A change of climes, and pitch, and changes in the sides, could do wonders to the way two countries play their cricket. When New Zealand take on Pakistan here Wednesday, the Pakistanis will miss their pace duo of Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, while pacer Shane Bond and all-rounder Scott Styris will be fully fit for the Black Caps. Add to that the fact that Mohali could offer ample bounce and pace, and a clear picture emerges.
The match should decide who leave and who stay back at the ICC Champions Trophy. However, the smile Lou Vincent carries can only mean that the Black Caps — who landed on Sunday after a tough match against the Lankans — are loving the conditions here.
“Well, the weather here is cooler, and we have a good history here at Mohali, and I did have a great time batting here the last time we played a Test against India,” said Vincent. He scored a ton then.
Vincent realises that it was their inability to “adjust to the conditions” that cost them the match against Sri Lanka. “The ball wasn’t coming to the bat easily. I hope the conditions here will be different, but all credit to the Lankans who bowled excellently that day,” he stated.
This match would also be a special one for his skipper Stephen Fleming who is set to become the highest capped player in ODIs to lead his team, beating Sri Lanka’s Arjuna Ranatunga’s 193.
To him Stephen is the “rock” of the side, without whom the team is incomplete and hopes that he will play for another couple of years.
On his own performance Lou was a bit disappointed. “I think we can beat any team here, and though my performance has not been good I feel that we have a upper hand over Pakistan here.”
Vincent also confirmed that Bond and Styris were fit and “looking good.”
The pitch is good news for them, too. PCA pitch curator Daljit Singh promises the pitch will be a “hard rolled” one and something that would not break up as the match progresses. “The new ball will be tough to play, but once they see through it, batsmen will have a good time,” said Daljit.
“I have kept the grass on the pitch which ensures that the pitch remains intact and does not break up. The grass can be cut at the last moment which the other curators probably did not do.”