WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE TOUR OF INDIA
New Zealand’s mini tour of India is over and while a series win remained elusive, there was enough to keep us interested. Cricket writer Mark Geenty picks five talking points from the tour.
MATCH POINT PASS MARK
Three times in 13 months New Zealand have played for their first series victory in India. Three times they’ve lost; by just six runs in the ODI and Twenty20 deciders this past fortnight.
It may sound funny to say, but the Black Caps’ dual 2-1 series defeats still earned them a pass mark. It had potential for a whitewash: coming off a four-month international hiatus, against a powerful Indian side at home, and there were enough ticks to be made in red marker pen. The first ODI win in Mumbai was the Black Caps’ best since the 2015 World Cup semifinal.
The glaring issue for this side remains stringing together back-toback performances, and winning big series deciders or tournament knockout matches away from home.
ALL-ROUND ISSUE
With Corey Anderson recovering from back surgery and Jimmy Neesham trying to impress in domestic cricket, it was Colin de Grandhomme’s time to shine. He didn’t exactly put his name in lights, and despite de Grandhomme being a lock-in for the first test against West Indies in Wellington on December 1, the allrounder spot will continue to be a hot topic.
The power-hitting medium pacer scored 41 in a losing cause at Pune and couldn’t guide them home in the decider at Kanpur, but his bowling was the worry. Figures of 1-124 from 19 ODI overs (economy rate 6.52) and 0-44 off four in T20 caused captain Kane Williamson headaches with his fifth bowling option, and leaves the jury still out on de Grandhomme.
It’s a very tough job to do well, but there’s enough incentive for Sean Solia, Scott Kuggeleijn or Logan van Beek to go big in domestic cricket and at least enter the conversation.
BATTING BALANCE
While we’re talking Colins, the other was a success story of the tour. Colin Munro couldn’t make the Champions Trophy squad but is now locked in as Martin Guptill’s opening partner for the ODI and T20 summer.
Given a defined role and licence to play his natural game, Munro outshone Guptill. Munro’s two big knocks showed the value of a Brendon McCullum-esque blaster at the top to set up a total. Consistency is now his challenge.
The move to install Tom Latham at five was a masterstroke, too, and his glovework remained sound. The way he guided the run chase home in Mumbai, with backup from Ross Taylor, was a carbon copy of the role coach Mike Hesson saw for him.
SPIN TWINS
Unwanted for the ODIs, Ish Sodhi again proved his worth in T20 with five wickets at 14.6 and economy rate of 7.3 - both better than New Zealand’s top bowler Trent Boult. The way he’s utilised across the home season will be intriguing, though, with Mitchell Santner still the No 1 white ball spinner and a better batsman.
On home pitches two spinners rarely get a run, and Sodhi was challenged to improve his fitness, batting and fielding when dropped for Todd Astle, who then got injured. Still, Sodhi’s matchwinning qualities are clear with that deadly wrong ‘un, and his combination with Santner remains a trump card for New Zealand when surfaces suit. The latter, catching bloopers aside, had a strong tour and fielded brilliantly in the finale.
BOULT’S BACK
Not that he ever left, but New Zealand’s premier strike bowler went to another level in the Indian heat. Trent Boult’s spell in the Mumbai sauna was top quality pace, swing and intensity, and showed the benefits of a two month break after a punishing past year.
If he’s well handled with the occasional freshen up over the summer, Boult could cause visiting batsmen nightmares at home at 145kmh and will hold the key to beating England with the swinging pink Kookaburra in March.