New Zealand Test captain Tim Southee has expressed confidence that Ajaz Patel and Glenn Phillips will learn from their experiences in the Sri Lanka series before the India tour. He noted that spin bowling is less significant in New Zealand, making it crucial for both players to gain valuable overs.
Despite losing the series 2-0 to Sri Lanka, Ajaz and Phillips excelled, with Ajaz taking six wickets in the first Test and Phillips claiming five wickets in three innings.
After the innings defeat in Galle, Southee spoke to reporters, as reported by ESPN Cricinfo: “Ajaz is obviously our main spinner and he did well throughout the series. Glenn Phillips, another guy who hasn’t bowled all that much, really showed that he has grown, and gone from strength to strength. They will all learn from that and we will hopefully do well in India.”
“I think just getting those overs into the spinners [was important]. Obviously when they’re playing in New Zealand they don’t have the opportunity to bowl a lot. You look to learn and move forward as a player and as a team, so it’s what we’ll be doing over the next week before we hit India.”
Although the first Test was competitive, New Zealand struggled in the second match. After allowing 602 runs in the first innings, the tourists were dismissed for just 88 as Sri Lanka enforced the follow-on.
“It was a big shift from the first innings” – Tim Southee commented on New Zealand’s second innings in the second Test
After the Black Caps scored 360 following the follow-on, Southee remarked that it was a commendable batting display, noting how the players effectively balanced aggression and defense. He added:
“The second innings was much more the way we want to play. The guys were quite positive and played in a more positive manner. It was a big shift from the first innings. I think it was a much clearer way for the guys to play.”
“They they went out and they played their shots. I don’t think it was reckless at any stage, even someone like Mitchell Santner, he was still hitting something like 50 of 100. So it was a good tempo innings, and it was about picking the right moments to attack and defend.”
New Zealand’s three-Test series against India starts on October 16.
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