Devastated India get a break ahead of Test showdown

India were devastated by their four wicket defeat in the second Test in Wellington when they had been poised for victory, said coach Anshuman Gaekwad.

The intense match was particularly hard on the tourists who were given a complete break from cricket in a bid to freshen them up for the test India must win to level the series.

Indian media reports said the side were apathetic and disinterested, but Gaekwad insisted: ``I didn't need to say much after the test because the boys were very depressed.

``I think by having a complete break from cricket, no practice, no talking they might come out and play well here, at least I hope so.''

Gaekwad would no say what changes would be made to the team, but teenage off-spinner Harbhajan Singh is expected to be replaced by left arm slow bowler Sunil Joshi.

Singh failed to take a wicket in either innings in the second Test and is one of three players heading home to make room for the one-day specialists.

There is also a possibility that V.V.S. Laxman will be included at the top of the order in place of the veteran Navjot Sidhu or vice captain Ajay Jadeja.

Gaekwad said there was little between the two teams though he thought home advantage tipped the scales marginally in New Zealand's favour.

India are desperate to win to silence their critics who maintain they cannot perform abroad. India has only won one test away from home since 1986 (1994 v Sri Lanka in Colombo).

``When New Zealand come to us they struggle but we weren't far away from winning in Wellington. Another hour of Sachin (Tendulkar) and Azhar (Mohammad Azharuddin) and the game might have been beyond New Zealand,'' Gaekwad said.

``At the end of the day there is nothing between the two sides and it should be another exciting test match.''

The pitch is harder than the Basin Reserve surface and has a green tinge but that is expected to have lessened considerably by Saturday morning.

A draw would be enough for New Zealand to win the series but neither camp are prepared to play for that.

``We need to win,'' Gaekwad said. ``But we always play to win so this test match will be no different.''

Kiwi Simon Doull has an added incentive to do well in the test. Besides playing on his own home ground he has an outside chance of becoming the 10th New Zealand bowler to take 100 test wickets.

Doull, whose nine wicket haul in Wellington took his tally to 92, said the Hamilton block was harder now that at any point he can remember.

``It'll be a little bit harder and a little bit quicker than the Basin,'' Doull said.

Despite the conditions New Zealand are likely to retain a similarly balanced side with the only personnel change being the inclusion of Wellington batsman Roger Twose for the injured Nathan Astle.

Teams:

New Zealand (from): Stephen Fleming (capt), Matthew Bell, Matthew Horne, Roger Twose, Craig McMillan, Adam Parore, Chris Cairns, Dion Nash, Daniel Vettori, Simon Doull, Paul Wiseman, Geoff Allott.

India (from): Mohammad Azharuddin (capt), Navjot Sidhu, Ajay Jadeja, V.V.S. Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Nayan Mongia, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Harbhajan Singh, Sunil Joshi, Debashish Mohanty, Robin Singh.