After the end of third day’s play of the last Test, Indian off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said that New Zealand have been the most competitive visiting teams in the recent times. Well, one can say that Ashwin is right. The visitors had their fair shares of chances but they failed to capitalise on them. The young team led by a young skipper would have learnt a lot from the tough Test series and while interacting with the journalist after the third Test, Kane Williamson admitted that his team had lot of positives from the series. As expected, he was disappointed after his team lost the final match by 321 runs and was whitewashed 3-0 but he said that he is looking forward to the upcoming One-Day International series.
Excerpts from Williamson’s press conference:
On how is his team feeling after the series loss:
Naturally, it’s very disappointing. Going into this match, we certainly wanted to put together a far more complete performance, that certainly wasn’t the case. Once again the boys showed some fighting contributions with the bat, boys tried really hard in field on a wicket not offering too much initially. (We were) in a similar position to what we were after the last couple of games. Is a shame, we did expect more and wanted to show some learnings. Huge amount of learnings coming out of this three-Test match series in these conditions. Disappointing not to make adjustments quicker throughout the series.
On whether they were close to winning a Test:
I suppose you always get closer. India are a very good side and they’ve shown that throughout the series. Some brief moments we were able to put them under a little bit pressure but certainly not for long enough. They showed their class to null any pressure we were able to put on them at times and put it back on us. Unfortunate we couldn’t put together a complete performance. Not due lack of effort, India were the better side through these three Test matches and we need to learn a lot from them and be better, for it as young side getting exposed to these conditions that we haven’t had before.
On whether there were any technical flaws in batting:
Tough to point out generic points. Everyone is different and everyone plays differently. I suppose.. Like any team when they travel to conditions that are so dissimilar to ones they’re used to – whether the ball seams when you’re used to playing on these wickets or whether they are used to wickets that seam and the ball starts spinning a lot – … making those adjustments as an individual player is important. From the batting unit, you always want contributions that go towards match winning performances. We certainly didn’t have any of those. Some good signs with bat at times. But the way Virat [Kohli] and Ajinkya [Rahane] showed in this game, to get to 500 with Virat getting a double hundred and Ainkya getting a big hundred, those are contributions that go long way to winning games. Some conditions were very tough at times and in first two Tests that was not realistic, but in this Test, it was certainly required.”
On whether there was any mental block against R Ashwin:
I don’t think it is a mental block, more the quality of his bowling in these conditions that do turn a lot. Sure spinners enjoy that and Ashwin is the best at exposing those conditions. He has shown that for long time now. The wickets that he has got, he has shown his class, certainly deserved to be Man of the Series. From our perspective (it is) a positive to come over here against two of the best spinners in world on these surfaces and get exposed. When you do get in that position, although it is frustrating, you do learn a lot. That beauty of the international game.
On Ashwin dismissing him a number of times:
He didn’t get me out 27 times (laughs). He got some of the other blokes too! He’s a very good bowler, we’re always learning playing international cricket. I guess it’s a new thing personally as well too see so much rough, which is nice to bowl into, I suppose I was a victim a few times. When you are put in that situation where you are dismissed (in a) similar (fashion) you must be able to learn and improve. The conditions guys are exposed to and the quality of bowling were combinations of dismissals. I guess in a backhanded way, we can be thankful for those experiences which help move your game forward.
On New Zealand’s lack of fight on the fourth day:
It is always tough when the opposition have 500 on board and the wicket deteriorated to the stage it was today. You always want to be positive in what you do and there are times when (you’re) over-positive and you want to get guys around the bat away which makes defensive cricket easier. If guys were to sit there and defend that wouldn’t be the answer either. That is a tough balance, particularly in those conditions. It’s up to the individual, ultimately it was a disappointing performance with the bat to not take it to the last day and show that fight that we pride ourselves on. So it was a disappointing performance.
Disappointing to lose the Test series. At the same time, the guys will be looking forward to the change in format to the ODI series. It will be difficult again. We know that India are a very good side in that as well. It is exciting. The wickets will be, more than likely, different again. We have to adapt to that. We have to play with freedom and when we do play with our freedom, we play our best cricket. I guess there will be a bit of scarring coming out of a 3-0 Test defeat. Nice to have new personnel come in who are fresh and looking forward to this one-day series.
On whether he would like to give some advice to teams visiting India in future:
Winning the toss would be helpful (laughs). That’s a challenge in itself, South Africa lost a few tosses as well. But you certainly have to be at your best, whether you win the toss or lose the toss. India were far superior in this series.
I’d think it depends on the surfaces. Every surface has been different in this series, they were different in the South African series. It is important to spend time at the crease creating pressure. Batting first, would be nice, and that would help I think. It certainly helps being more competitive. This India side is a very good team and they certainly know these conditions better than anyone. They’ll have some tough games coming up, which will be some good, competitive cricket. Two very good sides in England and Australia. It should be an exciting series.