IND vs NZ Test LIVE: Williamson predicts SPIN to be big factor- New Zealand captain Kane Williamson feels that spin will be a crucial weapon in the upcoming Test series. As coach Stead has already hinted three spinners in playing XI, Williamson is banking on left-arm orthodox Ajaz Patel and off-spinner William Somerville — to adapt to the conditions quickly and trouble India batsman. Follow India vs New Zealand LIVE updates on InsideSport
IND vs NZ Test LIVE: Kane Williamson predicts SPIN to be big factor, banks on Ajaz Patel and William Somerville to trouble Indian batters
“Throughout the whole series, spin component will be a definite factor,” Williamson said on the eve of the first Test.
“Number of teams have faced similar challenges and our expectation won’t be any different. There will be a large spin component.”
On one side, there is Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja with nearly 700 wickets between them while the Black Caps will rely on Patel and Somerville, who have so far collectively taken 41 wickets in 13 games (4 for Somerville).
“Spin factor is going to be there and someone like Ajaz and Somerville have played a big part in our bowling attack. Particularly, in these conditions, so they will play an important role for us. There will be some reverse swing, we will try to create ways to get wickets so there will be a role for both seamers and spinners,” Williamson said.
- New Zealand were hammered in Kanpur back in 2016 with Ravichandran Ashwin playing a big part and skipper Williamson knows what to expect in this part of the world.
- The latter has already scalped 52 wickets against Blackcaps, including 5 each dismissals of Williamson and Ross Taylor.
- Ashwin is also on the verge of becoming India’s third highest wicket-taker by surpassing Harbhajan Singh who has taken 417 wickets in Test cricket.
- Axar Patel and R Ashwin had taken 27 and 32 wickets in this year’s 4-match Test series against England at home.
- Meanwhile, R Jadeja has scalped 20 wickets against Kiwis in the longest format.
IND vs NZ Test LIVE: Kane Williamson predicts SPIN to be big factor, banks on Ajaz Patel and William Somerville to trouble Indian batters
IND vs NZ Test LIVE: Kane Williamson & Co hit the nets ahead of opening Test in Kanpur- See Pics
Against Jadeja and Ashwin, the endeavour will be not only to survive when the ball turns but also to ensure that the batters devise ways of scoring runs, the captain said.
“We know the strength of Indian spin bowlers and they have been fantastic over a period of time.
“We have to find ways to look to score and try and be effective and try and build those partnerships. And every player is different, so their ways will be slightly different from one another.”
Williamson expects every player in the side to know their roles and contribute in the best possible manner.
“Everybody is looking at different ways to be effective. We have to be prepared as well as we can for some of the challenges we will face.”
The Black Caps skipper said that the current Indian team, with as many as five changes from the eleven that played in Southampton for the World Test Championship crown, would also need to be factored in.
“Few different factors need to be taken into account and try to be prepared,” he said.
So would Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Rishabh Pant, KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami’s absence make New Zealand the favourites, and the answer from the skipper was an emphatic “no”.
“I don’t think we are favourites. The big strength of Indian cricket is its depth. Their knowledge of own conditions is unique and the challenge is a big one. We are excited to take that on,” he concluded.
- Kane Williamson vs India: 829 runs in 12 Tests
- R Ashwin vs New Zealand: 52 wickets in 7 Tests
- R Jadeja vs New Zealand: 20 wickets in 7 Tests
IND vs NZ Test LIVE: Kane Williamson predicts SPIN to be big factor, banks on Ajaz Patel and William Somerville to trouble Indian batters
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