It might have provided thrilling entertainment for spectators, but the Eden Park pitch used for the first ODI between New Zealand and India left both captains unimpressed.Seventeen wickets fell for 217 runs in a game New Zealand won by three wickets.

"The pitch was not ideal for a one-day game," reflected Stephen Fleming. "I don't think the wicket was OK yet. It was very testing. It was two-paced and bowlers will agree to that. The ball will hold a little bit and the low bounce sometimes made it tough. We need some improvement."

Fleming curtly dismissed suggestions that the pitches were being prepared with the intention of helping New Zealand's bowlers. "I just have one thing to say, that we are not asking for these wickets," he said. "We don't want wickets like this, in terms of moving around. We don't promote the topic of doctoring the pitches. We want to see entertaining cricket throughout this summer. I'll take this opportunity to say that. I thought the pitch here was going to be good. We wanted to grab the initiative with four genuine wicket-takers and spinner [Daniel] Vettori. We were positive, yet we were surprised by the way it behaved."

Sourav Ganguly was in agreement with Fleming's criticisms. "I don't think you will get such a pitch anywhere in the world which did so much. Not only our batsmen, but also those who have been brought up on such pitches struggled. The pitch here was two-paced. The odd ball kept a bit low and the shot-making was not easy."

The drop-in wicket was only laid last month, a fact which might be technically impressive but one which cut little ice with Ganguly. "It is not good for anybody. It gives false confidence to bowlers as well. If you keep producing decks like this you'll have poor scores."

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