Moles wants to plug all the holes

After the comprehensive defeat in the first Test, a couple of days off gives the home side a chance to introspect and come out stronger in the second Test at Napier beginning on Thursday. Anand Vasu reports.

It was a scene straight out of a television drama or a Hollywood film portraying domestic bliss. Daniel Vettori and James Franklin walking down the main street in Hamilton, infants in hand, soaking in the noonday sun as their wives walked behind them.

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After the comprehensive defeat in the first Test, a couple of days off gives the home side a chance to introspect and come out stronger in the second Test at Napier beginning on Thursday.

At the forefront of the regrouping operation is New Zealand coach Andy Moles, who has vowed to put India through "a lot sterner examination than they did in the first Test match." Moles added that New Zealand's pride took a beating after the first game and he was keen that his team "give a better account of themselves" in the coming matches.

"Yeah, we were dejected on Saturday but we have analysed that, we have learnt from that, we have cut it off, and now it's gone, and we are looking forward to next challenge," said Moles after New Zealand finished an optional training stint at Seddon Park in Hamilton on Sunday morning.

Moles hinted that Jacob Oram and Jeetan Patel, who has already been spoken for by former cricketers, could return to the side for the second Test. However, the New Zealand coach was keen to stress that this was for reasons of fitness and composition rather than a knee-jerk reaction to the loss.

"Jeet (Patel) will come back; he is doing well in his game. I think he scored 44 today to go with his five-for (for Wellington in the State Championship)," Moles said. "We will obviously need cover for Daniel Flynn who has a bruised left hand.”