Cricket: No practice shots at redemption for Caps

Black Caps' coach Mark Greatbatch. Photo / Getty Images

There is a memorable story in the recent biography on the late Bert Sutcliffe, authored by Richard Boock.

Matt Horne batted for just under five and a half hours to save New Zealand from the follow-on with his maiden test century in the third match against Australia at Hobart in November 1997.

Sutcliffe went down to congratulate Horne as he walked into the Bellerive Oval tunnel afterwards.

The first thing an exhausted Horne responded with was: "Yes, Bert, but how did you bat for nine hours in India?" in reference to Sutcliffe's 230 not out in the third test at Delhi during the 1955-56 tour.

The Black Caps might ask themselves the same question when they face India in three tests, the first of which starts on Thursday in Ahmedabad. The roll of honour for New Zealanders batting time in India, or the subcontinent as a whole, is limited.

However, the way the Black Caps competed in India during 2003 is a good example to emulate. They drew both tests against John Wright's side which included a record score of 630/6 in Mohali. New Zealand batsmen made four centuries in a test innings for just the second time.

Fans might also remember Mark Richardson bellowing and keeling over at the crease as if he had been shot, thanks to cramping in his left leg. Yet he surpassed Sutcliffe for time at the crease, batting nine hours and eight minutes for 145.

If a New Zealand batsman can match either of those examples, he will help his team go some way to redeeming themselves after the Bangladesh one-day bedlam.

Some team members' self-esteem must be at an all-time low, first with public criticism of recent performances and then being described as having "played like dicks" by batting coach Mark Greatbatch.

Greatbatch then dropped his charges in it again, albeit cryptically, by saying he hoped to draw two tests in the three-test series.

That leaves a third test without a predicted result against the number one side in the world. Presumably he expects to win that one? Any other attitude would indicate a few shopping trips could be planned on the fourth and fifth days to bargain for pashminas.

It is a curious decision to go up to India just four days before the start of the opening test. Apparently there was an option to stay on after Bangladesh because practice games could have been organised at short notice if need be.

The team chose not to. Players spend long enough away from their families as it is during the year, but it might not be the recipe to compete against the best side in the world.

Performance director Roger Mortimer (pictured) told the Herald on Sunday extensive training sessions on sub-continent style wickets have taken place at bowling coach Shane Jurgensen's former club Sandgate in Brisbane. There were three camps, all lasting one to two weeks, between June and August. Everyone in the team except Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor participated at some point against a selection of local spin bowlers.

The counter-argument is that nothing meets preparation requirements like old-fashioned tour practice games. Players can clock up runs and wickets as well as get into a touring routine. It will still be a struggle to acclimatise with just three days in the Ahmedabad nets.

It has been deemed a must for the England side about to embark on retaining the Ashes in Australia for the first time in 23 years. They have three-day games against Western and South Australia, followed by a four-dayer against Australia A.

A likely Black Caps test line-up could be Tim McIntosh, B-J Watling, Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Jesse Ryder, Kane Williamson, Daniel Vettori, Gareth Hopkins, Tim Southee, Brent Arnel and Chris Martin.