India vs New Zealand: 2nd Test - New Zealand marks out of 10

Another performance full of pluck and quality from New Zealand showed that India are going to have to make a marked improvement to get the win they need in the final test at Nagpur to secure the series.

But on this form don’t count against New Zealand sneaking what would be a major shock series win.

Here’s how the Black Caps rated in Hyderabad (see India marks out of 10 here):

Tim McIntosh – 9: Magnificent and gutsy comeback after bagging a pair at Ahmedabad scoring a deserved hundred in the first and 49 in the second to ensure that the first innings deficit was overhauled with no wickets down. Maybe he is a test match opener after all?

Brendon McCullum – 9: The latest batsman after the likes of Dilshan and Watson to prove that in any aspiring middle order batsman is a test opener struggling to get out. You can’t ask for much more than a double hundred in the second innings on India – even on this runway of a pitch.

Martin Guptill – 7: Made India and Sreesanth pay for his dismissal off a no ball in the first innings and can count himself unlucky not to have reached three figures.

Ross Taylor – 4: A couple of failures with the bat means that New Zealand’s star batsman is the only one of the top six yet to shine in this series. Will it be his turn at Nagpur?

Jesse Ryder – 7: A terrific knock in the first innings confirmed the impression he made in Ahmedabad that his appetite for runs is nearly as large as his huger for hamburgers. If he can just stay fit…

Kane Williamson – 7: Poor decision prevented him from becoming only the seventh man to begin his Test career with back-to-back centuries. An immense talent.

Daniel Vettori – 8: A fine bowling display full of variety and cunning earned Superdan a deserved five wicket haul and with his charges continuing to perform with the bat his shoulders must feel slightly less burdened than Atlas for once..

Gareth Hopkins – 6: Safe again with the gloves, but his first innings dismissal means he has a lot of work to do with the bat.

Tim Southee – 6: Bowled with plenty of heart and fire – just ask Sreesanth and got Dravid with a beauty. Is he quick enough to be a test opening bowler though?

Brent Arnel – 3: Went wicketless and now averages 68 after three tests – how Vettori must wish that injuries hadn’t led to Shane Bond having to call it a day.

Chris Martin – 8: Bowled much better than his figures of 1/87 suggested and the ultimate tail-end rabbit even managed to score more runs (3) than his career average (2.37).

Where next?

1st Test ratings: New Zealand and India

Au revoir to Shane Bond

Specialist openers – an endangered species?