New Zealand, at 152 for 1 on Friday, would’ve hoped for getting a sizeable lead over India and make it sweat in its second innings. But Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin undid Kane Williamson and Tom Latham’s hard work, eventually bundling out the visitor for 262.
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The Kiwi keeper BJ Watling conceded his team’s capitulation to the Indian spinners. But 'they are determined to bounce back,' he said.
Excerpts from his press conference:
On how New Zealand feels about Day Three: It was a tough day. We have to look forward to tomorrow and make sure we make the adjustments that are required. We need to improve, but I know the boys are determined. We are trying to learn these conditions and figure out ways to score runs and take wickets. We'd definitely like to do things better tomorrow.
On New Zealand losing quick wickets: Obviously you'd like to score runs and not lose wickets like we did, but we've been working hard. We knew it was going to turn and bounce and we've just got to find ways to counter their two spinners really. Luke Ronchi and Mitchell Santner did a great job to help rebuild the innings. It's just a shame to fall away at the end.
On the pitch: As you'd expect with a Day Three wicket, there is a lot more rough, a lot more footmarks out there and it's getting a bit slower in the middle of the track. But that is what you expect when you start the game. We know it is going to get tougher and tougher into Day Four and Day Five. No surprises there.
On tackling the Indian spinners: There was definitely a bit more turn, but they have two quality spin bowlers and we lost wickets in clumps. We talked about that, we know it's tough to start in these conditions and we've definitely got to do that better in our second innings.
On how he picks Ravindra Jadeja: I'd like to know if he [Jadeja] could pick it, to be fair. Basically if it spins past your edge, no drama. For me it's about lining it up, making sure my pads out of the way and trying to defend it like that. You can see the seam but sometimes it's the shiny side and sometimes it's the seam. They are very consistent, they put it in good areas and get a bit of natural variation every now and then. You just have to make sure your lines are good.
On Ravichandran Ashwin’s ball that bowled Kane Williamson: It was a very good ball that spun from very wide, just a tough ball to play and he obviously asked questions like that throughout the day. We have to find a way to deal with those good balls.
On playing for a draw: We've got to look at that first session tomorrow, try and restrict them and take as many poles as we can tomorrow morning. That's our main focus at the moment, and then trying to deal with our second innings with the bat.
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