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Bangalore: If New Zealand were lacking in inspiration, their former captain Daniel Vettori provided the fillip ahead of the second Test against India at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
At the pre-match press conference on Thursday, New Zealand captain Ross Taylor said they are banking on Vettori’s tips to succeed in the second and final Test. “Vettori is obviously a very experienced campaigner. He has a good knowledge about the sub-continent wickets… But then injuries are part and parcel of the game and he cannot be around all the time. So, I believe it is time that the newcomers put their hands up… Jeetan Patel bowled really well in the first Test and Tarun Nethula is learning the tricks of the trade. Hopefully, both will deliver for us in the future,” Taylor said.
New Zealand struggled against the Indian spinners, Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, throughout the first Test. Taylor said they need to be brave while playing the spinners.
“We have to talk among ourselves about tackling Ojha and Ashwin. We need to play the balls according to their merit.
“We have to be brave and courageous to attack them. If we can be successful in our plan, then the close-in fielders wouldn’t be around,” he said.
“We have to stay focussed. We will take each session and hope to be successful in it.”
Taylor, himself, is not among the best of forms. He has scored only two centuries in the last 30 innings. Asked about his own form, Taylor said: “I know I’m not in great form… I am getting the starts but I am unable to capitalise on them. But I feel I am not far away from scoring runs. Sometimes you score two centuries in 30 innings and two in couple of innings,” he said.
Talking about the pitch, Taylor said: “It really has a greenish tinge to it… But I don’t want to get carried away by the look… I believe that the wicket will be dry,” he said.
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