India's bowling coach Morne Morkel knows what Wellington's winds can do to a fast bowler. Having experienced the conditions during his playing days with South Africa, Morkel has a rather unusual suggestion for the Test specialists preparing to tour New Zealand: stand in front of a powerful fan at home.

It might sound strange, but the advice comes from experience. At the Basin Reserve, the wind can change direction without warning, making life difficult for batters and bowlers alike. Morkel wants India's players to get a taste of what awaits them before they arrive in New Zealand.

"We've spoken about Wellington, especially before the start of the tour, and we've planted those seeds. I spoke to some of the boys who were back in India last night, and they asked what the conditions are like. I said, 'Make sure you get a very strong fan at home. When you walk into the fan, that is going to be your preparation'," Morkel said ahead of India's third T20I against New Zealand.

India are in Wellington for Tuesday's T20I, but Morkel and head coach Gautam Gambhir are already thinking about the challenges facing the Test squad. The winds in the New Zealand capital reached speeds of 120 kmph on Monday, giving the visitors a glimpse of what lies ahead.

Even Morkel was taken aback by the conditions. The former South Africa fast bowler said the wind was so strong that he could feel its force from inside his hotel.

"This wind is a different beast. I was in the hotel this morning and the whole building was sort of shaking. So I think it's going to be a new sort of thing that we add to our books for the guys to get used to and accustomed to with a quick turnaround," he said.

For Morkel, the challenge is not simply about getting used to the wind. It is also about how players respond when conditions make their usual routines difficult. At the Basin Reserve, a batter may struggle to maintain balance at the crease, while a bowler could find it harder to settle into a rhythm or control the ball.

Morkel knows from experience that a few days of practice will not make the problem disappear. The key, he believes, is to accept the conditions and find a way to work around them.

"When I toured here with South Africa, we had certain ways that we went about trying to get used to it. I don't think you can ever get used to it in the space of two, three, or four days. So it comes down to how you're going to frame the whole situation: you're either going to see it as a challenge, or you're going to see it as a negative," he said.

There is also a practical problem for India's bowling attack. With the wind blowing across the ground and changing direction, some bowlers may find themselves facing the gusts more often than others. Morkel wants his players to be ready to take on that responsibility rather than leave the difficult spells to their teammates.

"Hopefully, we can get those guys in a mental space where they look forward to that challenge. At the end of the day, you need somebody to put their hand up and bowl into the wind, because we can't have four guys bowling off the wind," he added.

BRACEWELL KNOWS WHY WELLINGTON IS DIFFERENT

New Zealand all-rounder Michael Bracewell is well acquainted with the conditions at the Basin Reserve and knows how uncomfortable they can be for visiting teams. The wind does not always blow from one direction, often swirling around the ground and forcing players to keep reassessing their approach.

Bracewell recalled just how strong it can get, remembering a match when cameras had to be switched off at one end because of the wind.

"It is interesting. At closed stadiums, it swirls around a bit, so it's probably not as consistent as it is when you play in a slightly more open field like the Basin. We had one game here where the cameras got turned off from one end because it was so windy," he said.

For Bracewell, however, dealing with such conditions is part of the appeal of international cricket. Teams have to learn quickly, whether they are playing in familiar surroundings or touring a country where the conditions are completely different.

At Wellington, that means knowing when to attack and when to hold back. Batters must judge the direction of the wind, while bowlers may have to change their plans depending on how it moves around the ground.

"So yeah, it's just about identifying those moments when it's sort of a little bit calmer or the wind is swirling in your direction as a batter, or being a bit more defensive with the ball," Bracewell said.

He declined to reveal New Zealand's plans for the Test series. India, meanwhile, will have to find their own answers when the Test specialists arrive. Morkel's fan suggestion may raise a smile, but behind it lies a warning from someone who has been there: Wellington can test even experienced international cricketers, and there is only so much they can do to prepare for it.

- Ends