MOHALI, 17 October 2003 — The first day’s play was like watching a preview of the Test series, which India will be playing in Australia later in the year. On a pitch, which offered the bowlers very little the Indians struggled to get past the bats of the New Zealand batsmen.
As the Kiwi captain very succinctly put it, the Indian perception of pace and bounce is very different from theirs.
In India if the outfield is lush green and there is a little bit of grass on the pitch everybody presumes the ball is going to bounce and seam around.
If the ball goes to the keeper between his knees and waist we call it a bouncy pitch for we are so used to the sight of the ball bouncing twice before it goes into the keeper’s gloves.
Mohali thus has a reputation of being a pitch that helps bowlers when it is more of a true and even bounce pitch than many of the others in the country and is probably after Kanpur the best pitch to bat on.
New Zealand openers certainly relished batting on it for unlike in the first Test there was hardly any turn for the bowlers or any seam movement was pretty easy to negotiate, as the ball didn’t quite hurry on to the bat.
Dravid may have heaved a sigh of relief on losing the toss as it meant he did not have to make the decision to bat or bowl first. Having been part of the Indian team that was shot out for 83 four years back Dravid would have been in a bit of dilemma if he had to make the decision.
Fleming of course had no such thoughts for he would much rather take on Indian seamers on the first day rather than the Indian spinners on the last day.
Richardson and Vincent had few problems facing Zaheer and Balaji though they were beaten outside the off stump like most of the batsmen usually are at the start of the innings they played measured cricket.
They knew that this was a good opportunity to put pressure on the Indians by giving a solid start and thus laying the foundation for a big total. Both eschewed the big shots and concentrated on occupying the crease and ensuring that the Indians did not get the early breakthrough. It may not have been exciting stuff for the spectators but it was what the team needed and they gave them just that.
For Richardson it was pretty much his usual method whereas for Vincent who likes to play a few more shots it was a bigger effort to tailor his game according to his team’s needs.
The century will have given him enormous self confidence and made all the patience seem worthwhile and the reception that he must have got in the dressing room from his teammates is something he will always remember.
New Zealand have taken a giant step toward dominating the game and perhaps even go on to win it though India will have to bat really badly on this pitch to lose.
Richardson is still there and he too has got a century having missed one when India toured New Zealand last year. He has had problems with his leg especially while playing the sweep shot but has kept going once again showing the kind of spirit this New Zealand team has.
Once again as their captain says there are no megastars in their team but plenty of winners, and Richardson and Vincent with their record opening partnership have definitely helped New Zealand toward getting a total that will put real pressure on the Indians. Not often are India on the back foot at home but in Mohali they certainly are.
