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Batsmen must improve technique: Wright

By Our Special Correspondent

Wellington Dec. 15. After the drubbing at the hands of New Zealand in the first Test, Indian coach John Wright believes his batsmen would have to tighten their technique if the side has to square the series in the Hamilton Test that begins on December 19.

``On pitches like these, our batsmen have to spend a lot more time,'' he said. The Indian batsmen certainly didn't do that at the seaming Basin

Reserve, falling like ninepins, and the coach feels faulty shot selection was the cause.

``They have to be a lot more judicious in their shot selection, a lot stronger in that area. Adapting to the conditions was always going to be a big test for us. They (New Zealand) were going to play to their strengths,'' the coach said.

In what was a disastrous first Test, the Indian batsmen totalled just 282 runs in the two innings, with Rahul Dravid, in the first, and Sachin Tendulkar, the second, alone putting up some resistance.

Before the first Test, Wright, who has made runs aplenty on these pitches as a former New Zealand opener, had spoken on an individual basis to the leading batsmen of the side on the conditions and the wickets, but this certainly did not reflect in what was a dismal Indian performance, where application was the biggest casualty.

The opening partnership is a particular area of concern, and Wright opined that it was vital for the side to survive the early phase, get off to a good start.

The coach, however, had good word about the bowlers, especially left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan. He felt youngsters like paceman Tinu Yohannan were coming along well. There could be a couple of changes in the Indian team for the Hamilton Test.

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