 "How a slow turner in Pune can help Team India bounce back in Test series vs New Zealand")
The second India-New Zealand Test match in Pune will reportedly be played on a slow-turning pitch as the hosts look to bounce back in the series. The second Test will be played at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune from 24 October. India are 1-0 behind in the three-match series after losing the first Test by 8 wickets in Bengaluru.
As per a report in ESPNCricinfo, the Pune pitch will be packed with black soil with lower bounce compared to the Bengaluru Test. The pitch in Pune is likely to be flatter and slower.
It further stated that the seam movement would likely be minimal after the first hour of the Test. The dry surface might also help reverse swing.
How a slow turner will help India?
A slow-turning track is set to favour the hosts who have veteran spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in their ranks. Kuldeep Yadav, and Axar Patel are other spin options while off-spin all-rounder Washington Sundar was added to the squad after the Bengaluru Test.
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New Zealand, meanwhile, rely heavily on their pacers despite having a variety of spinners in their squad. Ajaz Patel, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, and Ish Sodhi are some of the full-time and part-time spin options that New Zealand have in their squad but barring Ajaz Patel who once took all 10 wickets in a single innings against India in Mumbai, none of the Kiwi spinners invoke confidence that they can win the match for their team.
Impact Shorts
More ShortsBy playing on a slow turner, India want to win this match-up rather than making it a contest of pacers vs pacers in which New Zealand are currently enjoying a slight edge with William O’Rourke perfectly extracting the advantage of his height in Bengaluru.
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Another factor can could favour India is the poor technique of New Zealand batters against the spinners. The Bengaluru pitch offered little help to spinners but with more assistance expected in Pune, Team India would want their spinners to play a more influencing role in the second Tests. Remember, the Kiwis are also missing Kane Williamson for the second Test. Kane is seen as one of the best batters against spin in the world.
Bengaluru Test recap
Earlier in the Bengaluru Test, while chasing a total of 107 runs, Jasprit Bumrah (2/29) showed some fight for India, but Will Young (48*) and Rachin (39*) helped the Kiwis complete a comprehensive win.
India had taken a 106-run lead in the second innings, scoring 462/10 in response to New Zealand’s total of 402/10 in the first innings. Openers Yashasvi Jaiswal (35 from 52 balls, with six fours) and skipper Rohit Sharma (52 from 63 balls, with eight fours and a six) gave India a solid start with a 72-run opening stand.
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Sarfaraz then took charge, first forming a 136-run partnership with Virat Kohli (70 from 102 balls, with eight fours and a six) and later a 177-run stand with Pant (99 from 105 balls, with nine fours and five sixes) to put India in the lead. However, the introduction of the new ball saw India lose seven wickets for just 54 runs, with the middle order failing to contribute significantly.
William O’Rourke (3/92) and Matt Henry (3/102) took full advantage of the new ball, dismantling the Indian batting line-up just when a massive lead seemed likely. Spinner Ajaz Patel took two wickets, while Glenn Phillips and Tim Southee chipped in with one each.
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In their first innings, New Zealand posted 402 in response to India’s 356. A magnificent century from Rachin Ravindra (134 from 157 balls, with 13 fours and four sixes) and a quickfire 65 from Southee (73 balls, eight fours, and four sixes) helped lift New Zealand from 233/7 to 402, thanks to a 137-run stand for the eighth wicket. Devon Conway (91 from 105 balls, with 11 fours and three sixes) also made a valuable contribution at the top.
Ravindra Jadeja (3/72) and Kuldeep Yadav (3/99) bowled well for India, while Mohammed Siraj picked up two wickets, and Ravichandran Ashwin and Bumrah took one each.
Earlier, after electing to bat, India had a nightmare start under overcast, pace-friendly conditions. Henry (5/15) and O’Rourke (4/22) ran through the Indian batting order, bundling them out for just 46 runs in 31.2 overs. Only Jaiswal (13) and Pant (20) managed to reach double figures.
With agency inputs
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