India vs. New Zealand: 2nd Test Toss Report; Three Changes Made in NZ squad; McCullum out early
After a tame draw at Ahmedabad, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792.
New Zealand won the toss and, as expected, opted to bat first on a flat-looking track. It was http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750’s 11th toss loss in the last 12 Tests. The only aberration came at the Sardar Patel Stadium,
Ahmedabad.
New Zealand has made three changes to its squad that tested the home side in the drawn first Test bringing in Northern Districts' Bret Arnel in place of Hamish Bennett, Martin Guptill for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/BJ-Watling-c1172 and swing
bowler Tim Southee as Jeetan Patel’s replacement. Hamish Bennett was forced to make the sidelines due to a groin injury for the 2nd Test while BJ Watling’s axing was more of a surprise for those who were thinking that Tim McIntosh would be making
way for a substitution after his pair of ducks in both Motera innings.
The home side, on the other hand, chose to pitch in an unchanged squad. This is the first time since December 2008 that India has repeated the XI. In 2008, an unchanged playing XI played two home Tests against
England.
The biggest worry of the Black Caps will be the lack of stability at the top. The 29-year-old right-arm opener Brendon McCullum did well in his new opening position, but lacked support from his partner Tim McIntosh who scored ducks
in both the innings at Ahmedabad last week. And now that India have earned an early wicket – unfortunately that of McCullum (for 4 runs – caught by keeper Dhoni off of a lovely delivery by Sreesanth) – it might spell trouble for New Zealand.
The tourists had entered the series without too many supporters, and following the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 debacle fought admirably in the first Test and threatened to go 1-0 up. Both the sides will be eager to break
the stalemate in the three-Test series by taking a 1-0 lead going into the third and final match.
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