India tour will be the toughest says New Zealand pacer Doug Bracewell
New Zealand fast bowler Doug Bracewell believes playing on spin-friendly conditions in India would be a big challenge for his side. However, Bracewell also said New Zealand’s dreadful record in the subcontinent will serve as a motivation to do well.
"There is probably no harder place to tour than India," Bracewell was quoted by Cricbuzz. "In every tour, the boys are pretty fired up, especially Day 1 and Day 2, when the boys are quite fresh. Day 1 is always good to have a run little around and get out of the hotel after a couple of long days traveling."
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The Black Caps have clinched only two of the 31 Test matches they played in India. They last won a game in 1988 when Richard Hadlee’s 10 wicket haul helped propelled New Zealand to a 136-run victory.Bracewell knows replicating that would be a tough challenge and so believes acclimatization will be a big factor."It's always going to be a big challenge for us, the boys are pretty fizzed up and looking forward to getting stuck in."
The visitors are presently having grueling training sessions in Delhi to get ready for the first Test match but Bracewell believes the team is geared up to play in such hot and humid conditions which are presently prevailing in the country.
"If I was to guess the temperature, I would say it would be somewhere between 30 and 40, obviously first run around and the boys are sweating it up. It is pretty hot. Losing a lot of fluid, you obviously sweat a lot, and sometimes you think you are drinking enough but you're probably not. The most important thing is staying on top of your drinking with how much water you're taking in."
Bracewell will, however, be used to such humid conditions as he was in the country plying his trade for Indian Premier League (IPL) side Delhi Daredevils in 2012.The 25-year-old has taken 72 wickets from 27 Test matches at a bowling average of 38.83. He has also scored 568 Test runs with the highest score of 47.Bracewell has been a regular face in the Test squad for the last year or so. Together with Trent Boult, he has led the Black Caps attack for a few months now.
In India, New Zealand will lock horns in three Test matches and five One-Day Internationals