New Zealand mustn't try too hard if they are to contain India's aggressive batsmen in the third and deciding one-day international in Kanpur.
That's the message from bowling coach Shane Jurgensen, who admits standards dropped in the six-wicket loss in the second match in Pune on Wednesday.
Jurgensen was delighted with the aggression and accuracy on show from the Trent Boult-led attack when they won the opening match by the same margin in Mumbai and he wants a repeat performance.
He felt they went away from what works best in the subcontinent when they were forced to defend a meagre 230 in game two.
"Maybe because we had a smaller total than we wanted on that pitch, we went searching a bit for wickets and once we didn't get those we didn't quite get it right," he said.
"I think the key thing is making sure we stay aggressive and sometimes actually being prepared to keep it really simple, very specific. We have no doubt that Indians are aggressive batsmen and if we can pull back that aggression, the game comes towards us."
Jurgensen singled out praise for Boult, the left-armer who he says is operating at full capacity following a four-month off-season break.
Boult couldn't repeat his first-match heroics (4-35) in game two but Jurgensen believes the 28-year-old can play at key role at the Green Park Stadium venue which traditionally keeps low.
"I don't think he could be any fitter, leading into the series," Jurgensen said.
"It's very tough for us, coming from 10 degrees to 30-odd degrees and the humidity and I think the only way to prepare for it is to be as fit as you can."
"I think the break has been really good, the guys are fresh and we got to think about what we didn't get right previously during the Champions Trophy."
SHARE ME