Sehwag Talks The Talk As Nz Bowlers Seek Answers
Thursday, 5 March, 2009 - 19:34
By Chris Barclay of NZPA
Wellington, March 5 NZPA - Virender Sehwag usually makes emphatic statements with his flashing blade, but the softly spoken Indian opener today issued a blunt warning to New Zealand's under-pressure cricketers.
Sehwag, who has mangled bowling figures at will since his one-day international cricket debut a decade ago, declared India's star-studded batting unit was capable of threatening the 300-run mark each time they faced the New Zealand attack during the five-match one-day series.
Only rain prevented India justifying the 30-year-old's prediction in Napier on Tuesday night, the tourists' settling for 273 for four from 38 overs.
But with Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina and Sehwag himself in damaging form -- and Sachin Tendulkar emerging from acclimatisation mode -- the world's third-ranked side are approaching tomorrow's second day-nighter here at Westpac Stadium supremely confident.
They were drubbed 5-2 in their last ODI series on New Zealand soil in 2002-03 but Sehwag -- one of few Indians to depart with his reputation and statistics intact -- sensed a different outcome this time.
"The wickets are easier to bat on than 2003, the grounds are small and the ball is not doing much -- it's not swinging or seaming.
"If we are careful at the beginning, we are confident of scoring 300 every time."
The Indians were troubled by a succession of greenish pitches six years ago but feel at home on flat drop-in wickets.
"This time the ball is coming on to the bat nicely, flat and hard. The last time we didn't get this kind of wicket."
Sehwag's ODI record -- 6370 runs at a strikerate of 100.64 runs per hundred balls -- suggests he is comfortable on any surface.
His 77 off 56 balls at McLean Park already has him on track to better his 299-run haul in 2003.
"I'm very happy, the way I batted in the Twenty20 I realised I had to stay there for at least 10-15 overs -- if I do we are in a good position to score big runs."
Sehwag was diplomatic when asked about the quality of the New Zealand attack, noting Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram were returning from injury while Ian Butler and Iain O'Brien were relative novices at ODI level.