‘India will hit back hard’

One day he’s selecting the national team, on another he’s playing in a Masters match. Dion Nash wears many hats these days but Indians will remember him best for the devastating spell of seam bowling on the opening day of the 1999 tour when he took 6 for 27 and bowled India out for just 83 in Mohali.

Nash believed that the key to holding India was to check their momentum. “India are on top of their game and they’re a genuinely good side at the moment,” said Nash. “It’s about momentum. Stopping the momentum of the Indian side and getting them to think twice. That’s one of the goals of the Black Caps and they’ve taken one small step towards that in the Twenty20 matches. India is going to come out swinging and the Black Caps will have to go toe to toe and be prepared to battle it out throughout the series."

Nash conceded that Twenty20 had changed the way the game is played. “Young guys are playing with confidence right from ball one,” said Nash. “That breeds confidence within the middle order and makes for entertaining cricket. Long may that continue.”

Ian Healy, the former Australian wicketkeeper, played against Nash’s team on Friday and he tipped the Indians to come out on top against New Zealand despite the setback in the Twenty20 matches. “India should win. They’re a very good team and they’re right up there with South Africa. They’ve got bowlers, young batsmen, experienced batsmen, they seem to be not getting injured any more, and South Africa have all that too,” said Healy. “New Zealand got a bit of confidence out of their series against Australia. They’ve got rejuvenated and a good spirit happening. India are not going to have it all their way. They’ve never been completely comfortable with conditions in New Zealand and that’s something for the home team to play on.”