Team India‘s bowling coach, Morne Morkel, acknowledged that the hosts are struggling in the Test series against New Zealand due to their batters’ inability to score well in the first innings. However, he expressed confidence in the experienced lineup to perform better in the second innings in Pune.
After New Zealand posted 259, India collapsed to 156 all out on Day 2 of the second Test in Pune on October 25, with Kiwi spinner Mitchell Santner achieving a career-best 7-53. Previously, India was bowled out for just 46 in their first innings of the Bengaluru Test and lost seven wickets for 54 runs in their second innings.
Following the day’s play, Morkel admitted that India’s batting has been a disappointment in the series thus far.
“I never like to have a punch up between batters and bowlers but, in Test match cricket you need to score the first-innings runs. If we put our hand up, we haven’t been able to do that.”
”There are world class players in our batting line up. I know that individually, they’ve got their processes and they know how to go about those things,” the former South African fast bowler said.
Career-best Test figures of 7-53 for Mitchell Santner! His maiden Test five-wicket bag and the third best Test figures by a New Zealander against India 🤝 #INDvNZ #CricketNation 📸 BCCI pic.twitter.com/aHnDEDMGKW
— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) October 25, 2024
Morkel, however, expressed confidence that the batters would perform well in the second innings. The 40-year-old stated:
“Hopefully, we can iron those mistakes out because it’s costing us at the moment. But I’m pretty sure there’s enough experience, enough knowledge amongst them to rectify that. I back the team (to come up) with a strong response in our second innings. I’m excited to see how they bounce back and how they play this situation and the conditions.”
After dismissing India for 156 in the first innings, New Zealand ended Day 2 in Pune at 198-5, leading by 301 runs.
“We have to believe” –Morkel commented on India’s potential to rebound in the series against New Zealand
With three days remaining in the Pune Test, India faces the prospect of their first home Test series loss since 2012, when England triumphed 2-1. New Zealand holds a substantial lead, and India will require an almost miraculous effort to win the Pune Test.
Stumps on Day 2
New Zealand extend their lead to 301 runs
Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/3vf9Bwzgcd#TeamIndia | #INDvNZ | @IDFCFIRSTBank pic.twitter.com/uFXuaDb11y
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 25, 2024
Morkel remains optimistic, even with the hosts in a challenging position. The former South African cricketer stated:
“We have to believe. This game is a funny game. Our guys are attacking players, there’s guys that know these conditions well. Our talk before this game was that we are masters in these conditions, we know how to sum these conditions up.”
“Let’s be honest, it’s going to be a tough task. But what an opportunity for somebody to really inspire and put in a fighting and a top performance — that’s the way I see it. When conditions are tricky and tough you’ll see real people stand up and fight and if we show that fight and somebody gets the momentum going in these conditions, you never know,” he added.
New Zealand captain Tom Latham scored 86 in the team’s second innings in Pune. At the end of the day, Tom Blundell was on 30 and Glenn Phillips had nine runs.
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