NEWS
Follow UsNew Zealand seamer Tim Southee said the Black Caps have shown the world that it’s possible to defeat India in India. The Men in Blue’s home dominance came to a shocking end in Pune, as New Zealand beat India by 113 runs in the second Test. The loss resulted in India losing their first-ever bilateral Test series at home after 12 long years. The epic undefeated run of 18 consecutive Test series at home came to a screeching end.
“I think you just look at the history. What is it, 12 years that someone's been able to do and 18 series or whatever it is. It's a very, very tough place to come. I think if you look at it from my perspective and the cricket I've played in the past however many years, I think you look at India and Australia are the two places that are probably the most difficult to tour. Both the conditions, the quality of the opposition and how good they are at home makes it a tough place to tour,” Southee told Cricbuzz.
“But I think you look at this one in particular, 12 years, 18 series. It's nice to be that side that's broken that run. I guess it shows to other teams around the world that it is possible to beat India in India.”
Mind you, before this series, New Zealand had not won a single series away from home since WTC’s inception. They had never won a Test series in India, with their last win on this soil coming way back in 1988. Southee himself is playing his fourth Test series in India.
“I guess one of the first things that comes to mind is - tough. It is tough. For us, coming from New Zealand, the conditions are so foreign. I think every time you come here, you're playing against a superstar outfit. I think you look back to that 2010 team, they're like Tendulkar, Sehwag, Gambhir, Dravid, Laxman, Dhoni. Like, as a young guy, to be able to come over here and play against those guys was a dream come true,” said Southee, who first played a Test series in India in 2010.
“And, yeah, obviously, I hadn't had success up until now. But, every time I've come here, it's been just a tough challenge. The conditions, the heat, the quality of players you're playing against. So, you're up against it the moment you get here.
“But it has always been an enjoyable place to come. I guess the passion that people have for cricket here and the excitement that there is around any sort of cricket that's played here. It's always a special place to come, but a very tough place to come for a number of reasons, which I mentioned.”
The build-up to this series wasn’t great for New Zealand and Southee. They were whitewashed in Sri Lanka. They lost the second Test by an innings and 154 runs, so nobody gave New Zealand a chance before the India series. Southee himself stepped down from captaincy and handed it over to Tom Latham.
“I think you probably look from the outside in and a lot is going on. Sri Lanka was very disappointing obviously to lose 2-0 on the wrong side of a couple of tosses. We had our chance in that first Test match in Sri Lanka and we were able to push forward. Then we were outplayed in the second one,” said Southee, who only managed two wickets in the series at an average of 78.50.
“The group's never lost any faith in the direction we're trying to go. The players are a tight-knit group and we've been looking forward to this series for a long time. Every time we've come to India in the past, we've come from New Zealand. So, I guess the experience and the conditions in the subcontinent, although they weren't great in terms of result, just having that preparation and that lead-up in the subcontinent has helped in some way as well.
“We looked at it as a bit of a block. We had six Test matches in Asia. One was washed out against Afghanistan and then we had the tour against Sri Lanka. It was a big chunk of cricket in this part of the world. Although Sri Lanka didn't go according to plan, I think that shows the group is always learning, always looking to improve as a side and I think we took a lot out of that tour to come here.
“Guys like Will (O'Rourke), he's a special talent. For him to come to this part of the world, I think you look at what he did in his first Test in Sri Lanka, picking up eight wickets. His first Test in India, picking up six or seven wickets. He's just a special talent. Trying to help him in any way you can, but he's got the skillset and the mindset to achieve anywhere in the world, I believe.
“There are a number of guys who have been here and know how tough it is. There are a few guys who have come here on their first tour and experienced something that not many people do. It's been a nice mix of guys without any scarring. I've been here in the past, but there are also the other guys that have been here, that have got the experience of being here in this part of the world as well and understand how hard it is.”
The New Zealand pacers dismantled India’s batting unit in Bengaluru and when the action shifted to the spin-friendly conditions in Pune, Mitchell Santner took over and claimed 13 wickets. As expected, the Indian batters looked clueless against spin, with the likes of Glenn Phillips and Ajaz Patel also chipping with five wickets between them.
“Yeah, we knew that Pune was going to be different again. Obviously, the weather wasn't going to play a part. And the wicket we knew was going to take a bit of a turn. So for our spinners...you look at the spinning group, they haven't played a lot of Test cricket. Someone like Glenn Phillips has only been bowling for a few years. So for them to be able to achieve what they did...Mitch Santner has been on the other side for a long time. Bowled well at times in Sri Lanka for no reward. So for him to be able to keep that belief and keep that confidence in himself...and then to turn out a performance like he did is nothing short of amazing.
“So I think it's just a little bit of the Kiwi way. It's just to muck in and try and play as a team and get the job done. And a number of guys throughout the series have stepped up at different times. Whether that's with the bat or with the ball. So I think that's just the way you know… Mitch had an amazing few days. But supported by a number of other guys as well around it. So that's just the way and the style that we play. We try and play as a team. Trying to assess the conditions as quickly as we can. And all try and muck in to do what's best for the side.”
For a pacer who largely relies on swing, Southee has an impressive record in India. The right-arm seamer has taken 23 wickets in seven Tests at an average of 29, which is quite decent in these conditions. “I guess being here in the past, it helps. But also, it makes it tough when you haven't had a lot of success in this part of the world. It's certainly been easier in terms of a workload with the amount of overs that the spinners have bowled (laughs).
“I don't think it ever gets easier when you come to India. Like I said, you're playing against a superstar opposition that's full of great players and conditions that are so foreign. I think it's always an exciting challenge. It's always a place you want to do well because everyone wants to come here and do well against a very good Indian side.”
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