India vs. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754: Coach Mark Greatbatch all praise for fighting New Zealanders
Cricketing pundits had predicted a three-zero whitewash in the favour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 when Mark Greatbatch and his team arrived in India to take on the number one ranked Test team in the world.
However, after the first two Tests the result is a major shock to all, as the New Zealanders have held the hosts to two draws and have definitely taken the plaudits for an outstanding effort against their
formidable rivals.
The visitors made a stunning comeback in the first Test played at Ahmedabad; they looked down and out when they had lost four wickets for 120 runs after the hosts had amassed a total in excess of 450 batting
first.
It was only through centuries from Jesse Ryder and debutant Kane Williamson that the Black Caps fought back in the match and then had the Indians on the mat courtesy a brilliant pace bowling spell by the
veteran Chris Martin.
Eventually India held on for a draw yet the points were taken by the visitors who carried the momentum through to http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792, the venue for the second Test of the three-match series.
Their coach, former Test and ODI opener Mark Greatbatch, who made a real impact in the 1992 World Cup in his role as a pinch hitter, is happy with the fact that his team has been able to express itself in
tough conditions that were new to a lot of his players.
"We have fought hard. We were behind in this game [in Hyderabad] but we caught up pretty well. We are fighting every ball, every over, every hour and every session. We are enjoying the challenge that India
is throwing at us.
"There are different plans to what you bowl in say, the UK or New Zealand," Greatbatch said. "The areas to bowl in India are straight. Aiming at the off and middle stump, you bring the lbw and clean-bowled
into play. And in case the ball holds the line, there's a high possibility of an edge. If you can control the scoreboard it is a big plus. That way you can bowl a number of dot balls.
"Everyone has to think about their responsibility and not be distracted by such things. You need to think about the things that you can control. It could be about the next ball or next over you are facing.
It is all about focusing on the hour and keeping a strong mind."
The third and final Test of the engrossing series begins in Nagpur on the 20th of this month, and Greatbatch has the belief that his team can do what no other team from the country has done over
the years, that is to win a Test series in one of the toughest places to tour.
"This has been a see-saw series. We have dominated play at the same time we have fought back after India has dominated. We will relax the mind and body for the next day and half. We need to go to Nagpur and
look at what we face there."
The Black Caps have thus far done a decent job in curtailing the much vaunted Indian batting line-up; however, they have encountered stiff resistance from Harbhajan Singh, who notched up two consecutive match
saving hundreds in the first two Tests.
The Turbanator had not hit a single Test hundred before the start of the series yet was the hero for India two matches on the trot and would be aiming for a third consecutive ton at Nagpur.
Both teams look keen to record a win and take the series; let us see who succeeds.
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