Background
A revised itinerary for the tour was announced on 26 August 1999. It was reported that the New Zealand squad would arrive in Mumbai on 28 September. The squad would play a total of two first-class fixtures before the First Test, followed by another first-class match against Karnataka, the Ranji Trophy champions. It would be followed by two more Tests, and then by a five-match ODI series. The venues for the Tests were Mohali, Kanpur and Ahmedabad. [2]
The New Zealand touring party arrived on 27 September. On his team's preparations for the tour, captain Stephen Fleming stated: "We just returned to New Zealand about 20 days back after a four-month-long tour of England." [3] The manager of the squad and former player Jeff Crowe mentioned that the squad to together only a week prior and that they "could not practice outside due to weather conditions but had a short indoor camp at Christchurch before embarking on the tour." On this tour, he stated that it would be "... very tough in these [Indian] conditions". He added, "Our batting was not very good in England. But we have to bat very well against the Indian spinners, on slow turning tracks, who certainly could pose problems. I feel this New Zealand team is well organised and expected to deliver the goods." [4] The tour would be the first assignment for newly-appointed coach David Trist. [5]
Going into the Test series, India had a formidable middle-order consisting of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly, all of who averaged close to or over 50. This was the first such instance in Indian cricket history. [6]
Squads
A 16-member New Zealand Test squad for the tour was announced on 31 August 1999. Craig Spearman was recalled to replace an out-of-form Roger Twose, and was touted to take the number three batting spot with captain Stephen Fleming expressing a desire to drop to number four. Off-spinner Paul Wiseman was picked as the second spinner for the tour in place of Brooke Walker, as Daniel Vettori's partner. Pacemen Chris Drum and Andrew Penn were added as replacements to the injured Simon Doull and Geoff Allott. The other change from the winning squad in England earlier that year was backup wicket-keeper, Martyn Croy, who was dropped. [8] Chris Cairns, who was still recovering from tendinitis on his right knee, was included in the squad, with the selectors hoping he would recover fully on time. [9] Following a finger injury Craig McMillan sustained during the Second Test, Gary Stead was named as his replacement for the Third. [10] [11]
The India squad was announced on 6 October. The 14-member squad squad excluded Mohammad Azharuddin, Nayan Mongia and Nikhil Chopra. Azharuddin was said to have been not fully fit following a shoulder surgery after the World Cup earlier that year. Wicket-keeper batsman Mongia was edged out by MSK Prasad thanks to the latter's better contribution with the bat potentially. Spinners Sunil Joshi and Harbhajan Singh were added to the squad, alongside batter Devang Gandhi. The latter was touted as an opening partner to Sadagoppan Ramesh. [7]
In the ODI series, pacemen Javagal Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad were rested for the final three games, and spinner Anil Kumble for the fourth, in view of India's Australia tour later that season. [12] Gyanendra Pandey was added to the squad as Kumble's replacement. [13] The bowling trio were announced to have been rested for the remaining games subsequently; however, Srinath played in the final ODI fixture. Ajit Agarkar and T. Kumaran, who made the squad for the Australia tour, were replaced the pace duo for the remaining games. [12]
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