Visiting New Zeland is always an interesting experience.

Tucked away at the edge of the world, the Indian team has finally arrived after a gruelling 27-hour plane trip. Recovery from this journey and adjusting to the time and cold weather would normally take a week.

Then, there is the matter of pitches. The last time an Indian team visited here under Sourav Ganguly in 2003, a flat, lifeless pitch was presented for the lone practice match. However when the actual Tests were played, the pitches were both underprepared and tampered with.

The groundsman was found to be illegally watering the pitch overnight throughout the Tests in a sordid attempt to give his home side the upper hand. The unsavory tactic worked, but just. The Kiwis were left embarassed when India's inexperienced quickies rolled over their own batsmen for next to nothing so that the difference between the two sides was miniscule.

India complained to the ICC after both matches finished well ahead of schedule, but the notoriously lax administrative body did nothing to punish the NZ cricket board or the local authorities charged with ensuring that the conditions meet international requirements.

At least, this time Mahendra Dhoni's men were not harassed at the airport, as Harbhajan Singh and one other member of the team were in the last tour by NZ customs. So far, the organizers have not "lost" all Indian cricket equipment and luggage. In this matter, the Kiwis last time seemed to have taken a page out of the Aussies playbook, taking pains to cause every difficulty possible for the Indians off the pitch in an attempt to keep them off-kilter.

This time, Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma arrive as the best fast bowling duo in the world. The Kiwis will be hesitant to give them the conditions they relish.

Batting wise, the team is packed with dangerous players at the peak of their form. Virender Sehwag (the only batsman to score a century among both sides in the last visit here by the Indians), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, and Mahendra Dhoni form the core of a very strong batting unit.

The most experienced player in the New Zealand side is the unassuming and nerdy-looking captain Daniel Vettori, a spinner whom India will relish hitting out of the attack. Kyle Mills, the controversial paceman widely suspected of chucking, continues to be allowed to play by ICC to the consternation of most neutral observers. Jacob Oram, the tall bits-and-pieces player, will be treated like the military medium bowler that he is.

In the batting department, the Kiwis are devoid of experience. Fleming and Cairns gone, the lineup consists of anonymous players who will be unable to put together significant runs against a powerful and versatile Indian attack. Brendan McCullum, the wicketkeeper known for picking fights with Symonds, can bat on occasion. Other than that, Indian fans will not recognize anybody.

New Zealand is coming off a humiliating one-day series defeat at the hands of the ailing Aussies who have been recently beaten by all comers, and that after leading 2-0. That cannot do much for their confidence going into this series.

All in all, once the formidable Indians recover from jet lag, the Kiwis should find it difficult going. Here's looking forward to a dominating performance by the visitors.

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