They certainly hit a bullseye today as the recalled Martin Guptill marked his return to the test team by stroking a high quality 85 against India here at Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.
Guptill put on 147 for the second wicket with opener Tim McIntosh, who perished for 102 immediately before the close on the opening day of the second test after 376 minutes of patient perseverance.
The two Aucklanders meshed neatly to pilot the tourists to 258 for four by stumps, a solid day's work against a disciplined Indian attack which gave them few cheap runs.
Guptill repaid the faith of the tour selectors -- captain Daniel Vettori, coach Mark Greatbatch and vice-captain Ross Taylor -- after he was omitted for the first test, which ended in a draw at Ahmedabad.
He came in here at the expense of BJ Watling and immediately set about forcing smiles on the faces of that trio after an early reprieve when he was caught behind off a no ball from Indian fast bowler Shantakumaran Sreesanth.
Guptill was on five when he went too hard at the ball, edging a regulation catch behind to wicketkeeper MS Dhoni.
"I thought it was a run of the mill caught behind," said Guptill, who had almost left the playing arena when he was called back by the umpires.
"I was a little bit angry with myself at the time but after getting a second chance I thought I came back pretty well.
"It was an important innings for me after I didn't make the team in Ahmedabad and I'm pretty happy to get a score like that," he said after striking nine fours and one six, a lofted straight drive against offspinner Harbhajan Singh.
Discipline was a feature of the New Zealand batting effort today, highlighted best by McIntosh and Guptill after the early loss of Brendon McCullum, who was nicked out for four.
The run rate always hovered just below three runs an over as the tourists were made to work for their supper.
"It was difficult because they bowled in some demanding areas but I think Tim and I got through it pretty well," 24-year-old Guptill said after registering his fourth test half-century.
"There was no set plan for the pace of the innings and there were times we had to knuckle down. We had to play out a few maidens but when they bowled a loose ball we put it away."
Guptill eventually fell 15 runs shy of a century when he played back to left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and was trapped leg before wicket.
He said he found the Hyderabadi an interesting proposition.
"When he bowled around the wicket he kept me guessing. When he came over the wicket it was easier to knock it around the leg side for one.
"But when he went around the wicket I really had to knuckle down and watch the ball hard."
