We'll carry the winning momentum to Tests: Moles

Hamilton:

Gaining confidence from the win in the fifth and final rubber in the ODI series, New Zealand coach Andy Moles said his team would carry the momentum in the three Tests against an Indian team prone to making mistakes like any other side.

"Cricket is a momentum game. It was a good win last night. The Indians will say that they won the series. That's fine. Our answer is: There have been six games of cricket. They won three, we won three. So we are level going into the Test series," Moles said recalling their victories in the two Twenty20 games'.

"We know India are a fine side. We respect that, but we are not scared of them. It showed last night. We got early wickets and put them under pressure. They make mistakes like everybody else," he said.

"They (India) have a good mix of players. Certainly (Virender) Sehwag will play as he generally does and (Rahul) Dravid the way he does. But I think we will do fine," he added.

The former Warwickshire professional, however, admitted the Kiwis needed to be a lot more disciplined in the Tests. "We have to realise that we have to be a lot more disciplined and patient in the five-day game, which we haven't played for quite sometime now.

"We have to make sure that we are at the top our game in all departments of the game. We have to motivate individuals to do well for themselves, that means the team will also do well," Moles said.

Moles also disclosed the Kiwis would not prefer a green top in the Test series.

"We are looking forward to a fine cricket wicket and if it bounces it will be great. We don't want to play on a green seamer. We want to have a good game of cricket and I am sure that's what we will get," he said.

The coach, however, agreed India had outplayed his side in the ODI series, which the visitors won 3-1.

"They outplayed us in the one-dayers where we did not play well enough. But we are looking forward to the Test series. We want to play some really good cricket."

Moles sought to play down the controversy over Chris Martin's inclusion in the Test squad.

"The selectors are strong men and they wouldn't have put someone in the side they didn't want or wasn't good enough. As far as I am concerned the team has good balance.

"I did read about in the papers this morning. But I can assure Chris that the selectors haven't said that they didn't want him. If the selectors didn't want him, he wouldn't be there. Martin is a fine performer and has a good track record.

If he is at the top of his game and is bowling well, he will play," the coach said.