Tourists are given a promise over quality of pitches

India last toured New Zealand in 2002-03 and Sourav Ganguly's side struggled in the Tests, both of which had finished inside three days, and had lost the seven-match one-day series 5-2. The quality of the pitches came in for severe criticism with most of them being labelled two-paced and offering variable bounce. But New Zealand Cricket (NZC) have promised that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's India will find the pitches in good shape when they arrive on tour. The team will leave for New Zealand later this week for a series comprising three Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 internationals.

And the NZC chief executive Justin Vaughan insists there will be no issues this time around. "The last tour happened in early summer - during December and early January - when the conditions are a lot more bowler-friendly," he said. "This time, we have had a very dry summer so far, which means that the wickets will be of good quality." * PA Sport