I believe every team needs at least five or six players to be performing at an optimum level to be competitive. If only a couple of players are performing well, you can almost guarantee that the opposition will have all their guns firing.

Goals for the series would have been analysed. For example, in a three match series, a top order batsman needs to focus on attaining 250-300 runs at a healthy average of 50 plus. Ideally this wouldinclude a century or several scores in the 70s and 80s.

A pace bowler in New Zealand conditions needs to take 12-15 wickets, an all-rounder needs to take score 180-200 runs and take 10 wickets, and a spinner 10 wickets. In simple terms, 60 wickets need to be taken to win a series 3-0. Now with two matches remaining those goals will be reviewed with a top order batsman scoring 180-200 runs, 10 wickets for a strike bowler, 100 runs and 6-8 wickets for an all-rounder and 8 wickets for a spin bowler.

During the `Glorious 1980s', New Zealand were successful for a number of reasons. We had some good players, selection policy was consistent and players had goals. We felt it important for all players to have individual goals, which included focusing on the opposing team player in the same role.

Batsman versus batsman, bowler versus bowler, wicket-keeper versus wicket-keeper and all-rounder versus all-rounder. During that period we never lost a Test series at home and we were able to defeat every Test playingnation in a Test match and series. We also had significant victories on foreign soil with our first Test win in England (1983 at Headingley) and then in Australia (1985-6 at Brisbane).

In this current series, career statistics heavily favour India. New Zealand's opener Matt Horne has played only 11 Tests, averaging 36 with two centuries, while Sidhu averages 43 as he goes into his 50th test. Craig McMillan has the highest New Zealand average of 40 with two centuries but he has played only eight Tests. Tendulkar has played 62 Tests, averaging 54.03 with 16 centuries as he approaches 5000 Test runs. Stephen Fleming has played 37 Tests at an average of 37.85, while Azharuddin has played 92 Tests and averages 45.27.

India also holds the advantage in the bowling department, Srinath having captured 114 wickets at an average of 30.80, while Geoff Allott has captured only 11 wickets at an average of 60.63.

This sounds like an unfair contest. However, although statistics certainly can tell a story, they countfor little when the battle commences.

All players experience good, bad and indifferent days in their careers. Frustration can set in and pervade the mentality of a top team, and a lowly rated side can rise to the occasion - which has been evident many times when we have seen great sides tumble when all expectations were on walkover victories.

It would be easy for the New Zealand Black Caps to feel overawed when matched against the opposing Indian team, but at the end of the day that is what competition and Test cricket is all about. There is certainly the opportunity for everyone to make an impression.