Scott Styris reveals the reason why India lost the Wellington Test

The Indian team has a lot to think about after enduring a humiliating 10-wicket loss at the hands of the strong New Zealand team. Other than Ishant Sharma, no Indian player could give some amazing performance in the first Test.

But the other two pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami seemed to be ineffective on a pitch that perfectly suited the pacers. The Kiwi bowlers extracted a lot of juice off the swinging conditions and pierced through the batting unit of India. Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Kyle Jamieson proved to be too lethal for the strong Indian line-up.

So, what was the difference between the Indian bowling unit and the New Zealand one? Former Kiwi player Scott Styris seems to have an answer to that question.

The former New Zealand all-rounder revealed that there was a difference between the approach of both sides. He further stated that the Kiwi bowlers were looking to swing the ball while Indian bowlers were looking for some assistance from the “pitch.”

“There is a difference in style of the Indian bowlers and the New Zealand bowlers. The New Zealand bowlers look to swing the ball more and as you saw they got swing in the second innings also,” Styris revealed.

“Indian bowlers were looking for seam movement off the pitch and there was none to be had,” added Scott Styris.

Styris further stated that this was the reason for a player like Kane Williamson to play such a classy knock. Till the time, Williamson and Ross Taylor were at the crease, no one could feel that pitch was posing any kind of difficulties to the batters.

“That is the reason the likes of Kane Williamson could hit through the line of the ball. He was not troubled a lot right up till the point when he was dismissed. Even when Ross Taylor was batting it didn’t look like there were too many demons in the pitch,” Scott Styris said after the conclusion of the first Test.  

The first Test was won by New Zealand with authority. The pace trio of Boult, Southee, and Jamieson picked up 18 wickets in the first game, which became the biggest reason for New Zealand’s win in Wellington. It will be interesting to see if Jamieson finds a place in the second Test as Neil Wagner will be back in the side for the final Test.

Whereas India will be tempted to make some changes for the final Test too.

 

The second Test between New Zealand and India will commence from February 29 in Christchurch.