Kiwi's pacer keen to do well in new season


Ahmedabad: After an unimpressive last season, lanky New Zealand fast bowler Chris Martin wants to make a positive start to the new season by doing well at the upcoming Test series against India, a country he is touring for the first time.
Martin, who has taken 187 wickets in 56 Tests, managed to get only 16 in his last six Tests, included a wicket-less outing against Australia in his last international game at Hamilton in March.
"Last year was not a great year for me. My goal this year is to make it good and enjoyable and the enjoyment comes by bowling well," said Martin, who will turn 36 on December 10, two days before the second Test in Hyderabad.
The seasoned bowler said he won't mind slugging it out in sub-continent conditions, not favourable for fast bowling.
"The last international game I played was in April. To come here and have some cricket under your belt is good.
(There's) No warm up game here but the way international calendar is these days, it's not a surprise. To have some cricket here under your belt is good," he said.
The experienced bowler is rather hoping that he will able to do well on Indian wickets.
"I think so. If you look at the stats (figures) of the last three series, I think, spinners and quickies have taken wickets evenly. It gives me a bit of a chance and bit of a hope that the wicket will deteriorate and hopefully I will get into the act," said the bowler who relies more on seam movement than swing in the air.
Talking further about the conditions, Martin said the experienced bowlers need to operate with the new ball and the Kiwis need to be wary of the Indian bowlers' ability to gain reverse swing.
"It looks the new ball is coming on to the bat as it is hard. Experienced bowlers in the game are going to be involved when the new ball is harder. I think the way the Indians bowl, reversing, which is something we need to be watching out for in different stages of the game," he said.

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