk out plans against the Indian batsmen.
"We knew they are a promising batting line-up. They don't have the names like the Tendulkars, the Dravids and the Laxmans anymore, but they have got the potential to be great players. It is the first time to New Zealand for a few of those players and foreign conditions for them. We have bowled well as a unit and it has put pressure on their batsmen," said Southee.
"We have put a lot of thought and research goes into plans before the series. It is pleasing to see them come off. Shane (Bond) and the computer analysts and (coach) Mike Hesson, they put these plans in and it is reward for them to see the bowlers sticking to them and the success we are having. It is the consistency we are bowling with and the familiar conditions we are used to, that is the key to our success," he added.
With the Test match still two days away, there is bound to be a little distraction with the IPL player auctions happening back in India, as quite a few players from both sides will be going under the hammer.
"Our main focus has been leading into the Test and it still is our main focus. The auction is exciting for a few players. Not sure how people are going to watch it or what they are going to do, but I am sure most players will have an eye on it somewhere," Southee signed off.
0 comments:
Post a Comment