Pre-2011 World Cup preparations - Indians to dominate the visiting New Zealand team (Part 2)
Article continued from http://www.senore.com/Pre-2011-World-Cup-preparations-Indians-to-dominate-the-visiting-New-Zealand-team-Part-1-a38440.
It is pertinent to mention the recent match-winning commitment shown by the young Indian pace man http://www.senore.com/Cricket/VVS-Laxman-c2772 to what was an extraordinary partnership, which rewarded them with yet another Test-match win.
The economic bowling of Sreesanth allows his bowling teammates to apply pressure on the opposition, and enables the national side to take regular wickets in all formats of the game. Also, in the recent encounter against the Australians, the veteran Indian left-arm bowler Zaheer Khan displayed the skills to swing and seam the cricket ball in the air. Another developing quality of the left-arm fast bowler is his ever growing experience in the five-day version of cricket, as he utilizes his talents and skills to the best of his ability.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754:
Although the Kiwis have one of the finest all-round cricketers in the international arena, and not to forget, the national side is filled with thoroughly professional cricketers in the real sense (on the basis of their hardcore and competitive domestic cricket structure), since the Black Caps have stepped in the subcontinent, they have faced only horrific defeats.
Losing to any cricket team in an ODI series by 4-0 in the international arena is embarrassing for the team and its image. It can shatter the confidence of the cricketers for good, and it is rare for cricketers to come out from such miserable cricketing displays. Not to forget, a 4-0 loss against a team (http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747) whose Test status is in question for quite some time now.
New Zealand skipper Daniel Vettori, who took over the captaincy slot after the 2007 edition of the World Cup, is facing the toughest time in his career as both cricketer and captain. He believes that he has a lot to give in the two major cricketing formats, as he is also looking to come close to the milestone of New Zealand’s all-time bowling great Sir Richard Hadlee’s 431 wickets. He is also working hard to improve his cricket skills in the longer and limited versions of the game.
The Kiwis faced great criticism after the Bengali encounter. The skipper, who will soon become the second Black Caps skipper to play his 100th Test after former captain Stephen Fleming, says, “It was hard, but the criticism you have within your own thoughts is worse than anything anyone could say," and added, "What I have put myself through and what all the rest of the team has put itself through couldn't compare with what anyone else could say. We expected the criticism, and it was all fair. When you lose 4-0, no matter to whom, you should expect a lot of criticism. Hopefully, it can be a catalyst for us in improving in all facets of our game.”
The skipper’s optimism might just provoke the sheer talent and professionalism embedded in the national cricket team’s heroes. Daniel Vettori is the only person in the national touring squad who has played a Test match on Indian soil, and although the skipper says that he will have a major role to play and his leadership skills will be tested, he is also of the view that the seam bowlers of New Zealand will have to put up a competitive show for the hosts to regain their lost cricketing glory.
“I suppose the responsibility primarily lies with me as the most experienced bowler over here, but I know, looking at the statistics, that seam bowlers can do a pretty good job particularly if you can get the ball reversing. So we are going to place a lot of onus on them bowling well and not just saying it's up to the spinners to do the job.”
With the hope that the visitors give the Indian master blaster batting line-up a tough time in the longer version of the game, one shall wait for the 4th of November, 2010 for the Test series to commence, as only time will be the best judge of what’s going to happen in the Test and ODI encounters.
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