Two weeks ago New Zealand were facing the pace barrage of Dale Steyn, Vernon Philander and Kagiso Rabada in South Africas off-season. A short stop at home later, they are in Delhi, during Indias off-season, preparing for what promises to be a challenging Test series on Indias raging turners. It is so early in the season that even the pre-season fumigation in the press-conference room - Delhi is fighting an outbreak of mosquito-infested diseases - was carried out only minutes before New Zealand arrived.All New Zealand have between landing in India and the Test series, to prepare for what has the makings of the biggest challenge in Test cricket today, are a couple of training sessions in Delhi, a three-day game against Mumbai that begins on Friday, and two more training sessions at the venue of the first Test.India are not going to do them any favours either. Not that New Zealand expected any. They didnt expect the track for the three-day game to prepare them for what is in store, and Feroz Shah Kotla is certainly in no mood to surprise them pleasantly. The track for the match against Mumbai, which wont be a first-class fixture and will thus let all 15 have a bat and a bowl, is not quite a greentop but looks nothing like what you will encounter at Indian Test venues.It is what we expected to see here, Ross Taylor said of the grass on the Kotla pitch. This is consistent with what Virat Kohli felt when India gave England barely any spin to face in their warm-up matches before the Tests in 2012-13.We were given flattest of tracks during practice matches in England and Australia, and then suddenly presented with a greentop during the Tests, Kohli had said back then. During practice matches, we would face those 120kmph bowlers … If they [England and Australia] wanted to be fair to us, they could have provided us with same kind of tracks for practice matches, like what were used in Tests. Especially, when they knew that visiting teams get very less time to practise. Now they would be playing on turning tracks and definitely would know where they stand.England played three warm-up matches before the Tests on that tour, but only once, against Haryana, did they get to face genuine spinners. In the other two games, the only spin they faced was delivered by part-timers. New Zealand, having seen the pitch at the Kotla, didnt look in a mood to complain. We are expecting the wickets to turn, Taylor said at the press conference a day before the warm-up game. We are not expecting the Test wickets to look the way it is looking at Kotla.For New Zealand the warm-up game is more about getting used to the weather, with temperatures in the mid-30s when it is winter back home. A warm-up game is a warm-up game, Taylor said. A chance to get out and play in Indian conditions. Obviously a lot warmer than a couple of days ago back home in New Zealand. Stretch your legs so to speak. We are expecting a tough match against Mumbai tomorrow.Before the reversal in South Africa, New Zealand were the side expected to present the toughest challenge to the hosts in this season of 13 Tests. They still possibly have the best spin resources among the touring teams this season. But the scheduling of the series relegates them to being a bit of a sideshow. They are used to this. When they go to England, they play in May; their last tour to India was in August-September, and this year they are playing back-to-back Test series in off-seasons. It is a fact not lost on them.The last two tours we had here we didnt even have a warm-up game, Taylor said. So its nice to have a warm-up game against a good opposition. Its going to be a hard-fought series over the next three weeks. The boys are looking forward to it.If the warm-up game is just a means to acclimatise yourselves to the heat and if you are expected to adjust from South African conditions to Indian ones suddenly, how do you do it? In the nets, Taylor said. Regardless of whether you are playing on a bouncy green wicket or on a turning wicket, you have got to put yourself under pressure in training and try to simulate as much as possible.Accordingly, one of the members of New Zealands support staff was seen asking the groundsmen to shave off the grass on the nets pitches. The next three days are not just about what goes on in the middle at the Feroz Shah Kotla, but also about how much the ones not on the field can take away from their nets sessions.Muggsy Bogues Jersey . -- Stanford squashed Oregons national championship hopes again, schooling the Ducks in power football. Percy Miller Hornets Jersey . Coach Tom Thibodeau says the former MVP will probably start travelling with the team in the next few weeks. Rose tore the meniscus in his right knee at Portland in November and was ruled out for the remainder of the season by the Bulls. https://www.hornetslockerroom.com/Michael-Kidd-Gilchrist-City-Edition-Jersey/ . - NASCAR announced a 33-race schedule for the 2014 Nationwide Series with virtually no changes from this years slate. Percy Miller Jersey . "Four now," Carl Gunnarsson told the Leaf Report proudly following a 5-2 victory over New York on Tuesday night, the clubs fifth straight at home. Nicolas Batum Hornets Jersey . Defenceman Yannick Weber scored the go-ahead goal early in the third period and the Canucks breathed a sigh of relief with a 2-1 win on Saturday night.TURIN, Italy -- Spain appeared to have started its new era better than Italy but the Azzurri maintained their unbeaten home record in World Cup qualifiers with a 1-1 draw in Turin on Thursday.Vitolo looked to have helpedSpain lost to Italy in the round of 16 at the European Championship, and was set for a measure of revenge when Vitolo scored in the 55th minute following a rare mistake from veteran Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon.But Daniele De Rossi converted a penalty with eight minutes remaining after Eder was tripped by Sergio Ramos, and preserved his teams formidable home record. Italy has won 43 World Cup qualifiers, drawing the other seven.Spain and Italy are level on points in Group G after winning their opening qualifiers. Only the top team qualifies for the 2018 World Cup in Russia automatically.This was the first real test for both sides after changing coaches after Euro 2016.The 2-0 defeat to Italy marked the end of Vicente del Bosques long and successful stint as Spains manager, with Julen Lopetegui tasked with rejuvenating a team that won the 2010 World Cup and 2008 and 2012 Euros.Gian Piero Ventura replaced Antonio Conte, who left for Chelsea after Italys quarterfinal exit to Germany.Under Lopetegui, Spain beat Belgium 2-0 in a friendly, and crushed Lichtenstein 8-0.Ventura began his time in charge with a 3-1 defeat to France before winning his first competitive match by the same scoreline, in Israel.Italy was without a crucial member of its Juventus trio of defenders as Giorgio Chiellini, who scored the opening goal in Paris, was suspended following his red card against Israel.ddddddddddddAlessio Romagnoli took up his place alongside Leonardo Bonucci and Andrea Barzagli, and Italys altered defense did well to withstand the Spanish onslaught as the Azzurri spent the majority of the first period entrenched in its own half.Gerard Pique twice went close to breaking the deadlock but his header was deflected wide in the 19th. The defender had an even better opportunity six minutes later when Sergio Ramos nodded Dani Carvajals cross back across goal but headed straight at Buffon.Spains pressure paid off when Vitolo sprung the offside trap and Buffon rushed out to clear but completely missed the ball, allowing Vitolo to deposit into the empty net.That sparked Italy back to life, and Graziano Pelled headed Mattia De Sciglios cross wide of the left post.Italy got back on level terms when Ramos tripped Eder and referee Filx Brych pointed to the spot. De Rossi coolly slotted into the bottom left corner.ALSO IN GROUP GAlbania moved to the top after winning in Lichtenstein 2-0 to maintain its perfect start to its qualifying campaign.Goalkeeper Peter Jehle turned into his own net, and Bekim Balaj, who also netted the winner against Macedonia, scored in the 71st.Israel moved into fourth with a 2-1 victory in Macedonia.Tomer Hemed and Tal Ben Haim scored in the first half for Israel but Ilija Nestorovski got Macedonia back into the match shortly after the hour.Israel defender Eitan Tibi was sent off in stoppage time. ' ' '
