New Zealand fast bowlers have traditionally had a good time on Indian pitches and some of them have produced some fine performances on Indian soil.
Here we look back at five such showings:
5.Chris Martin( 5 for 63 Ahmedabad 2010)
After having amassed 459 runs in their first innings in response to India's 487, New Zealand needed a good bowling performance to take the upper hand in the first Test at Ahmedabad. That's when, one of their most underrated pacers- Chris Martin- came to the rescue with an incisive opening burst, where he removed Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Suresh Raina to leave the hosts reeling at 65 for 6.
He eventually finished with figures of 5 for 63 and had it not been a superb stand between VVS Laxman and Harbhajan Singh, would have played a significant role in a New Zealand win on Indian soil.
4.Daniel Vettori (6 for 127 Kanpur 1999)
After drawing the Test in Mohali, both India and New Zealand came to Kanpur, looking to take the upper hand in the series. It was the hosts who held the aces at the start, dismissing the visitors for 256.
In their response, they were held up from posting a massive score by 20-year-old left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori, who took figures of 6 for 127 in 55.1 overs and ensured that India were bowled out for just 330.
Another poor performance from the batsmen, in the second innings, however, meant that his showing went in vain as India romped home to an eight-wicket win. But Vettori had already signs that he had it in him to succeed in subcontinental conditions.
3.Richard Hadlee( 10 for 88 Mumbai 1988)
One of the best fast bowlers the game has seen, Richard Hadlee enjoyed a fruitful time in subcontinental conditions. His best performance in India came in Mumbai in 1998, when he took figures of 6 for 49 to knock India out for 294 and then while defending 282 runs for his side in the 4th innings, took 4 for 39 to bowl the hosts out for 145 and help the Kiwis register a famous 137-run win on India soil.
The whole series proved to be a terrific one for the seasoned campaigner, as he took 18 wickets in Tests to have the Indians poking outside the off-stump with his incredible accuracy.
2.Dion Nash (6 for 27 Mohali 1999)
Had it not been for injuries, there was no doubting that Dion Nash would have gone on to become one of the best fast bowlers in the game. He showed what he was capable of during the Mohali test of 1999, when cut open the Indian batting line-up with his pace and swing, picking up figures of 6 for 27 in 11 overs to help dismiss India for 83 in their first innings.
It really was a performance that found the Indians hopping, but unlike Hadlee in 1988, his exploits could not help the Kiwis win the game as India put forth a much stronger performance in the second innings and that meant that the Test ended in a draw.
1.Tim Southee(7 for 64 Bangalore 2012)
One of the best swing bowlers in the game today, Tim Southee is soon establishing himself as an all condition bowler and in 2012 showed that he had in him to succeed in Asian conditions as well, when he took 7 for 64 to dismiss India for 353.
It was a skilful performance from the speedster, who made full use of the conditions on offer and helped New Zealand take a 12-run lead after the batsmen had put up 365 runs in their first innings.
However, a R Ashwin special meant India needed just over 250 runs and they did so, and with that won the game and the series 2-0
Brand-new app in a brand-new avatar! Download CricRocket for fast cricket scores, rocket flicks, super notifications and much more! 🚀☄️
