Ross Taylor began the press-conference with an apology to the journalists, and he was right to some extent as the media persons were more or less expecting Tom Latham to address them following his heroics in New Zealand’s impressive 6-wicket win over India in the first One-Day International on Sunday (October 22).
Well, Taylor soon explained the reason behind Latham’s absence, and he was quite spot on as after all the left-handed batsman remained in the field for close to 100 overs. He first kept the wickets in the hot and humid conditions of Mumbai and then scored a sublime century to take the Kiwis home.
“Sorry guys the young Tom Latham is too tired. Well, give it to him… 50 overs in the field. That’s enough,” said Ross Taylor.
Chasing 281, New Zealand were in a spot of bother after being reduced to 80 for 3. However, Latham and Taylor showed remarkable patience and maturity to bail the team out of the trouble as they shared a decisive 200 runs partnership which is the highest stand for any wicket in the ODI at the Wankhede.
The partnership came to an end when Taylor departed for 95 with his team needing just 1. Latham remained unbeaten on 103 and drew lavish praise from his senior teammate for making full use of sweep and reverse sweep to negate the effect of the Indian spinners.
“I think he employed the sweep shot over here in one of the Test matches the last time as well to a good effect. I guess Indians are very good, very quick feet when they play spin and traditionally us New Zealanders are not as nimble on our feet and the sweep shot is able to put pressure on the bowlers and adjust their lengths,” Taylor said.
“I told him (Tom Latham) to reverse sweep and he did it and he keep doing it so hope he keeps that up because he said he had never done it in a game. He practiced it a lot and it was nice for him to get some success out there with that shot,” he added.
Speaking about the team’s game plan and the difficulty the visitors faced on Sunday, Taylor explained:
“I think it was more (about) the humidity and the heat. Having to field out there for a good three-and-a-half hours, we knew we had to get off to a good start and try and negate the spinners.”
“Traditionally, New Zealand come over here and we struggle upfront earlier in our innings and I think being able to rotate the strike with the right-left (combination) with Tom. I think you have got to give credit to (Martin) Guptill and (Colin) Munro. They set the platform for us and we were able to rotate the strike and take it deep. Once we took it deep we knew we were in a good position to win the game,” Taylor added.
New Zealand thoroughly outplayed India in the first game, but Taylor is under no illusion that the Men in Blue, who are yet to lose a series this year, will come hard in the next game.
“Still have a long way to go, India will come at us hard, obviously one more victory for us to take the series but we know Pune is going to be a tough wicket to play on. We have to start again and not dwell on this too much,” he said.
At the same time, the senior batsman made it clear that there is no dearth of belief in the New Zealand team. He also spoke on why Latham has been demoted to number 5 in the batting order and hoped that the southpaw continues to do well in his new position.
“We trust ourselves and Kane (Williamson) as well. With that line-up we know can take someone to the top, it does put some (pressure) on the bowlers to perform – they did a great job. I think to bring Tom (Latham) here – he was one of our best batters on the last tour and with him the extra ‘keeping responsibility, (it) might be a tough situation to go out and open the batting,” Taylor said.
“Going forward, No 5 and 6 are going to be the positions we have been searching for, a bit of consistency, I think Tom, not only with his new role as a ‘keeper but to bat at No 5 been very successful (59, 102* and 103* on this tour) and has been very busy. Hopefully he can continue (doing) that and the balance of our side improves with Tom batting at No 5,” Taylor concluded.