India are determined to erase memories of their disastrous performances in New Zealand in 2002-03 during the current visit.
India not dwelling on past failures in New Zealand
India are determined to erase memories of their disastrous performances in New Zealand in 2002-03 during the current visit.
On the previous trip six years ago, India's powerful batting line-up failed to come to terms with local conditions and the tourists slipped to series defeats in both the Tests and one-dayers.
Coach Gary Kirsten is keen that the current squad do not dwell on the past as they prepare for a hectic itinerary that sees two Twenty20 internationals, five one-dayers and a three-Test series packed into six weeks.
"The last tour was six or seven years ago and we don't focus on what's in the past, we worry about what's happening ahead," Kirsten told
The Press newspaper.
"We're certainly not talking in our team meetings about what happened here six years ago.
Positive form
"We have played 17 games of cricket since September last year and lost one. So we are very happy with our performance."
The talking point since India's arrival in New Zealand has been the state of the wickets, but Kirsten is unconcerned.
"Everyone's talking about the wickets but the wickets I saw (when New Zealand played) against the West Indies seemed to play really well," he added.
"It's not something that's concerning our minds too much. We are well planned for any conditions, our team is well balanced."
Kirsten has stressed the need for the players, particularly the bowlers, to adapt quickly to the unfamiliar windy conditions.
Preparation
He had them all bowling into the wind during a practice session at Lincoln University in Christchurch ahead of Wednesday's opening Twenty20 international.
"What we've said is that every bowler is going to have to do the hard yards at some stage, because it's not going to be easy," noted the South African.
"But we've prepared for that. We don't operate as a bunch of individuals.
"We focus on what we can do as a team and we know that someone's going to have to step up to the plate and do something that's not easy to do. But all these players are ready for that."
