New Zealand veteran fast bowler Tim Southee states the Indian openers, Prithvi Shaw and Mayank Agarwal are inexperienced but both of them are classy. Mayank Agarwal has had a brilliant start to his Test career as he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands. In fact, Agarwal was the highest run-getter for India in the Test fold in 2019.
Agarwal has thus far scored three centuries in the nine Test matches in which he has converted two of them into a double hundred. He is averaging 67.08 and would like to continue his good show against New Zealand. The right-hander could not grab his chance in the ODI series but roar back into form as he scored 81 in the warm-up match.
Shaw and Mayank have had a great start to their career.
On the other hand, Prithvi Shaw also had a great start to his Test career in the series against West Indies. However, an unfortunate ankle injury had ruled him out of the series against Australia in 2018-19 which was followed by his ban.
Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma was ruled out from the ODI and Test series due to hamstring injury. Furthermore, KL Rahul was not selected despite a great run of form in the white-ball format. Thus, the onus will be on the shoulders of Mayank Agarwal and Prithvi Shaw.
“They are missing a couple of guys due to the injury but there are plenty of guys who are talented and capable of stepping up when required. They had a good outing in Hamilton. Although, they may be inexperienced but at the same time, they are class players,” Southee told PTI during a brief interaction on Wednesday.
On the other hand, New Zealand will have the home advantage and they will be a confident unit after whitewashing India in the ODI series. The visitors will need to acclimatize to the conditions as soon as possible.
New Zealand will have the home advantage.
“Obviously, these are home conditions and it favors us. But there are a number of things that you need to do well in here at the Basin Reserve and India will have to get used to it in the next three days,” Southee gave a subtle warning to the visiting team.
“It’s a completely different format. India have played great Test cricket for a long period of time so it should be an evenly contested Test series.”
The first Test match between India and New Zealand will take place at Basin Reserve, Wellington from 21st February.