The 22-yard strip at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch couldn’t be separated from the outfield due to its lush green cover on Thursday. Many feel that the ball might come on to the bat better here than in Wellington, where the surface offered spongy bounce.

Ajinkya Rahane is expecting there will be good pace and bounce on this wicket.

“I generally don’t see the wicket before the game. But see whatever we expected, we got in Wellington, we expect the same here. The India A guys played here and Hanuma (Vihari) was telling us that the wicket was much better.

“There is good pace and bounce on this wicket. We will have to see and assess the conditions very quickly on the first day of the game.”

Rahane, who top scored with 46 in the first innings of the opening Test, is hopeful that a turnaround will happen on a green top at the Hagley Oval.

“I am not saying (we have to be) more aggressive but having that intent and clear mindset will help us,” Rahane said in Christchurch on Thursday.

New Zealand pacers Trent Boult, Tim Southee and Kyle Jamieson used the short ball liberally with an angle that was disconcerting for the batsmen. “I think they used that angle really well in Wellington. Bowling wide of the crease or from the centre, they changed angles while bowling the short balls. I think their plan was completely clear.

“As a batsman, if you are going to think about a particular shot, then you need to back yourself and play that shot. You cannot doubt yourself,” the Indian vice-captain said.

According to Rahane, the two net sessions at the Hagley Oval is being used to practice negating the awkward angles that Neil Wagner and company can create.

“That’s what I said: try and learn what mistakes we did as a group, what can we learn. I think we have to practice those angles. We had a practice session and we have one more tomorrow. You have to practice that and trust your ability in the middle.”

He felt the instincts in match situations counts.

“For me, as a batsman it is important you show your intent to the bowler, if you stand in one spot then the bowler doesn’t need to change anything. These are small things we have been working on in practice and how to use the crease and the angles.”

Rahane also backed Cheteshwar Pujara, who has drawn a lot of flak for his dour approach in the first Test during his painstaking 11 off 81 balls.

“Pujara was trying his bit, he was actually looking to score runs. But I think Boult, Southee and all their bowlers did not give away much. It is all about having that intent and I think Pujara was actually looking to score runs. It happens to all batsmen, I mean all batsmen go through that phase,” Rahane said.