New Delhi, July 22: despite uncertainties over the availability of regular coach John Bracewell and some of the key players for the upcoming tour of India, New Zealand's stand-in coach Ashley Ross today said his side was fully ready to face the challenges in the sub-continent. Ross, who is likely to take over Bracewell's role during the tour, said all the players are in peak form which can help the side achieve what they have not done in their previous seven attempts -- winning a test series in India. "This side has played extremely well away from home in recent years. We won in Sri Lanka, we won our first series last year in the West Indies and when we toured England in 1999 we won that series and the bulk of players from those teams are still together. We have a very good record in Asia recently," Ross told the Wisden Cricinfo website.
"We have been working very hard on our ability to play spin by approaching it in a more methodical way and in the way we approach each bowler. "There has been a real move forward in our batsmen. Stephen Fleming, Mark Richardson, Scott Styris, who was on his debut tour to Asia, and Jacob Oram, all had good scores in Sri Lanka and the batting of the side has come of age, and our spinners also showed out," he said.

During the tour, New Zealand would be looking to better their record in India as they are yet to win a test series here in their seven previous appearances.
Bureau Report.