‘Doing cliched things key to batting in India’ Williamson hit by bug ahead of second Test
Describing India as one of the toughest places for batting, New Zealand opener Tom Latham said they have to go back to doing the "cliched things" and rectify their mistakes quickly to save the threematch Test series.
"It's very difficult to start your innings here. Nothing really changes too much. You need to do all the cliched things, you need to start off an innings. We have to adapt quickly. I don't think we were too far away in the first Test. If we were able to do that with bat and ball we will have a good chance," the left-handed opener told reporters on the eve of the second Test beginning from Friday.
The same rule applies while bowling and Latham said they would look to get early breakthroughs.
"Starting on these sort of surfaces is the toughest thing. If we can apply pressure to the new batsmen in the first 10-20 balls then we will give ourselves some good chance. We have to keep doing longer."
The visitors squandered their chances after bowling out India for 318 as they conceded a 68-run lead before going down by 197 runs in the first Test in Kanpur.
"We played some good cricket in the first couple of days. We probably had the upperhand on day three but managed to slip away from there. We just did not do things for long enough and India exploited us really well."
Latham was dismissed by Ravichandran Ashwin in both the innings as the off-spinner returned with a match-haul of it for
New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson was hit by a bug, compounding the visiting team's misery, but opener Tom Latham sounded optimistic about the batsman's availability in the second Test against India beginning here today.
"Kane is a little bit crook today so he won't be training," the New Zealand opening batsman said on Thursday. Asked about the discomfort, Latham said: "He's just down with a bug. Nothing too major. He's just resting so as to
10 wickets to set up the victory.
"He's a world class bowler which he showed in the last game. He has got some subtle natural variations. Hopefully we can pick up on them a little bit quicker. I'm looking forward be fit."
Williamson, who is the No. 2 Test batsman, scored 75 and 25 in the first Test and is someone who can tackle spin bowling with ease.
On his maiden trip to India, the Latham said he was amazed by response for a cricket Test in India.
"I haven't seen such a big gathering for a media conference before. "It's great to see the passion and support for the sport in this part of the world. I am sure there will be lot of people at the ground," he added. -PTI
to go into training and trying to rectify that."
Martin Guptill may be out of form but Latham backed his senior opening partner to be back among runs at Eden Gardens. -PTI