Wright reads riot act to Kiwi players ahead of Wellington Test
By ANIThursday, January 13, 2011
WELLINGTON - Fresh from a 10-wicket defeat to Pakistan inside three days in Hamilton, coach John Wright gathered the New Zealand cricket team on the outfield yesterday and laid down the law as preparations began for the second test, starting on Saturday.
Nearby, turf manager Brett Sipthorpe was putting the finishing touches to the test strip, not played on since New Zealand’s 10-wicket defeat to Australia in March.
A lack of rain had made preparations straightforward.
“It should be basically the same as that [Australia] - really good pace and a bit more bounce than in Hamilton,” stuff.co.nz quoted him, as saying.
Regardless of New Zealand’s batting woes, a result seems a given.
The home side has been on the wrong end at the Basin in recent years.
In their past four tests in Wellington they have lost to Australia, Pakistan (by 141 runs) and England (by 126 runs), and sneaked a draw with India in April 2009 when eight down in their second innings.
Senior new-ball bowler Chris Martin, poised on 193 test wickets, welcomed the improved conditions.
“It generally swings at the Basin, it’s generally a result wicket; probably not one that we’ve been on the better end of over the last couple of years,” Martin said. (ANI)
