Spin conundrum for Kiwis ahead of Sri Lanka Tests

WELLINGTON:

New Zealand coach Gary Stead has a conundrum ahead of him as he mulls over the selection of a spinner for the first Test against Sri Lanka, with only one likely to be picked. Stead and his team returned home on Sunday after wrapping up a rare away series victory against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates and will rapidly move into preparations for their first Test against Sri Lanka next Saturday in Wellington. Unlike the spin-friendly conditions in the UAE, the Basin Reserve is likely to be more conducive to going with a three-pronged pace attack with just a solitary spinner. “We’ll have to pick one — it’s hard and that’s a really good place to be in. You look at Mitchell Santner and Todd Astle who are both out as well, and then we’ve had three spinners on this tour with Ish (Sodhi), Ajaz (Patel) and Will (Somerville).” Day four resumed with India leading by 165 runs and Australia starting with Mitchell Starc and Josh Hazlewood and not Nathan Lyon. It only took four wicket-less overs for Tim Paine to change his mind and introduce Lyon that allowed Cheteshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane 15 minutes to ease into the day.

In the second innings Pujara came down the track to 40 balls from Lyon but scored only 8 runs. However, that significantly disrupted Lyon’s length, allowing Pujara play back to 39 balls and scored 28 runs off them.

Each of the two Tests India have won abroad this year couldn’t

Pujara false shots against Lyon in 3rd innings

Field setting Without silly mid-off With silly mid-off False shots have been possible without Ajinkya Rahane --- a second-innings 48 in Johannesburg after being overlooked for the first two Tests and 81 in the first innings of the Nottingham Test. On Sunday, he hit a timely 147-ball 70 to help India push for a vital first Test victory in Adelaide.

It took 88 balls from Lyon to dismiss Pujara in the third innings. Pujara’s footwork had allowed him to control the majority of his contest with Lyon but adjustment to the field setting made a big difference to the false shots drawn off Pujara’s bat. Once

Pujara was gone Lyon ran though India’s middle and lower order to finish with 6/122.