JOIN USSkipper Ross Taylor had said during a press conference on Thursday that the New Zealanders were fighters and would continue to fight no matter what the situation was.
That Kiwi trait troubled the Indians on day one of the first Test at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Friday as the visitors scurried to a healthy 328 for six before bad light forced the end of day’s play.
The other thing that Taylor emphasised a day before the Test was that the Kiwis would look to be positive, and that too was something New Zealand executed on the day.
Martin Guptill, who was out playing a rash shot after scoring a half-century, said during a media interaction that the team wanted to come out and play positive cricket and that helped the side get into a good position for the rest of the Test.
“We always come out and play positive cricket,” said the right-hander. “Luckily for us, the plan to be aggressive worked out today. We got enough number of boundaries early on in the innings and that took a load off us.”
Talking about his wicket, the opener said: “Yeah (I’m disappointed) a little bit. It’s a little bit frustrating but that is the way it goes. Sometimes you go on to make a big score and sometimes you get only half way there.”
The aggressive intent may have helped New Zealand score some quick runs but it also resulted in them losing wickets to poor shot selection, none more culpable than Guptill and James Fraklin.
“Yes and no,” said Guptill when asked if the aggressive approach cost them dear. “When you play positive you are going to give chances as well. We got away with it sometimes and not on other occasions. That’s the way cricket goes.”
Taylor, who was coming into the Test match with a mere two centuries from 42 innings, was at his aggressive best en route his 113 which came from a mere 127 balls. That innings not only gave Taylor something to smile about, it also gave the batsmen to follow the confidence to go out and take it to India.
“Ross showed some excellent footwork. He forced the bowlers to bowl some bad balls, and that worked in our favour,” noted the 25-year-old about his skipper. “It makes it a lot easier for the batsmen coming on. It takes a bit of pressure off them. Ross is a class player and some of the shots he played were really special.”
For the first time since the beginning of the two-Test series, the Kiwis do not have their backs against the wall, and when asked where the Test was headed, Guptill said: “It’ll be interesting. If we put 400-450 on the board and attack them then it’s going to put some pressure on India. There is a bit of swing and seam on this wicket and if we can pick up a few wickets early on, it’ll be great.”