India vs New Zealand 1st Test Preview at Hamilton from 18th March 2009

New Zealand won the 2 match T20 series by 2-0 but India bounced back and won the 5 match ODI series by 3-1. Now both team shifting their momentum to longest version of the game as 1st test will be played from Wednesday, 18th March to Sunday, 22nd March, 2009 at Hamilton.

Test specialist Rahul Dravid and VVs Laxman will come back in theIndian team to strengthen the middle order while M Vijay will give more opening option other than Gambhir and Sehwag. L Balaji and spinner Amit Mishra will be new bowling options.

After loosing ODI series New Zealand is looking for some pride and regained some pride after a consolation win in the last ODI. James Franklin after a long injury has been included in the team as an all rounder.

Hamilton wicket will seam initially and 1st 2-3 hour will be crucial.

Indian Test Team, Squad for Test Series against New Zealand

India will now concentrate in the longest version of the game after winning the 5 match ODI series by 3-1 as 1st test is starting from 18th March, 2009. Some test specialist like Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, M Vijay and bowlers L Balaji and spinner Amit Mishra has been included in the Indian team

Find the Indian Team, Squad for test series against New Zealand.

Indian Test Squad, Team for 2009 tour of New Zealand:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt/wk)
Virender Sehwag
Gautam Gambhir
Rahul Dravid
Sachin Tendulkar
VVS Laxman
Yuvraj Singh
Harbhajan Singh
Zaheer Khan
Ishant Sharma
Munaf Patel
M Vijay
Amit Mishra
L Balaji
Dhawal Kulkarni
Dinesh Karthik (wk)

2009 India vs New Zealand Test Series Schedule, Fixture, Time Table

2009 India tour of New Zealand has come to its last stage as only 3 match test series remains starting from 18th March to 7th April, 2009. India lost the 2 match Twenty20 - T20 by 2-0 and won the 5 match series by 3-1.

Find the complete schedule of 2009 India vs New Zealand Test Series Schedule.


2009 India vs New Zealand Test Series:

1st Test
Wednesday, 18th March to Sunday, 22nd March, 2009
Seddon Park, Hamilton
Timing: 10:00 local, 22:00 GMT

2nd Test
Thursday, 26th March to Monday, 30th March, 2009
McLean Park, Napier
Timing: 10:00 local, 22:00 GMT

3rd Test
Friday, 3rd April to Tuesday, 7th April, 2009
Basin Reserve, Wellington
Timing: 10:00 local, 22:00 GMT

New Zealand won 5th ODI by 8 Wick | India won Series by 3-1

New Zealand beat India by 8 wickets in the 5th and final ODI to take some pride as they already lost the 5 match series by 3-1 on Saturday, 14th March, 2009 at Auckland. India bowled out on 149 in 36.3 overs and New Zealand easily reached the target in 23.2 overs.


India won the toss and elected to bat first and played poorly as every one throwing their wicket and ll out on 149 runs in 36.3 overs of the 43 over match due to late start.

New Zealand reached the target with 151/2 in 23.2 overs thanks to fine hitting by Jesse Ryder and Guptill scored 63 off 49 balls with 6 fours and 4 sixes and 57 not out off 50 balls respectively.

Match Summary:

India - 149 all out in 36.3 overs.

New Zealand - 151/2 in 23.2 overs.

Toss - India, who chose to bat first .

Result - New Zealand won by 8 wickets (with 118 balls remaining).

Man of The Match -Jesse Ryder (New Zealand).

Man of The Series - Virendar Sehwag (India).

Series - India won the 5-match series 3-1.

India vs New Zealand 5th and Final ODI Live Score, Teams at Auckland

After the series has been decided as India already won the 5 match ODI series by 3-0 with one match to go and 1 match abandoned due to rain, the 5th and final ODI between India and New Zealand is a dead rubber will be played on Saturday, 14th March, 2009 at Eden Park, Auckland in a day-night game starting from 14:00 local, 01:00 GMT.

India will likely to use others player like Rohit Sharma, Dinesh karthik, Ojha and Yusuf Pathan in the absence of injured Sachin endulkar. India will likely to end the series with a win and looking for a clean sweep ahead of crucial test series.

New Zealand was outclassed by their opponent in the entire series instead of some good batting performance by Ryder, McCullum, McGlashan. Their all bowlers except captain Vettori was punished by Indian batsmen.

Indian Team, Squad for the 5th and Final ODI at Auckland:

Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, Zaheer Khan.

New Zealand Team, Squad for the 5th and Final ODI at Auckland:

Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram, Peter McGlashan (wk), Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori (capt), Ewen Thompson/Scott Styris, Kyle Mills, Iain O'Brien.