India V New Zealand Test Series Preview

The New Zealand test squad has been named and I don't think there is anyone in New Zealand who gives them a chance.

But then again.....what's different?  The bowling attack we posses that constricts and stifles opposition batsmen so well in T20s and One Day Internationals has never been known for its ability to take wickets, and therein lies the problem.

Ever since Shane Bond hasn't been allowed to play for the Black Caps because some rich blokes in India can't get along it has been impossible to envisage New Zealand ever taking 20 wickets to win a test.

In fact, I don't think it has happened since we played Bangladesh a year ago.

Combine that with the current form of the Indian batsmen and it would seem, even at this early stage, that it's a foregone conclusion.

But Daniel Vettoris men have a lot to prove and there is no better chance than to do it now.

The squads main feature is probably its lack of experience.  Martin Guptill and Brent Arnel look set to make their debuts, meanwhile Tim McIntosh, Jesse Ryder, Daniel Flynn, Iain O' Brien and Jeetan Patel have all played only a handful of tests each.

So it rests in the hands of the new lads.  Daniel Vettori, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor will be doing their best to lead from the front, but the opportunity really exists for the new players to stand up and be noticed in what will probably be a losing team.

On a final note, perhaps the real winners in the test series are the NZ domestic teams who have been playing host to some Indian test specialists.  Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and company have been playing warm-up games for the likes of Otago and Canterbury.  I hope they have been kind enough to impart some of their experience and knowledge on the NZ domestic players who may never come any closer to international cricket again.