New Zealand vs India 2020: Bowlers Need to Maintain Intensity in Christchurch Test – Gary Stead
Feb 25, 2020 at 11:16 PM
New Zealand were head and shoulders above India in all facets of the game and it was no surprise that they cracked the Test opener with relative ease. The hosts beat the visitors by ten wickets at Basin Reserve in Wellington and took a 1-0 lead in the two-match Test series.
After this win, New Zealand moved to the fifth position in the ICC World Test Championship points table. Team India who suffered their first-ever defeat in the ongoing Championship sit comfortably on top of the points table. However, for the hosts, the job is not done yet as they will be looking to wrap up the Test series.
Meanwhile, India are expected to make minor changes in the team for the upcoming Test in an attempt to level the series. The second and final Test match is scheduled to be played at Hagley Oval, Christchurch on February 29, Saturday.
We need to put up a great fight against India in the second Test: Gary Stead
Ahead of the second Test, New Zealand coach Gary Stead said that he couldn’t have asked for a sharp and decisive performance from his pacers in the first Test match. Tim Southee and Trent Boult returned to action after missing New Zealand’s last Test against Australia in early January.
Accurate performance in Wellington: Gary Stead
Both the stalwarts made a stellar comeback as they took 14 of the 20 Indian wickets. Tim Southee was named the Player of the Match for his scintillating match figures of 9-110. Trent Boult recorded 5/96 while debutant Kyle Jamieson showcased his mettle with 4-39.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the bowling unit and the way they went about taking 20 wickets on a pitch that had a little bit in it the whole time. From my perspective I think it was our most accurate performance with the ball,” Stead told reporters after his team completed the win early on the fourth day itself.
Gary Stead has a strong feeling that India would come back stronger in the second Test. He expects his players to put up a good fight in an attempt to seal the series on a positive note.
“We know we will have to put in a performance that we did in this game because we know India will get better. If we can be as accurate or as clinical as we were in this first game then we will be in for a cracking test,” he added.