NZ take tips from Ganguly

Troubled by the subcontinent conditions, the spinwary New Zealanders took tips from former India captain Sourav Ganguly who gladly offered his know-how, demonstrating a few drives near the centre wicket on the eve of the second Test.

The Cricket Association of Bengal chief was seen having a friendly chat with New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan and another support staff who were paying a lot of attention to the former lefthander.

Ganguly quickly got into his left handed stance and gave suggestions to play strokes through the V, and how the ball moves in these conditions.

The Eden strip has been in the news after it was reported that it would lack spin as the grass was further trimmed.

"The ball is likely to move in the first two days and there should be turn from day three. We have got Bermuda grass that makes the wicket harder as the ball travels faster. The best part is it grows quicker and takes away the moisture," Ganguly, who was seen checking the firmness of the pitch with a key, said. -PTI CENTURION: Australia's fast bowling reserves will be put to the test during a five-match one-day international series against South Africa starting at Centurion on Friday. The world's leading one-day team will be without an entire battery of top-class pace bowlers when they take on their fourth-ranked challengers. Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood have been rested, while Nathan CoulterNile, James Pattinson, Pat Cummins, James Faulkner and Peter Siddle were ruled out by injury. The touring squad includes three new fast bowlers in Daniel Worrall, who earned his first cap in Australia's nine-wicket win against Ireland in Benoni on Tuesday, Chris Tremain and Joe Mennie. The only experienced seamers in the squad are John Hastings, Scott Boland and allrounder Mitchell Marsh, who between them have only 73 caps and 80 wickets in oneday internationals. FIXTURES: Sept 30: Centurion, Oct 2: Johannesburg, Oct 5: Durban Oct 9: Port Elizabeth, Oct 12: Cape Town.

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