Black Caps may lift the pace
New Zealand are seriously considering an all-out pace attack in Christchurch, as they dare India’s beaten batsmen to take them on at their home fortress.
A smiling Black Caps coach Gary Stead has only one browfurrowing moment as they fly to Christchurch for Saturday’s second test – whether to retain spinner Ajaz Patel or reward Kyle Jamieson for his excellent debut in Wellington.
New father Neil Wagner will rejoin the side today and go straight into the XI, Stead confirmed, meaning one change from their stunning 10-wicket first test victory.
It looks a no-contest after Jamieson took 4-39 then scored 44 off 45 balls at the Basin Reserve, while Patel spun down just six overs in a pace-dominated test.
A grassy Hagley Oval pitch may seal the deal as the Black Caps chase a sixth straight home series victory after going 12 home tests unbeaten across three years.
New Zealand have played six tests at Hagley for four wins – the only time they didn’t include a frontline spinner was the 2016 loss to Australia on a greentop.
‘‘I don’t want to make any assumptions before we get down there but generally the wicket at Hagley has a wee bit in it,’’ Stead said of his home ground.
‘‘We’ve seen guys like Colin de
Grandhomme can be useful in those conditions. Whoever we go with we need to put in a performance like we did in this game because India will get better.’’
Whether they can improve enough to level the series is another matter, especially if Christchurch has pace and bounce and is swing-friendly for Tim Southee (9-110 in Wellington) and Trent Boult (5-96).
As seen in Australia either side of Christmas, home advantage is as significant as it’s ever been in test cricket.
New Zealand beat England 1-0 on flat pitches at home in November
then were bounced, fried and wounded in a heavy 3-0 defeat across the Tasman before looking like world-beaters against the No 1-ranked side in Wellington, who were coming off seven straight victories.
In 17 tests in New Zealand in the last 30 years, India have won just one (in Hamilton in 2009) and lost seven.
‘‘Teams just get so good at playing in their own conditions . . . when teams come to New Zealand we want them to know they’re in for as tough a ride as anywhere else in the world and that’s a pride thing as to how we want to play our cricket here,’’ Stead said.
India’s skipper Virat Kohli lamented their batting in Wellington after being sent in on a tough surface, dismissed for 165 then 191 as Southee and Boult circled for the victory after Jamieson’s telling impact on day one.
Having scored 2 and 19 himself, Kohli said: ‘‘We will definitely be much more positive. There’s no doubt about it, especially in the first innings.
‘‘We will try and put their bowlers under pressure and try and make them do something different rather than them making us do something different.’’
Stead welcomed a backlash and change of approach from India.
‘‘That’s the challenge, I expect India will get better and will try to put a little bit more pressure on our bowlers. That is good because it might provide more opportunities as well.’’