A noticeable aspect of the first test at Kanpur was the fact that in their first innings, the New Zealand batsmen were in a relatively strong position. By the end of the second day, the pair of Tom Latham and Kane Williamson had fortified efficiently against the spin duo of R. Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja. They applied themselves well and were quite patient to defend the good deliveries.
However, once they were dismissed it was just a procession. Mitchell Santner and Luke Ronchi too showcased that the Indian bowlers could be kept at a bay. Stressing on the aspect to get starts, New Zealand coach Mike Hesson has urged his batsmen to be patient and get themselves in. The Blackcaps coach, in his interaction with ESPN Cricinfo, mentioned that it was vital for the batsmen to get starts, and then consolidate.
“The biggest challenge here is to get a start,” Hesson said. “If you are able to get a start against spin, then you can apply your game plans. It’s easier said than done. We saw that once the guys got underway they were actually able to score and defend and find ways to evolve the game. Starting against them is the hardest bit.”
“We scored over 250 in both innings in conditions that are challenging where you are batting second and fourth,” Hesson said. “We certainly found ways to do it. The key is to get more starts. If we get more starts we get more opportunities to create partnerships. From there you turn that 250 into 320. Then you are very much in the game.”
Hesson also lauded all-rounder Mitchell Santner for his all-round performance in the first test. “I was pleased with the way Mitch and Luke batted in the first innings after losing three quick wickets,” Hesson said. “To still go out and to score and apply their game plan, it is challenging when you lose wickets like that. Because you start to think it is unplayable. That’s the challenge. How do we stick to our game plans?”