Having discovered India’s weak nerve in the first Test, New Zealand Cricket has made a special request to prepare a pitch full of pace and bounce at the Westpac Park for the second Test starting on Thursday.“They rang on Sunday and told me to make something that was as fast and bouncy as possible,” said groundsman Doug Strachan. Strachan predicts a track with plenty of pace and bounce - as has been the case in previous Tests in recent years at this venue - that should delight the home seam attack and leave the tourists nervous following the Wellington debacle.The only thing that might go against New Zealand’s plans is the weather as it rained heavily in the afternoon here today and more showers and thundershowers are predicted on the first two days of the Test. But Strachan believes that even 2-3 days play should be enough to produce a result. “The weather might prove a bit of a spoilsport but I hope even two and half days should be enough for a result to arrive in the second Test,” he said. “The pitch will look green but I hope they (the Indians) don’t get spooked by it. New Zealand has the psychological edge after Wellington but teams have proved it can be a very good batting track because of the pace and bounce.”New Zealand team manager Jeff Crowe felt that the pitch might also help the spinners if the weather held good and there is sunshine. “This one here appears green but its always a much harder surface underneath. There will be a lot more bounce and pace in the wicket. Depending on the overhead conditions, if we have this weather for next couple of days, it will certainly help the seam bowlers. But if we see some nice and fine conditions, the wicket might even offer some turn,” Crowe said.
