India cricket coach Gary Kirsten says his side will be playing to win when the third Test begins Friday, despite needing only a draw to clinch its first series win in New Zealand in 41 years. After beating New Zealand by 10 wickets in the first Test at Hamilton and drawing the high-scoring second Test at Napier, India can clinch the three-Test series with a win or draw at the Basin Reserve. India's win at Hamilton was its first Test win in New Zealand since 1976 and the tourists remain in pursuit of their first Test series win here since 1968. Kirsten, a former South African Test opener, said it was not in the nature of the Indian players to look for a draw and his team would play positive cricket. “We certainly don't do any strategizing around playing for a draw,” he said. “We want to go and win every Test match and that's going to be our intention in this one. We play that way, we play flair cricket. We like to play aggressively.” Only two of the last 10 Tests at the Basin Reserve have been drawn. Kirsten has already declared himself happy with the pitch, which is likely to provide the pace and bounce that suits both India's batsmen and bowlers. “Whatever the wicket or the conditions, it is up to the performances on the day. New Zealand have shown they were really competitive in the last Test match. We had to use all our determination to save the game, which we did really well.” India has yet to confirm whether captain and wicketkeeper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who missed the second Test because of back spasms, will be fit to play. Dhoni's return is likely to prompt the only change to the Indian XI from the second test. New Zealand has recalled youthful seamer Tim Southee to its 13-man squad for the match and No. 3 batsman Daniel Flynn is likely to play after missing the Napier Test with a hand injury. New Zealand bowlers have been challenged by captain Daniel Vettori to respond the same way the batsmen did in the second Test. “We have proved that we can bat for a long period of time against their bowlers. Now our bowlers have to take wickets. “We did that in the first innings in Napier on a very flat wicket so if we can get that same result there then I have confidence.” Vettori said he would probably bowl if he won the toss. Top ODI spot at stake South Africa and Australia will be playing for the No. 1 one-day ranking when their five-match series begins Friday at Kingsmead. Australia – which has won the past three World Cups, including the 2003 edition in South Africa – relinquished top spot to the Proteas after losing 4-1 at home earlier this year. Australia has won 37 of 72 ODIs against South Africa, losing 32 and tying three. At Kingsmead, the Australians have won three of five matches, including the past two in 2002 and ‘06. SA agrees to host Champs South Africa confirmed on Wednesday it will stage this year's Champions Trophy as the second alternate host. Cricket South Africa approved the International Cricket Council's financial terms and agreed to use Wanderers in Johannesburg and Centurion in Pretoria as the venues for the limited-overs tournament from Sept. 24 to Oct. 5. The Champions Trophy was moved from Pakistan because of security concerns then pulled from Sri Lanka after worries about rain. Gayle lifts strike threat West Indies captain Chris Gayle said on Thursday that his side has decided against strike action during the final one-day international against England in St. Lucia on Friday. Gayle said the West Indies Players' Association and the West Indies Cricket Board had come to an agreement that would allow the match to take place, but the two sides were still negotiating.
