New Zealand Cricket chief executive Martin Snedden believes the two-Test series between his side and India will be exciting because the two countries have a history of playing good cricket against each other.
Billed as a revenge series by some Indian players, Snedden has welcomed the challenge. "If the Indian players are looking for revenge, that is terrific," he told rediff.com "It is a challenge for us. Our players are looking forward to it."
The former medium-pacer said he expects good batting wickets in India for the Test series despite the 'mêlée' of terrible wickets New Zealand offered the Indians last year.
"It is inevitable that the wickets in India will turn at some stage," he said. "There is, however, something for seam bowlers early on, and when the ball swings around. If we get humid conditions the bowlers will have a chance."
Snedden outlined the need to get tall scores to win in India, well ware that the last seven tours to India have seen the Kiwis return empty-handed.
"We need lots of runs," he said. "Unless you can bat for long periods of times, you can't make much impact here [in India]. The onus is on our batsmen to get runs and give our bowlers a chance to win games."
Snedden, however, admitted that fast bowler Shane Bond's absence would be felt immensely. "It is very sad for us. We have a long season ahead and he is recovering from the injury. We thought it would be early if he came to India. He does leave a big hole in the bowling lineup. But young bowlers Jacob Oram and Darryl Tuffey have bowled well. Vettori will play a big part. And Chris Cairns will be here for the tri-series. We have a good bowling lineup."
Accepting moral responsibility for the excessively seamer-friendly tracks in New Zealand last year, Snedden said it was not deliberate. "The wickets were a bit different," he said. "They gave too much assistance to the bowlers, though it was not deliberate. The final preparations did not work out right."
Snedden said the thought behind that was to prepare Australian-type hard and bouncy tracks. "That's where we are headed. It didn't work and they seamed too much, which caused all the problems. Now our wickets will be more conservative. I feel bad for the Indian and New Zealand players. We will learn from that."
Fleming's captaincy
Snedden praised Stephen Fleming's contribution to New Zealand cricket, saying one of the main strengths of the team is his captaincy.
"He is an extremely experienced cricketer. Captaincy is his strength. It would be silly if we wouldn't use his strength. He is the best skipper in one-dayers and Tests for New Zealand.
"He is also starting to emerge as one of the best batsmen in the world. I have got absolute confidence in him leading the team. But the time has come when the coach has to take some responsibility from the captain and reduce his burden."
Snedden said Ashley Ross, the stand-in coach for the series, would be able to fulfil this role very well. "Ross is very experienced and has been with the Black Caps as assistant coach for a long time. We have a lot of confidence in him.
"[John] Bracewell is finishing his career with Gloucestershire and it is unfair to force him to finish that before the season ends. He also has to settle his family from England to New Zealand."
Players' strike
Reacting to the strike called by the players last October, when they demanded a 60 per cent increase for New Zealand's first-class cricketers as against the board's proposal of a 3 per cent increase, Snedden said, "The game is becoming professional and as time goes on it is only fair that players want more money.
"We were catching up with the professional world last year and we got a problem, which we solved."
He said the Kiwi players had jumped the gun at that point. "The players were quick off the mark. If they were patient it would not have happened at all."
John Wright
Snedden also disclosed that he is keen to sign India's coach John Wright as coach of New Zealand in the near future.
"Inevitably, he will coach New Zealand. He is a fantastic cricketer. I have played with and under him. He has done a great job with India and what he has achieved with them is tremendous. I love what he has done with Indian one-day team. In due course people want to come back to their country. I wish him every success, but I wish this series goes our way."
