There has been a lot of talk about India giving a turning track to the Kiwis in Pune, for the IND vs NZ second Test, starting on 24th October. Many felt that would be the right way to go forward for the Rohit Sharma & Co., who went on to lose the first Test convincingly, after being bundled out for only 46 in the first innings.
No Threat from R Ashwin and Jadeja in Pune Test?
Spin-friendly tracks have been great for the Indian team in the past, and team’s 18 successive series wins have come majorly for that very reason. But then after scripting their first ever win in India after 1988, Tom Latham’s team is not worried at all. R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav can run through the oppositions, but the Kiwis don’t want to go into the match with any preconceived notions.
“Whatever we’re presented with, for us it’s about trying to adapt as quick as we can,” Latham told the media. “If it is going to be a wicket that turns a little bit more, then we’ve got four spinners in our line-up, that will play into their hands, but it’s (also) about to try not to go into the game with too many preconceived ideas,” he added.
That might open the New Zealand side to draft in another spinner in Ish Sodhi, and even better use of Rachin Ravindra. Then of course there is likes of Mitchell Santner, and Ajaz Patel too.
“I obviously had a little bit of a think around what that may look like,” he said. “(We will) try to get a little bit of information from previous games here and also the practice wickets that we’re on, will hopefully be something around, or similar to what we’re getting,” he said.
Hopes Pinned on Kane Williamson
On the other hand, while Kane Williamson is ruled out for the second Test, there is still hope that he might play in the third Test. “It’s a day-by-day thing with Kane, fingers crossed that he will be up and ready. He’s obviously working closely with the medical team back home,” he said.
“It’s just a bit of a waiting game, hopefully we’ll find out a little bit more after the Test,” Latham added.
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