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Doull fit and ready to roll

Swing bowler Simon Doull came out unscathed from two bowling spells to give New Sealand the option of picking the strongest side for the second cricket Test against India at the Basin Reserve beginning on Saturday.

Doull, who ruled himself out of the first Test with an injured right calf muscle, bowled well under 100 per cent, but it was good enough to convince coach Steve Rixon of his fitness.

"I am happy with his level of fitness. The most important thing is he is honest about it,'' Rixon said after the team's last official training session at Kilburn Park today.

"What mattered was his fitness, not how quick or well he bowled today. He showed that he can bowl over a sustained period and that's good enough for me.

"The good thing for us," continued the obviously upbeat Kiwi coach, "in this test is that we can choose anyone without worrying about injuries. We haven't had that chance for a long time.''

The Kiwis have won just eight of its 33 home Tests since January 1990, four of them in succession against Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe in 1997 and 1998 respectively.

Rixon refused to rule out the possibility of playing a second spinner in Paul Wiseman given Wellington's recent track record as spinner-friendly from the third day onwards.

"We are certainly not ruling out Wiseman at this stage,'' Rixon said.

He is mindful of the danger India's batsmen pose, especially skipper Mohammed Azharuddin and Sachin Tendulkar, who have 36 centuries between them.

That total is 24 more than the entire New Zealand top order.

"I'm not taking anything away from India, you can't because they've got six great batsmen. (Rahul) Dravid is a quality player, Tendulkar speaks for himself and Azharuddin's record indicates he is a great player.''

Rixon described India's bowling as "nicely balanced'' and said the visitors should have the upper hand if the wicket takes spin.

"If it is a turning track, it will benefit them. (Anil) Kumble is a world-class bowler and they have two off spinners who could slot in.''

AP