3. India’s struggle against the tail
India’s struggle in dismissing the lower-order batsman, was on display again in the World Test Championship Final, at The Rose Bowl, Southampton. New Zealand’s lower order contributed 58 runs in the second innings of the Test match, which helped them go past India’s 217 runs and also manage to take a lead of 32 runs.
Kyle Jamieson’s (21 off 16) and Tim Southee’s (30 off 46) cameos in the second innings became a headache for the India bowlers. The lower order quite set up the game for the Kiwis. In comparison to New Zealand’s 58 runs contribution from the lower batting order in the second innings, India’s lower order could only contribute 51 runs combined in both innings in this Test match.
In conditions like England, where scoring runs is difficult, runs from the lower order batsman have always proved useful.
