New Zealand middle-order batsman Ross Taylor believes that the visitors can put pressure on Indians in the second Test having gained lots of confidence from the performance in the first Test at Ahmedabad.
“We try to take the confidence from Chris Martin's spell in the second innings of the first Test and hope to come up with real good performances,” Taylor told the media after his team had a three-hour training session at Rajiv Gandhi Stadium, venue of the second Test from November 12.
“This is a new Test and obviously new challenges have to be faced. There are plenty of positives in the first Test. Definitely, we had our moments in the Ahmedabad Test. But, for India both Harbhajan and VVS (Laxman) played really well,” the New Zealander said.
“This is the beauty of Test cricket. Both the teams scored 400-plus in the first innings and suddenly Peter Martin's spell opened up the match before the rescue act,” Taylor said to a query. “I believe that the focus should be on how well we shift mentally to facing the spinners,” he said.
“The Ahmedabad wicket was not very helpful. But, still we managed to do well,” Taylor recalled. “I am expecting different conditions here compared to the first Test venue where it was a flat wicket. We hope there will be more bounce and turn here,” he remarked.
“It is true that we are not really getting the desired starts from the openers and I don't think too much should be read into opener McIntosh's failure in the first Test (he bagged a pair). He should come good given the opportunity,” he said.
“It is wonderful to have put India, the No. 1 side in Test cricket, under some sort of pressure in the Ahmedabad Test. This especially after the dismal tour of Bangladesh is a dramatic turn-around. We are more motivated now,” the dashing stroke-player asserted.
Questioned whether New Zealand can believe it can bowl out India twice in a Test considering even how the lower-order chipped in for the host, Taylor felt Chris Martin's spell should give a lot of confidence to the other bowlers too.
Host's training session
Later, the Indians too had a long training schedule in the afternoon session with Gautam Gambhir joining his teammates very late. Zaheer Khan was spotted at the venue but he didn't take part in the training. Virender Sehwag was not seen at the nets.
Sachin Tendulkar was clearly the cynosure of all eyes when he made coach Gary Kirsten bowl (or rather throw at him) for close to 45 minutes. At the adjacent nets, captain M.S. Dhoni too had a long session with the video analyst busy capturing his images.
