Playing test cricket in India is a tough task, especially when you are a non sub-continental team who are not the best at playing spin bowling.This is the very reason why England’s 2-1 triumph over India when they visited India in 2012 a sweet memory for English fans. Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, West Indies – almost every non Asian teams suffered heavy losses against India the last time they toured India. This September, New Zealand are visiting India for a series of 3 tests and 5 ODIs under their new captain, Kane Williamson. At a glance, people would write this contest off as an easy victory for team India. But the Kiwis has changed a lot since their last tour to India in 2012. They are playing a brand new style of cricket and overall has a better team than in 2012. With a quality middle order and top class spin attack, New Zealand will make it difficult for the Indian cricket team to rope the series with ease
So here is a list of 5 Kiwis to watch out for in this upcoming epic encounter :
#5. Tom Latham
Young Tom Latham is a very gritty opener who has the habbit of getting good starts, but fails to convert it. He is one of the most underrated batsman in the world for the same reason. He has the talent and temparament to stay in the crease for as long as it takes. He played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s successful tour to UAE in 2014 by scoring 2 centuries. He has proved himself in turning conditions with his gritty batting. Latham is known for batting well under tough conditions
However, batting in India is a very different scenario. Virat Kohli often opts Ashwin as a new ball bowler. Being a left hander, batting against a quality off spinner very early in the innings could prove very dangerous for young Latham. He will most probably open with Martin Guptill, who hasnt yet made a mark in test cricket. New Zealand’s confidence will take a huge boost if Latham could tackle Ashwin. As mentioned earlier, Latham has already proved in turning conditions and may trouble the Indian bowlers.
#4. Mark Craig
An explosive batsman at number 8 who can add some very crucial runs at the climax of the innings, that too, batting with the tail is a dream for every team irrespective of the format. Mark Craig has done that a lot of times for the kiwis in the past few months. He has an impressive batting average of 41 to his name including 3 fifties. Even though it’ss impressive, he has been out of the team for last few games because of the simple fact he is primarily playing as an off spinner but is barely contributing with the ball. His bowling stats are equally unimpressive in both home and away conditions. However, during his last stint in UAE, he had impressed everyone with a 7 wicket haul against Pakistan, and hence played an important role in his team’s innings victory
Moreover, Indian batting is not extraordinary against spin bowling and Mark Craig can be a big threat to them if he bowls in the right areas. Plus his counter attacking style of batting can fetch the Kiwis some crucial runs at the end. Mark Craig can be the X factor for the kiwis if he sticks to his strength and bowls in the right areas. Also, in addition to his finger spin bowling brings in a wide variety of spin bowling in New Zealand bowling attack. They will have a right arm wrist spinner, left arm finger spinner and now a right arm finger spinner.
#3. Mitchell Santner
Twenty20 cricket is very different from test cricket. The pace, mindset, and stamina requirement has a huge difference between test cricket and T20s. However the basic formula remains the same – If you bowl in the right areas, you will get wickets - be it tests, ODIs or T20Is. When team India prepared a rank turner against the kiwis in the inaugural game of world T20 2016 super 10, few expected it to backfire. Mitchell Santner unleashed himself, ending with very impressive figures of 4-11, thus fetching 2 points for his team.
This 24-year-old left-hander from Hamilton is expected to be a big threat for Indian batsmen, especially if they are going to prepare rank turners. He was very impressive in lesser helpful conditions in his short stint as a test player. He can be deadly in helpful conditions. He is a quite capable batsman as well, with a couple of first class centuries under his name. With accurate bowling and able support from his spin bowling partners Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig, he can take the Indian batsmen to a ride in this test series.
#2. Neil Wagner
A good fast bowler is a key ingredient in any team irrespective of the conditions. Neil Wagner is a sort of bowler who would bowl with his hearts out. Such a workhorse pacer is a dream for every captain. Neil Wagner’s efforts were often overshadowed by the pace battery of Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Statistically, he is the 4th best test bowler in terms of bowling average since 2014 ( qualification : bowled in minimum 20 innings ). He has taken wickets even on flat decks and provided great support for his co-bowlers. The fact that he usually bowls in a period when the ball is slightly old, but not too old for reverse movement makes his achievements brilliant. He has a well-directed bouncer in his arsenal, which fetched him a lot of wickets in his career of 23 tests. His twin 4 wicket haul in Auckland against India was top class as well and earned his team a 40 runs victory.
The only time he played in Asia was in Bangladesh in 2013, where he took 7 wickets at an average of 16.57. With his current form, he should fit into the starting XI of the Kiwis.If he bowls up to his potential, this left-hander will provide a huge challenge for the Indian batsmen, who are now pretty good at playing seam.
#1. Kane Williamson – the batsman and the captain
It is no brainer that Kane Williamson would easily top our list. Kane Stuart Williamson, who is only 26, is already hailed as the best ever batsman to ever represent the Kiwis by the late legend Martin Crowe. When he made his debut 6 years back in Ahmedabad, his wrist position, footwork, and technique against spin were well appreciated by experts and fans all around the world. He made his first century in that match and 6 years later, he is the youngest cricketer to score test centuries against every nations. He had improved a lot since his last tour to India in 2012, and will lead his side for the first time in Asia in tests. As a batsman, Williamson is the main cog in New Zealand batting lineup. Coming in at number 3, Williamson will have a huge responsibility on his head as most of his teammates are playing test for the first time in India. Williamson, Ross Taylor and BJ Watling ( just one test ) are the only Kiwi batsmen to have played tests in India before. So it is crucial that Williamson must stay as long as possible to shepherd his team-mates to a competitive total.
As a captain, this will be a very crucial tour for Williamson. As the test captain, he is yet to win a test against a quality opponent. And this would be a good opportunity for him to prove his skills as a test captain. The team combination, especially the bowling combination is going to play a crucial role in deciding the outcome of the game. However, it is evident that he shuffles his bowling combination according to pitch conditions.
