The hand injury to Nathan Astle, who will now be out of action for five weeks is a blow for the One-Day International series. But the experienced Twose will add all-round qualities to the team. His batting average of 28.75 is nothing to get excited about, but his part-time medium-pace bowling and positive attitude could be important if New Zealand is to win this series.Twose, an Englishman, who qualified to play for New Zealand in 1995, made an impact with a couple of 50s and he added some much needed backbone to the batting. However, a couple of seasons ago he declared his unavailability to the national team for personal and business reasons. A renewed attitude has him keen to play again and with some impressive form, including 99 for Wellington against India and some good form against Pakistan A, he is at the forefront of selection again.

Twoserecalls the 147 he scored for his English team Warwickshire against Northamptonshire that included Anil Kumble in the bowling line-up, as one of his best innings.

The Test match is very important for India. Nothing short of a good win this Test will be acceptable to the Indian fans, both here in New Zealand and at home. I can only imagine the reaction from fanatical supporters in India as to the indifferent performance from their team especially in Test matches in recent years.

I have the greatest respect for Azhar as a player and as a captain. I consider him as a very good friend and when I played against him, I felt he was a wonderful batsman and a tough opponent. In some ways, a captain is only as good as the players he has around him. There is no doubting the Indian batting talent, but while Azhar led front the front in both innings of the last Test and Tendulkar was outstanding, where was the other support?Although Srinath and Kumble bowled their hearts out, support was lacking form other bowlers andfrom the fieldsmen who dropped five catches. It is unfair to blame the captain when he has done his best. It is up to each player to accept the responsibility and have their own pride of performance and lift their game especially when it gets tough, as the Black Caps did.

Indian crowds expect a lot from their players, and maybe at times, too much. As selectors we should have the right to expect a lot of top class performances from our players especially in the age of true professionalism and big pay packets. Human nature rarely allows us to be at peak form every day of the week. The important thing is consistency and players trying to give their best in any given situation. Here in New Zealand, we expect a lot from our rugby players, the famous All Blacks. When the All Blacks lose, it is a day of mourning, but the reality is that every team has a supreme desire to beat them and the overall standard around the world has also improved, making it more difficult for the rated teams.

The New Zealand cricketteam has been trying ot develop an approach of having an extreme desire to win and restore some lost faith from the supporters. I sense a refreshing feeling in the Black Caps camp with a great team spirit with everyone supporting each other through good, bad and indifferent times. We have had to be patient with our team for several years and only now we are being rewarded with some positive results -- five Test wins in a row at home since 1996-97.

With the high number of One-Day Internationals (ODIs) and fewer number of Tests being played by India at the moment, it is difficult to expect your team to be totally accomplished in all aspects of the game.

The weather over the next few days should be hot and humid. With both teams having a lot to play for they will need to be focussed on coming away with a positive result and ensuring that every opportunity is capitalised on. The Black Caps have 1-0 advantage and will need to keep the momentum going and prevent any complacency entering their game if they wantto win or at the very least, draw this match. Any mediocre performances with the bat, ball or in the field, could prove to be very costly.

Two changes in Indian squad

HAMILTON: India are likely to include an extra seamer and bring in stylish VVS Laxman as opener for the third and final Test beginning here on Saturday.

The Indian decision to pick a third seamer may mean the recall of Debashish Mohanty or the chance for Robin Singh (jr) to make his Test debut on the hard and green Trust Park pitch.