Hesson: 'Our spinners can create opportunities'

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has expressed faith in the spin attack to test India's batsmen in helpful conditions in the Test series.

Hesson was aware of the threat India possessed with its three spinners and 'more than useful' part timers.

New Zealand coach Mike Hesson expects his spinners to deliver in a series that is expected to help the slow bowlers more.

India, which hosted its last Test here seven years ago when Sri Lanka lost by an innings in four days, is looking to dominate the series on the strength of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, left-arm Ravindra Jadeja and leg-spinner Amit Mishra.

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New Zealand is yet to win a Test series in India but Hesson promised a contest. “We have won two Test matches in our history here. So we know it is a tough place to come and win, as it is for any touring side. India is playing good cricket at the moment, but we have got a group of cricketers who will be highly competitive. That’s our challenge. To be highly competitive and stay in the game for long periods of time. Then anything can happen,” Hesson noted.

He conceded India had the upper hand. “They have got three excellent spinners. Some of their part-timers are more than useful. So we will get a barrage of that. We will also get a barrage of swing with the new ball and reverse swing. We will have to bowl. We are more than capable of bowling good balls.”

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Hesson backed his slow attack of left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner, leg-spinner Ish Sodhi and off-spinner Mark Craig.

“We have talented spinners who don’t have as much experience. Sometimes it is a good thing. You don’t have fear. We saw the way we operated in the T20 World Cup. We opened the bowling with spin as well. If there is assistance for spin, we can create opportunities. Our three spinners have spent a lot of time talking, a lot of time making little subtle adjustments to be as effective as we can in these conditions.”

Hesson was not unduly worried about the pitch. “We have got an idea how we think how the surface might play, but it might be quite different. We are capable of adapting. To play a full three-day warm-up game in Delhi, to have two-three days training in Delhi, and a couple here, it is probably as good a preparation you get for any tour. The conditions here are slightly different than they were in Delhi. It’s up to us today and tomorrow to get used to it as best as we can. During the game the pitch is going to turn so we need to keep adjusting. You got to prepare for the harshest conditions,” he said.