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Ganguly hoping for a rescue act

Faced with the grim prospect of being blanked out 2-0, India are ready to fight with renewed vigour in the second and final Test starting in Hamilton on Thursday.

Having lost the first Test by ten wickets within three days, the Indians, especially the batsmen, have a lot of pride to play for against a pumped up New Zealand attack on a pitch that is said to possess even more pace and bounce than the one in Wellington.

As home captain Stephen Fleming challenged the Indian batsmen to prove themselves under hostile conditions, his Indian counterpart Sourav Ganguly on Wednesday put up a brave face saying it is not the first time that his team is faced with such a situation.

"We have lost before. We were 1-0 down in England. Similar was the case in Sri Lanka [Both times India drew level]. And against Australia we came from one Test down to win the series. It can happen again," he said.

Amidst all the hype surrounding the pitch in Hamilton, which is supposed to be one of the fastest in the world, Ganguly said it was the lack of application by his batsmen that let the team down in the first Test.

He said, "It [the Wellington pitch] did a bit but was not unplayable. I don't think it was one of the most difficult wickets. We should have batted better. I don't think the wicket was responsible for our poor batting display.

"Let us not worry about the wicket. If it is green, it is green. We still have to play Test cricket on it."

Indian coach John Wright said it is a challenge to play on the tracks in New Zealand, but expressed full confidence in the abilities of his batsmen.

He said, "It is challenging. At home we played on some of the flattest wickets. and then you come to Wellington.

"It is very fair for you to give the message to players what you want them to achieve and it is pretty dangerous when you start telling them how to do it."

Ganguly has already ruled out any major changes in the batting line-up and that means both Virendra Sehwag and Sanjay Bangar, failures in the first Test, will get an opportunity to redeem themselves.

The skipper said, "There is no panic in the batting yet, but they can't sit on the past and it's time they did well at Hamilton.

"These guys have put you in winning position in the past. They put the team in a hole in this Test and it is up to them to pull us one in the next game."

Both Bangar and all-rounder Ajit Agarkar, who had injured their fingers during the first Test, were declared fit and participated in Wednesday's practice session, which was held indoors due to incessant rains.

In fact, it has been raining constantly in Hamilton for the past few days and it is doubtful whether any cricket would be possible on the opening day.

Ganguly admitted that the team's preparations have suffered due to the rains, but stressed on the need to go into the match in a positive frame of mind.

"We have come early in the season. So there is going to be rain. But you can't help it," said the captain.

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