It’s a start of an exciting home season for Indian Test cricket and no better visiting team could be for it other than New Zealand. The Kiwis have often been early season travelers, but they are a tough nut to crack due to their fearless brand of cricket. Although ranked no 7 in Test Rankings, it nowhere comes close to depicting what this side is capable of achieving in the coming series. Despite the subsequent touring sides being England and Australia,
New Zealand seems to be the toughest barrier to cross for India this season.
Spin Trio of New Zealand
One of the reasons where New Zealand scores is their perfectly balanced spin combination. The combination of a leg spinner, left-arm orthodox and off-break is unheard for touring sides. The natural pace that kiwi spinners bowl at is suited for rank turners. India mostly has right hand batsmen in their ranks and many haven’t had the challenge to play a left arm spinner in International cricket, so Mitchell Santner will be the key for the kiwis to counter attack India with spin. The approach of Mark Craig to master bowling the straighter delivery is apt and key to Graeme Swann’s success in India. Ish Sodhi is most unpredictable of the trio, and much will depend on his shoulders to resist releasing the pressure.
Preparing rank turners can thus backfire on the home side. We saw glimpses of the impact that NZ spinners could have in the T20 world cup earlier this year, so facing them will be quite a handy.
Useful Amalgam of Attack and Defense in Batting Arsenal
Kiwis have a good mix up of batsmen who can take rearguard action as well as take on the bowlers with equal sincerity. Batsmen such as Williamson, Taylor, Latham and Watling can play the waiting game while Guptill, Ronchi, Nicholls and Neesham can take the attack to the opposition. One of the challenges would be to figure out this strategy for Guptill and Nicholls as they often get stuck between attacking and defending which is a proven doom in Test cricket. Ronchi may well get his chance ahead of Guptill to make best use of aggressive batting against new ball in India.
Deadly mix of All-Rounders and an excellent fielding unit
The kiwis have a hungry mix of All-Rounders such as Santner, Bracewell, Neesham and Craig that can make the difference between the two sides. Though countering Indian spinners is a mammoth task, these players will be a handful whenever India let their guard down. Moreover, New Zealand fielding unit is probably the best in the world and will leave no stone unturned to exhibit a similar display in modern cricket’s final frontier.
The duo of Kane Williamson and Mike Hesson is the biggest challenge for India. Both possess outstanding cricket brains and a deep insight into the game. Williamson is one of World’s best and is expected to top the scoring chart this series. Expect Hesson to make unexpected but equally effective horses-for-courses changes in this series.
India, too, would be wary of the challenge they have on their hands. Under Virat Kohli, they are a determined and hard working side, looking to scale World cricket this season. They come on the back of some easy matches against West Indies but the duo of Kumble and Kohli would be well aware of that.
India will be looking to seal the No. 1 test spot in the aftermath of this series. It would be a crackerjack of a series and if India can hold its ground in the pressure moments, they can start the season on a winning note.