KEY POINTS:
New Zealand's players and administrators are excited at the prospect of a third test against India in March; now it's just a case of working out the pieces in the puzzle.
New Zealand Cricket's (NZC) wheels are moving to fit in India's request for an extra test, but as NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan put it last night: "There are multiple bits and pieces that need to be filled in."
After withdrawing from their tour of Pakistan due to the Mumbai terror attacks late last year, India contacted NZC with a request to enlarge the tour, due to start with a Twenty20 international in Wellington on March 6.
With the itinerary, and broadcasting, flight, hotel and ticket sales in place, the easiest fit is to begin the tour with the extra test. That splits the three-test series, which is not ideal. The other two end the tour, in Hamilton and Wellington from March 26 through until April 7.
The extra test cannot be added on at the end, as players have commitments to the second Indian Premier League, due to start on April 10.
The big winner could be Napier. Having hosted a West Indies test, McLean Park is the logical venue for the extra test. The pitch is invariably outstanding, and if it was to be played before that Twenty20 match, the Super 14 is not an issue, as the Hurricanes are playing champions the Crusaders in Christchurch on February 27.
New Zealand return from their Chappell Hadlee series in Australia on February 16, and NZC were keen for international players to be available for the domestic Twenty20 final on March 1. But a third test against one of the best teams in the game will outweigh that.
"We're working through all the various permutations and there is a willingness on both sides to do the right thing," Vaughan said. "We'd be silly not to try and fit it in."
India are planning an ODI series against Sri Lanka around the same time, but Indian board chief administrative officer Ratnakar Shetty has emphasised New Zealand comes first.
"We will move on any such series only after the New Zealand schedule is confirmed," he said.
New Zealand captain Dan Vettori said the players were excited at the prospect of a three-test series.
"Most of the players have been crying out for a three-test series. It makes it a little more interesting and the fact it's India ... if it's do-able we'd love to see it happen," he added.
