New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson and Tom Latham hit unbeaten half-centuries to counter India's bowling attack before rain washes out final session in Day Two of opening Test
New Zealand’s Latham (right) and Williamson complete a run on the second day yesterday. Pic/PTI
Kanpur: We all know that New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson along with Indian skipper Virat Kohli and Joe Root of England is the most exciting batsman in world cricket. With each passing series he has raised the level of his game and his stature and after the retirement of Brendon McCullum has taken over the mantel of the iconic player of his country. He has a cool head, an excellent temperament and loads of talent. But sometimes the burden of captaincy can get the better of you.
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That was hardly the case the way he along with Tom Latham negotiated the Indian bowling at the Green Park stadium. No doubt the wicket was much better to bat on then it was on Day One. Yet a lot of dedication and grit was required on survive in such conditions. Little wonder that batting coach former New Zealand all-rounder Craig McMillan wore a broad smile while facing the media after rain ruined the post-tea session. He was particularly impressed with the two batsmen’s uncluttered plan of using the depth of the crease to the maximum to counter the Indian spin duo of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja on a slow turner.
“The way Tom and Kane used the crease and stayed back to negotiate spinners and played the occasional sweep shot has been quite heartening. Of course each individual has his own technique in dealing with spinners on slow turners, but the common factor is the grit, determination and patience on such wickets in the sub-continent,” McMillian said about the game plan to tackle the Indian spinners.
“Of course, a lot of preparation has gone into this aspect and videos of top batsmen against spin have been reviewed. And the training sessions in Delhi and here in Kanpur have been quite beneficial to prepare ourselves for the expected challenges we are likely to face in India,” the batting coach said.
Williamson is no stranger to conditions in India, this being this third Test tour of the country and of course he has been here for the IPL and the Champions League in the past. If his batting on Friday was an indication of the things to come in the three-match Test series, there is little doubt that India will have to subdue the rival captain first, if they hope to clinch the series and wrest the No 1 Test ranking from Pakistan.
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