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Toss all-important Wisden CricInfo staff - December 11, 2002
Basin Reserve, Wellington Winning the toss would usually be considered a fine way to start a match, but at Wellington it's an invitation to disaster. In all four Tests between New Zealand and India at this venue, the team losing the toss have won the match. Overall, out of 22 matches that have produced a result here, 15 have been won by the team that lost the toss.The Basin Reserve used to produce plenty of stalemates, but no longer. Nine of the last 11 Tests here have produced a decisive result, with New Zealand winning four of those. Sourav Ganguly would do well to insert the opposition if he wins the toss here. Sixteen Tests have been won by the team batting second, and only six by the team batting first. That stat obviously hasn't been heeded by captains – in the last nine Tests that have ended decisively, captains winning the toss have elected to bat seven times, and lost in six of those instances. India started off on a winning note here, when Erapalli Prasanna spun them to an eight–wicket victory in 1967-68, but there's been little cheer for them since. New Zealand have put it across them three times in succession, the last time in 1998-99, when Craig McMillan and Chris Cairns chased a 213-run fourth-innings target after being reduced to 74 for 5. The opening partnership has been a source of worry for India overseas, and it's no different at Wellington. In eight tries at this venue, the average first-wicket partnership is 24.25, with a highest of 43. Even more appalling is the average second-wicket stand – 11.12 – which is fewer than the runs put up for the eighth (15) or ninth (14.85) wicket. As one would expect, pace bowlers have fared much better than spinners at Wellington. Since 1994, seamers have taken 214 wickets at 30.47, with a strike-rate of 65.33, while spin has accounted for only 76 wickets, at a much higher average (45.09) and strike-rate (96.71). John Bracewell's 6 for 85 in 1989-90 was the last time a spinner took a five-for at the Basin Reserve. © Wisden CricInfo Ltd |
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