What The first of the two-Test series between New Zealand and India Where Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand When Feb 6-10, 2014 (11:00 Local | 03:30 IST | 22:00 GMT) The Teams India The feeling of déjà vu is inescapable for India supporters as the team finds itself in the similar situation it faced in South Africa a month back. After losing the ODI series, they now face the challenge of two Tests and look forward to the skills and freshness of Test specialists like Zaheer Khan and Cheteshwar Pujara. The main difference in India’s squad for the New Zealand series is, the extended pace attack, with the return of Umesh Yadav and the inclusion of Ishwar Pandey. It will give a few more options to MS Dhoni while also keeping the first-choice pacers on their toes. Even though the batting group hasn’t lived up to the standard, there are not many changes on the cards as there aren’t many alternatives available. Ambati Rayudu and Wriddhiman Saha will have prepared themselves to sit out the two Tests unless a desperate situation dictates the exclusion of a regular Playing XI member. New Zealand Not often do we see a New Zealand side dominating a higher-ranked side like they did in the five ODIs. While the hosts’ new-found mojo will be tested to a great extent in the five-day contest, the confidence built leading up to it cannot be ignored. The Kiwi coach, has time and again, voiced his team’s strategy to continue bombarding the Indian batsmen with short stuff, which means they will lean heavily on their pacers. However, he has shown special confidence in leg-spinner Ish Sodhi, who could get a game. After his impressive show in the ODI series, all-rounder Corey Anderson stands a tall chance to make the XI in Auckland. Key Players India India’s batting stars have faltered so far on the tour, albeit in the shorter format. A lot of solidity and calm will be added to the lineup with the arrival of Pujara. He, along with Virat Kohli, will have to shoulder the bulk of India’s batting responsibilities. New Zealand Kane Williamson went about quietly but surely in his job of solidifying the Kiwi batting in the ODIs – he scored half-centuries in all five matches. The stability he provides in the middle-order will come in all the more handy to the hosts as the likes of Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor try to pressurize the bowlers with their attacking intent. Statistics

Head-to-head

Tests at Auckland

Pace v Spin at Auckland (last 5 Tests)

Average runs per wicket at Auckland (last 5 Tests)

Trivia Since beating West Indies at Kingston in June 2011, India have been win-less in their 12 consecutive overseas Tests- losing nine and drawing three. From the current Indian squad only MS Dhoni, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma have had the experience of playing a Test on New Zealand soil. Ishant Sharma is one short of 150 wickets in Test cricket Squads India: M.S. Dhoni (Captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R. Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishwar Pandey. New Zealand: Brendon McCullum (c), Corey Anderson, Trent Boult, Doug Bracewell, Peter Fulton, Hamish Rutherford, Jesse Ryder, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Ross Taylor, Neil Wagner, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson.