Kiwis opener Latham gets Ganguly's advice

Kolkata Sep 29 (IANS) New Zealand opener Tom Latham on Thursday received guidance from former India captain and Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Sourav Ganguly on how to counter off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.

The 24-year-old Latham, who failed to get the better of India star spinner in both innings in the first Test, went up to Ganguly to seek advice during the Kiwis' practice session at the Eden Gardens on Thursday, the eve of India's second Test match with the Black Caps, CAB sources said.

Ganguly was spotted inspecting the pitch a number of times throughout the day, instructing the groundsmen to further remove the grass coating on the 22-yard strip. It was then, it is learnt, that Latham pressed the help button and approached the southpaw.

"Latham came to me. He said that Ashwin's deliveries (in the first match) were repeatedly hitting his pads. I then advised him how to cope with the problem," Ganguly said.