By Chris Barclay of NZPA

Hamilton, March 15 NZPA - Iain O'Brien is looking forward to the relatively pallid complexion of test cricket after a one-day campaign against India salvaged by a couple of face-saving scalps at Eden Park.

New Zealand's most successful bowler during the Chappell-Hadlee Trophy stalemate in Australia last month, O'Brien was brought down to earth with a bang against India.

A batting card fronted by Virender Sehwag dominated the five-match series until a surprise eight-wicket loss in Auckland last night.

After snaring 10 wickets at 25.30 across the Tasman O'Brien, like every New Zealand bowler, was punished by Sehwag's flailing blade.

O'Brien experienced the disappointment of being axed for game three in Christchurch.

He replaced Tim Southee in Hamilton after the youngster went for a hundred but Sehwag again proved uncontainable as O'Brien's three overs at Seddon Park cost 37.

A familiar pattern then re-emerged at Eden Park yesterday. O'Brien's opening four overs contributed 34 -- including 20 in his last, although Sehwag was dropped at slip.

Exiled to the outfield as Jesse Ryder and Jacob Oram applied the clamps, O'Brien returned for India's short-lived batting power play to dislodge tailenders Praveen Kumar and Ishant Sharma.

Figures of two for 43 gave him three for the series at 58.66 apiece, while his economy rate was an expensive 7.18 runs per over.

O'Brien, who writes a popular blog on the cricinfo website, has been quiet in cyberspace since his recall in Hamilton -- but he did open up to media today before the squad headed to Hamilton, venue of the first test starting on Wednesday.

"It was nice to get a couple of wickets at the end there, though it's a sort of slap on the make-up wicket -- it makes you look pretty for a wee while but deep down I wasn't particularly happy with the way the series had gone.

"It's been a learning curve obviously. It was certainly tough and coming into the tests I'll have to up my consistency."

O'Brien masked any mental scarring from his ODI experience, though the 32-year-old admitted "there's a little bit of nerves going around when the ball starts pinging.

"I've had a couple of bad days in the series but it doesn't change me as a bowler or as a person."

The prospect of three five-day ordeals against the likes of Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar seems equally daunting, though the right armer was encouraged by the Indian's vulnerability once the ball started swinging in humid, overcast conditions.

One sweet delivery moved in prodigiously from outside off stump, to make Sehwag appear ungainly -- a rare achievement since he arrived.

O'Brien hoped the test pitches would have a little spice in them after India's strokemakers thrived on lifeless wickets and felt the longer version of the game would offer some respite.

"Hopefully the change of pace should make life a little bit easier," he said.

Sehwag can be relied upon to try and maintain his breakneck pace and take the shine off the new cherry though the addition of Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman should add a sedate dimension to the middle order.

O'Brien felt the red ball, which offers more assistance than its white counterpart, could help produce a more level playing field if used wisely while the absence of the batter-friendly power plays meant more latitude for field placements.

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