India Vs New Zealand Test series - The highs and lows

India won the series 2-0, and it was not a great surprise as every one expected the same result, especially after New Zealand’s recent troublesome tour of West Indies where they struggled to play spin, and it was obvious that they would surely be tested to their limit in spin friendly Indian sub-continent conditions. New Zealand had also lost the services of their most experienced Vettori for the test series, so it was a huge blow for them.

India won the first test at Hyderabad easily, while New Zealand came back strong in the second test at Bangalore and showed some fight especially from their captain Ross Taylor, but India were able to maintain their spirit and won the second test to clean sweep the test series.

Let’s go through the positives and negatives of each team in the series.

INDIA:

Positives:

1.Virat Kohli: The foremost positive for India in the series is none other than Virat Kohli. He is showing his maturity and is carrying his tremendous one-day form even into the test format. If he can continue in this manner, there will be no worry in batting for the future. He can be a good No.4 batsman for India after the retirement of Sachin Tendulkar.

2. Formidable Spin Duo: The spin duo of Ashwin and Ojha are becoming formidable and are working very well in partnerships. Both the spinners are able to pick wickets both with the old and new ball. But their bowling has not yet been tested by good teams and the next home series will their litmus test.

3. Pujara : Pujara, who was hyped as the next Dravid for India in tests has shown his worth in the first test. He has a very good technique, and most importantly, the patience to bat long sessions. I hope he continues in this manner and become a good no.3 batsmen.

Negatives:

1.Opening partnership: The opening pair of Gambhir and Sehwag have not shown their class in this series. On good batting conditions they were not able to give good starts. They showed some class in the second innings of the second test, but if India wants to take revenge against England in the upcoming home series, the openers are the key factor and they may decide the result of the series.

2. Suresh Raina: I still doubt the temperament of Raina as a test player. He is good in shorter versions but he lacks the patience to play long innings. Number 6 spot in tests is very crucial and India is struggling to find a good batsmen at that spot after Ganguly. Indian selectors must try in other alternative at that place. ( I’m hoping to see Yuvraj take that place again.)

3. Brittle Batting order: Indian batting order looked feeble even against the inexperienced attack of New Zealand. Kiwis fast bowlers were able to trouble the Indian batsmen even on Indian pitches and this is surely a huge point of concern for India. England have better fast bowlers and spinners than Kiwis and if Indian top five batsmen does not take the responsibility, India will again be humiliated by England even at home.

4. Fast bowlers : Indian fast bowlers struggled to take opening wickets in both tests. Even on sub-continent pitches the ball starts turning from day 3 generally, so the pacers have a huge role to play on day one and two of a test match. Kiwis bowlers were able to swing the ball but both Indian pacers, Zaheer and Umesh, were not so effective.

India has to develop in all these aspects if they want to defeat England and Australia in the upcoming home series.

NEW ZEALAND:

It has been a tough outing for New Zealand both in India and West Indies. But they would be somewhat relieved that they would be facing South Africa in their next series on pace-friendly wickets so they can get rid of their night mare against spin.

Positives:

1. Tim Southee: New Zealand’s Tim Southee has been in good form even in West Indies, but Kiwis chose Martin ahead of him in the first test. But when given a chance in second test, Southee proved his worth. He has shown good control and swing even on Indian pitches and he must be handy against South Africa.

2. Batting order : Kiwis batting failed to tackle Indian spin but they were some positives from it. Return of form of their captain Taylor will be a huge boost for them in their future tournaments. Along with Taylor, wicket keeper Kruger Van Wyk and Franklin are good positives for their batting.

3. Boult : Boult bowled very well in the first test. He surely is a good prospect for Kiwis in the bowling department for the future. He has good pace and can swing the ball both ways (The ball that he bowled to Sachin in the first test to take his wicket was superb).

Negatives:

1.Openers: The opening pair failed miserably for Kiwis. Especially Guptill, who struggling to play both spinners and fast bowlers. McCullum, as-usual was not able to convert his starts into big scores.

2.Middle order: Even the middle order was not so strong and lacked consistency. Flynn was disappointing in the series. Williamson was getting the starts but failed to convert them into big scores which are necessary on sub-continent pitches.

3. Bowling form of Chris Martin is a huge worry for Kiwis. He is their most experienced pace bowler and he has been struggling in recent times.

4. Bracewell has also not had a good tour. He was excellent in Australia, but he was not able to trouble the Indian batsmen, while his bowling partners Boult and Southee were impressive.

5. Jeetan Patel was good but he was not able to pick up wickets, may be it’s time for the Kiwis to try out new spinners.

New Zealand has to develop in many aspects if they want to stay as one of the top test sides. Their next series against world No.1 South Africa will be another huge test for them.