New Zealand coach Gary Stead felt his pace bowlers did a great job in their 10-wicket win over India in the first Test in Wellington. He also thought that the bowlers were never been more accurate than this. However, he expected that India would bounce back in the second match in Christchurch.
Pace spearheads Tim Southee and Trent Boult have already returned to the side after missing New Zealand’s last Test against Australia in early January and took 14 of the 20 Indian wickets at the Basin Reserve. Southee had finished with the figures of 9-110, while debutant impressed with 4-39 in India’s first innings.
“I can’t speak highly enough of the bowling unit and the way they went about taking 20 wickets on a pitch that had a little bit in it the whole time,” Stead told reporters on Tuesday.
“From my perspective I think it was our most accurate performance with the ball.”
While they beautifully used the green Basin Reserve wicket, Stead admitted that he had been surprised at how easily they dismantle India’s lineup and dismissed them for 165 and 191 in two innings.
“Yes, that was a surprise,” Gary Stead added.
“But I think that’s testament to the amount of pressure we put on them for a long period of time. We picked up wickets at times you might consider were critical in the match … and I guess that was the catalyst for the win. We got on a roll and I think when teams do that they can be hard to beat.”
Stead again said that Neil Wagner, who missed the first Test due to the birth of his first child, would join the team in Christchurch for the second Test at Hagley Oval which will begin on Feb. 29. However, his return will give a headache of selection, especially after Jamieson’s stunning debut.
“Whoever we go with, we know we will have to put in a performance that we did in this game because we know India will get better,” Gary Stead said.
“If we can be as accurate or as clinical as we were in this first game then we will be in for a cracking Test.”
