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NZ wickets have changed nature: Taylor
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February 23, 2009 13:15 IST

India should not lose sleep over the nature of the tracks here and the two Twenty20 [Images] Internationals would be enough for them to get used to the bounce, said New Zealand [Images] middle order batsman Ross Taylor [Images].

Taylor said things have changed a lot since India toured New Zealand last in 2002-03, when they struggled to make a series-high score of 219 in nine innings spanning two Tests and five ODIs.

"I think a lot of people have made a lot of the wickets the last time they were out here. I think the wickets have improved a lot since then. I don't think the Indians need to worry about green, seaming wickets," Taylor said.

"It shows in our domestic form. The little dibbly-dobbly bowlers aren't having as much success as they had five or 10 years ago. That is good for New Zealand cricket that the bowlers are having to work a bit harder for their wickets and I am sure over the next month or so, the Indians will see how our conditions have changed," he said.

"There's a lot of cricket played. The idea is to adapt as quick as possible. There will be a little bit of getting used to for the Indians but our wickets aren't as bouncy as Australia [Images]," he said.

"I am sure after the first two Twenty20 games, they would have got used to the bounce and in the nets as well. That won't be a factor come the first one-dayer. It will be interesting to see how it goes," he said.

Personally, Taylor hoped his injured hamstring wouldn't flare up again during the series.

"At this stage, I have sprinted for the first time at about 95 per cent on Saturday. At the moment it is okay, but I still have to have a final fitness test before I get the green light to play Wednesday's game," he said.

Taylor said this series would be test of character for the Kiwi players.

"India would be the best team going around in all forms of the game at the moment and it is exciting for us to play against them and see where we really are on our home turf. Hopefully, we will have some success. But I am sure the New Zealand public will have a good series to watch," he said.

Twenty20 cricket may be raking in the dollars for the ICC [Images] and its affiliates, but Taylor felt that the teams were just about getting a hang of it.

"I still am not sure that anyone knows the right way to play Twenty20 cricket at the moment. The 50-over stuff took 10-15 years for someone to master it and find the right way to play. I would say Twenty20 is still an evolving thing."


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