New all-rounder James Neesham, playing his first match of the series, applauded Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for putting India in a position of strength.
"We started a touch loose but over the day we kept a lid on the run rate but Ajinkya and Virat batted well for most of the second half of day. India's honours in the end," said Neesham.
"There wasn't a whole lot of lateral movement so hard to get guys out. Hopefully spinners can get more out of it as it starts to break up. There was a short ball plan for Ajinkya more so than Virat. He's looked a bit uncomfortable there, which piqued our interest. He managed to tough it out and get through and that's the sign of a quality Test batsman.
"I don't know if we could have done it a whole lot different with the ball. It was tough work for the seamers. If you can't get the ball reverse swinging, it's difficult with their quality batsmen. Keeping the run rate below three was a good achievement. Couple of quick wickets tomorrow we're still in game."
With Neesham back fit and New Zealand looking to strengthen their batting, they had no choice but to drop Neil Wagner — one of their key performers in recent times. Neesham felt sorry for his colleague. "Unfortunate for Wags, been one of our best bowlers recently but the desire to lengthen batting order meant a seamer had to make way. Henners (Matt Henry) and Boulty (Trent Boult) bowled exceptionally in last Test so hard to leave them out. He's been helping out with drinks so I'm sure he'll take it hard but be back firing in the home summer."![]( "James Neesham")
New all-rounder James Neesham, playing his first match of the series, applauded Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for putting India in a position of strength.
"We started a touch loose but over the day we kept a lid on the run rate but Ajinkya and Virat batted well for most of the second half of day. India’s honours in the end,” said Neesham.
"There wasn’t a whole lot of lateral movement so hard to get guys out. Hopefully spinners can get more out of it as it starts to break up. There was a short ball plan for Ajinkya more so than Virat. He’s looked a bit uncomfortable there, which piqued our interest. He managed to tough it out and get through and that’s the sign of a quality Test batsman.
"I don’t know if we could have done it a whole lot different with the ball. It was tough work for the seamers. If you can’t get the ball reverse swinging, it’s difficult with their quality batsmen. Keeping the run rate below three was a good achievement. Couple of quick wickets tomorrow we’re still in game.”
With Neesham back fit and New Zealand looking to strengthen their batting, they had no choice but to drop Neil Wagner — one of their key performers in recent times. Neesham felt sorry for his colleague. "Unfortunate for Wags, been one of our best bowlers recently but the desire to lengthen batting order meant a seamer had to make way. Henners (Matt Henry) and Boulty (Trent Boult) bowled exceptionally in last Test so hard to leave them out. He’s been helping out with drinks so I’m sure he’ll take it hard but be back firing in the home summer.”
"We started a touch loose but over the day we kept a lid on the run rate but Ajinkya and Virat batted well for most of the second half of day. India's honours in the end," said Neesham.
"There wasn't a whole lot of lateral movement so hard to get guys out. Hopefully spinners can get more out of it as it starts to break up. There was a short ball plan for Ajinkya more so than Virat. He's looked a bit uncomfortable there, which piqued our interest. He managed to tough it out and get through and that's the sign of a quality Test batsman.
"I don't know if we could have done it a whole lot different with the ball. It was tough work for the seamers. If you can't get the ball reverse swinging, it's difficult with their quality batsmen. Keeping the run rate below three was a good achievement. Couple of quick wickets tomorrow we're still in game."
With Neesham back fit and New Zealand looking to strengthen their batting, they had no choice but to drop Neil Wagner — one of their key performers in recent times. Neesham felt sorry for his colleague. "Unfortunate for Wags, been one of our best bowlers recently but the desire to lengthen batting order meant a seamer had to make way. Henners (Matt Henry) and Boulty (Trent Boult) bowled exceptionally in last Test so hard to leave them out. He's been helping out with drinks so I'm sure he'll take it hard but be back firing in the home summer."
New all-rounder James Neesham, playing his first match of the series, applauded Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane for putting India in a position of strength. "We started a touch loose but over the day we kept a lid on the run rate but Ajinkya and Virat batted well for most of the second half of day. India’s honours in the end,” said Neesham.
"There wasn’t a whole lot of lateral movement so hard to get guys out. Hopefully spinners can get more out of it as it starts to break up. There was a short ball plan for Ajinkya more so than Virat. He’s looked a bit uncomfortable there, which piqued our interest. He managed to tough it out and get through and that’s the sign of a quality Test batsman.
"I don’t know if we could have done it a whole lot different with the ball. It was tough work for the seamers. If you can’t get the ball reverse swinging, it’s difficult with their quality batsmen. Keeping the run rate below three was a good achievement. Couple of quick wickets tomorrow we’re still in game.”
With Neesham back fit and New Zealand looking to strengthen their batting, they had no choice but to drop Neil Wagner — one of their key performers in recent times. Neesham felt sorry for his colleague. "Unfortunate for Wags, been one of our best bowlers recently but the desire to lengthen batting order meant a seamer had to make way. Henners (Matt Henry) and Boulty (Trent Boult) bowled exceptionally in last Test so hard to leave them out. He’s been helping out with drinks so I’m sure he’ll take it hard but be back firing in the home summer.”