Cricket News Today: Virat Kohli insists he will play all formats for three more years, IPL franchises want to play abroad and more - 19th February 2020

#5 Shane Bond claims Kiwis are hard to beat at home

Shane Bond reckons that New Zealand could opt for an all-pace attack against India in the first Test

Former New Zealand fast bowler Shane Bond feels that beating the Kiwis at home will prove to be an uphill task for the Indians. Citing the recently concluded Test series against England at home as an example, Bond spoke on the variety and depth in New Zealand's bowling style and how dangerous they were in familiar home conditions.

The former pacer explained that the flat nature of the pitch will be exploited fully by the Kiwi pace-attack comprising of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson, and De Grandhomme as the Indian batsman can find it tough to score against them.

"New Zealand is hard to beat at home. Recently, they beat England. It will be a tightly-contested series as New Zealand have great variety in their bowling attack."

"Neil [Wagner] will test with short balls. [Tim] Southee has got swing and [Kyle] Jamieson has both pace and swing. They are a different kind of bowling unit.”

"New Zealand could go in with five fast bowlers in Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Kyle Jamieson and De Grandhomme. The wickets later on become so flat that New Zealand are really hard to beat here. I don’t think it’s going to be any different."

Full article: New Zealand vs India 2020: Kiwis are really hard to beat at home, claims Shane Bond