IND vs NZ, 2nd Test: In a bid to contain the hype that was seen building up over the bill being projected and the attendant hue and cry over what is being massaged as a slow, dry pitch made out of black soil, New Zealand skipper Tom Latham said that everything is being made to sound much worse than the actuality presented on the field.
However, he said that if the conditions go extreme, and the ball does turn significantly from the very first day, it would be an advantage for the visitors’ spin attack.
Play To Conditions
Latham emphasized flexibility as the key to preparing for whatever conditions may prevail. “We can’t control the wicket, so it’s about adjusting as quickly as possible,” he said. With four spinners in the side, Latham hopes they might be able to exploit turning conditions. He said his team needs to be ready to be flexible and not begin a game with too many preconceived notions about the pitch.
Spin Options And Historical Context
Allrounder Rachin Ravindra chimes in with Latham, recounting an instance from 2017 when a turning pitch went against India and Steve O’Keefe took Australia to victory. “If it’s an extreme wicket, it brings us into the game more,” Ravindra said of his team, pointing out how an encouraging pitch might allow them to capitalize early on wickets.
New Zealand had taken three spinners for the first Test in Bengaluru but did not have much use for them since the conditions favored seam bowling. In Pune, they may need to utilize the spinning trio more often. A fourth spinner remains an option, though pitch permitting, even as off-spin-bowling allrounder Michael Bracewell will miss the contest as he prepares for the birth of his second child.
Selecting Playing XI
He mentioned that he has been thinking about possible changes to the playing XI but will finalize the same after discussing it with the team. He also insisted on conditions changing as learned from the past matches and practice wickets, so they don’t enter the game with too many preconceptions.
Reflecting On Good Performances
Latham also reminisced about New Zealand’s victory over Bengaluru where he was one of the three Kiwis to lead the team to a Test win on Indian soil. Of course, he was not forgetting that in a hurry, but turned his focus to the Pune match where he looked to derive momentum from their last feat. “We don’t want to rest on last week’s performance, but just take the confidence we gained from that into this game,” he said, seeing a good start for the team in Pune.
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