New Zealand played Test cricket in India 12 times in 69 years starting in 1955, but they had never won a series till 2024. Tom Latham led New Zealand to their first-ever Test series victory in India on Saturday, his first game as full-time captain. He performed an Edmund Hillary.
Latham was a member of the New Zealand squad that defeated India in the 2021 World Test Championship final in Southampton. However, defeating India in India is a whole other task and is maybe the most difficult task in international cricket at the moment. When asked what the victory in India meant to him, his squad, and the people of New Zealand, Latham was overcome with emotion.
When Latham stated, “I’m sort of lost for words,” “This gang is clearly very pleased of this occasion. I believe that we came here to play the cricket that we played after a series in Sri Lanka when we didn’t achieve the outcomes we were hoping for. It goes without saying that we are incredibly happy to have won two Test matches here. Numerous teams from New Zealand have been here in the past. Being the first squad to win a series here is, I suppose, really unique, and I’m proud of this team.”
What, then, did Latham’s New Zealand side perform better than the present India team and previous New Zealand teams?
“I think we’ve been on the right side of a couple of tosses,” Latham stated. “I believe that was a major factor, particularly in Bangalore. As previously said, I believe we have arrived here and have desired to fire a shot. From a bowling or batting perspective, we have aimed to be the team that puts India under strain. I’m certain we’ve accomplished that. I believe that our batsmanship during this game was crucial. I believe that time wasn’t a major concern on this wicket.
In a Test match, it is extremely uncommon for any foreign side to out-bowl and out-bat India. In Bengaluru and Pune, this New Zealand team has accomplished it twice under very different circumstances.
The first blow was delivered by New Zealand’s bowlers, who skittled India for 46 at Benglauru’s seaming conditions. In Pune, the first blow was delivered by New Zealand’s batsmen on a turner, who used a range of sweeps, including the reverse, to counter R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, and Washington Sundar. Latham was happy that his men were adopting the attack-first strategy.
“We’ve come here, and we’ve wanted to compete, and we’ve wanted to fire a shot first up,” Latham stated. “I’m certain we’ve accomplished it in both games. In the first game, of course, with the ball, but in this instance, with the bat as well. It has been crucial to be able to score runs in the opening inning. It’s been great to watch the bowlers put in a lot of effort over the past several days.
Despite having a painful side, Mitchell Santner wheeled away for 29 consecutive overs in the last innings, earning praise from Latham. During that lengthy stint, the left-arm fingerspinner claimed six wickets and nearly single-handedly led New Zealand to victory. He ended with the third-best match total of any visiting bowler in India, 13 for 157.
“He did a fantastic job,” Latham remarked of Santner. “I believe it goes without saying that the wickets he took… However, I believe that the number of overs he bowled consecutively will go unrecognized. Mitch bowled the remaining overs after Will [O’Rourke] bowled one with the new ball from that end, I believe. That kind of person to come and bowl that many overs.
“He keeps taking wickets despite my repeated attempts to remove him. “You can keep going,” I said. Look, I’m very proud of him for his performance this game. He was really amazing.
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