Single-minded resolve is the Kiwi gameplan

In the build-up to this Test match,there has been a noticeable change in New Zealands net sessions.

In the build-up to this Test match,there has been a noticeable change in New Zealands net sessions. As the bowlers mark their run-up and wait at their marks,two batsmen walk to the pitch. What follows is a match-simulation, where the focus isnt just on big strokes and defensive play,but equally on taking singles and switching ends.

In the first Test,which the hosts lost to India by 10 wickets,the Kiwi batsmen played 819 dot balls over two innings. More number crunching reveals that they managed just 13 per cent of their total runs in singles. Understandably,a change of plan is underway.

Oddly enough,India too had a similar shortage of singles,managing just 12 per cent of their runs by switching ends,but the fact that they dominated the Test means they arent too worried about changing things.

What really hurt the Kiwis was the difference in effectiveness of the two spinners. Both Harbhajan Singh and Daniel Vettori form important cogs in their bowling attacks,but the Indian batsmen seemed to deal much better with the home skippers left-arm spin.

Where Harbhajan Singh picked up six wickets to hasten New Zealands fall in the second innings,the Indian batsmen managed to frustrate Vettori by repeatedly rotating the strike. While pace bowlers are stereotypically seen as attackers that rely on sudden ambush,spinners pride themselves as experts in laying booby traps. They can take a hit over the fence by a big-slogger,but what frustrates them is the pesky tip-and-run kind of batsman,where a change of strike means a change of plans.

New Zealand skipper Vettori didnt beat around the bush when he spoke about his tribes annoyance about singles. I always thought the key against spinners is the singles. Singles frustrate spinners,I can say from experience. In the first innings,Jesse Ryder and me were not too aggressive while playing Harbhajan,but we were pretty effective. I think you can still play him,just turn the strike over. We are trying to do that more,thats one way of unsettling him, he said.

Dots and wickets

The manner in which Harbhajan dominated his batsmen obviously isnt lost on Vettori. In the second innings,Harbhajan bowled as many as 48 dot ball in his first 10 overs as he got on top of the batsmen. His wickets followed a pattern as well: To James Franklyn,Harbhajan bowled 10 consecutive dot balls before getting him out. Daniel Flynn too fell on similar lines dismissed after playing a succession of dot balls.

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Over the last three days,the Kiwis have been scampering around looking for ways to draw level in this series. From all indications,they seem to have settled on scampering across for singles to unsettle Dhoni amp; Co.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More