New Zealand coach wants to unleash pace on India
Mike Hesson feels his bowlers let West Indies off the hook in the just concluded series at home - a mistake not to be repeated against a strong Indian team.
New Zealand cricket coach Mike Hesson on Friday, called on his fast bowlers to welcome Indian batsmen with aggression when they clash with the visitors in the five-match ODI series starting here on Sunday.
Hesson wants his bowlers not to repeat the mistakes they committed during the West Indies series, when their pacemen let the visitors off the hook. (Suggested read: Martin Crowe says Kiwis can beat favourites India)
"It's aggression in terms of where you bowl the ball, the pace you bowl and the areas you bowl. You're not just running up and putting it there and hoping good things will happen, you're actually trying to make things happen. We've got a few guys who do that naturally so we'll certainly be encouraging that," Hesson was quoted as saying by a website. (Also read: India's top-spot in ODIs at stake in NZ)
"If you just try and deny there comes a time in the game with only four fielders out where it's extremely hard to defend. If you're able to keep taking wickets at the top you can control those middle overs. That's a pattern that's worked well for us and one we'd certainly look to continue," Hesson said.
Hesson said the pitch at the McLean Park will play true to its character.
"Quick, bouncy, a good wicket, a high scoring game, that's the pattern we get there and it's been pretty consistent," he said.
Curator Phil Stoyanoff has also said that even though the surface would be hard and bouncy, it will be a high-scoring game where pacemen can be punished to the short side boundaries if they err in line.
Hesson also hoped to play new sensation Adam Milne, who troubled the Caribbean batsmen with his raw pace, in the Napier ODI. Tim Southee is sure to play and either Milne, Mitchell McClenaghan or Kyle Mills will miss out.
Hesson said Mills has been an asset to the team and if he makes it to the playing XI, he will have the new ball.
"Kyle has been a great performer for a long time and if he plays he'll use the new ball. We used him first change in the subcontinent and he did a good job. But him not having the new ball here negates some of his qualities. All four of the guys know that there's competition for places and that's a really good thing," Hesson said.
New Zealand arrived here on Thursday while the Indians landed on Monday.