Hamilton: The limited-overs stuff is done, and it's time to concentrate on the five-day game, with the first of three Tests getting underway in Hamilton on Wednesday (March 18).

A bouncy track with a good sprinkling of grass awaits India in the first Test of the three-match series against New Zealand starting on Wednesday, casting the die for a veritable war of attrition between bat and ball.

In the Tests, Dhoni's team will try to emulate a feat which was last achieved by an Indian side more than 40 years back.

In the last four series, New Zealand have clearly been the superior team, winning four out of eight Tests. India have had some fine individual performances in those series - they've scored as many hundreds as the home team - but collectively they've clearly come out second-best.

Kyle Mills, who on his day can trouble established batsmen, Iain O'Brien and either Chris Martin or new-find Brent Arnel could form the seam quartet.

Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag have the skill and experience to quell the Kiwi attack, though they had had a deplorable tour in 2002-03, when India had mustered a series-high score of 219.

The young Kiwis & un-experience would have to contend with the likes of Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma, who had rocked Australia and England even on docile wickets back home.

Match facts
Wednesday March 18 - Sunday March 22
Start time 11.00 am local (22.00 GMT previous day)

Highlights of the match