T20 experience for many of his players will help Kiwis challenge India, feels captain Taylor
New Zealand will look to put India under pressure when the two teams clash here for the first Test beginning on Thursday.u00a0Despite the series loss in the West Indies this month, captain Ross Taylor and new coach Mike Hesson hope their team would bounce back and try to pressurise the hosts.
NZ’s captain Ross Taylor during a training session at the Rajiv Gandhi International Cricket Stadium in Hyderabad yesterday. PicAFP
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“It is a great opportunity to start afresh. There are a few changes in the side as well. We look forward to change and will try to put India under pressure,” said Hesson on his first assignment as coach.
“We know we have lot of work to do over the next two-three days to make sure we are prepared. We certainly would like to have some plans in place. We would like to be positive in the way we play,” he said.
Ross Taylor said his side was looking forward to the challenge.u00a0“Good turn-around from the West Indies. We did not play as well as we would have liked. India is a familiar place for our batsmen as we have played in the Indian Premier League. We have played well here and we are looking forward to it.”
NZ coach Mike Hesson
Taylor said while his team would feel the absence of experienced spinner and former captain Daniel Vettori he hoped players like Jeetan Patel would chip in with their contribution.
On the retirement of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, he said they can’t be replaced.u00a0“They are two greats of the Indian game. We had plans for them three months ago but no need to have these plans any more.”
Taylor said his failure to score runs in recent matches was disappointing but hoped that he would get back his touch in the Hyderabad Test. He did not agree that his captaincy affected his batting performance and pointed out that the batting average remained higher.u00a0
On changes in the batting line-up, he said Brendon McCullum would open with Martin Guptil. He hoped that McCullum would continue his good form.u00a0
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