The New Zealand tour of India came to an end with a 0-1 defeat for the tourists. Still, they had a number of memorable performances to look back to from both the Tests.
Tom Latham – 7/10
Runs: 163 @ 40.75, HS 95
The only New Zealand batter to come close to getting a hundred in the Test series, Latham was exceptional at Kanpur. He played a big role in securing a draw for his team, but the weight of captaincy in Mumbai seemed to affect his performance.
Will Young – 5/10
Runs: 115 @ 28.75, HS 89
But for a missed review, Young’s number would’ve been better. The turn of Mumbai got the better of the young batter, but his 89 at Kanpur which helped New Zealand deny India for 66 overs, was an excellent effort.
Daryl Mitchell – 5/10
Runs: 68 @ 34, HS 60
Daryl is quickly forging for himself a nice reputation in the New Zealand cricket circles. The Northern Districts cricketer fit in well at the number three role after an injury to Kane Williamson, scoring a 92-ball 60 on a tough wicket in the second innings before being dismissed by Axar Patel.
Kane Williamson – 2.5/10
Runs: 42 @ 21, HS 24
The New Zealand captain played only one Test at Kanpur but didn’t stand out. He was dismissed by a peach of a delivery by Umesh Yadav in the first innings, while he was one of the victims of the Ravindra Jadeja carnage on the final day.
Henry Nicholls – 2/10
Runs: 54 @ 13.5, HS 44
New Zealand’s backbone for the last few years failed to deliver in both the games. His best came in the fourth innings of the Mumbai Test, but by that time India had already run away with the game.
Ross Taylor – 1/10
Runs: 20 @ 5, HS 11
The New Zealand veteran looked out of sorts throughout the series. A mere average of five shows that India bowlers always had a chance once they got through the Kiwi top-order.
Rachin Ravindra – 5/10
Runs: 53 @ 17.66, Wickets 3, BBI 3-56
Rachin’s numbers don’t look impressive on the face of it, but the young batter played a fine defensive knock to save the first Test. His unbeaten 18 ensured that New Zealand walked into Mumbai with a chance. He was the second most successful spinner for New Zealand in the series, but that shows a lot more about their spin resources than him as a bowler.
Tom Blundell – 2/10
Runs: 23 @ 5.75, Catches 8, Stumpings 1
Though he faced 162 balls over the two Tests, Blundell failed to impress with the bat. He kept tidily enough.
Kyle Jamieson – 6.5/10
Wickets: 6 @ 30.33, BBI 3-40
The lanky pacer impressed in his maiden foray in India. He was lethal with the new ball at Kanpur, getting the better of India top-0rder. He wasn’t the most threatening of bowlers in Mumbai, but the Black Caps know that they can bank on Jamieson even in these conditions.
Will Somerville – 2.5/10
Wickets: 0
The tall off-spinner failed to gain any purchase at Kanpur and was successfully neutralized in Mumbai. India found some easy runs at his end. The only saving grace for Somerville was his 36 against India which helped New Zealand see off the first session on final day of the Green Park Test.
Tim Southee – 7.5/10
Wickets: 8 @ 27.25, BBI 5-69
Southee was the first tourist to stand up and be counted, after he ensured that the India first innings score didn’t stretch too far away from New Zealand’s reach at Kanpur. His 5-69 was a masterclass for any fast bowler in these conditions. As with Jamieson, he found the going tough in Mumbai.
Ajaz Patel – 8.5/10
Wickets: 17 @ 22.05, BBI 10-119
Mr. Perfect 10 gets an 8.5 was the only spinner to threaten the India batters in either of the games. His effort were immortalized by his 10-119 at Mumbai. Ajaz became only the third cricketer to pick 10 Test wickets in an innings. However, his effort lacked support and New Zealand lost the game by a massive 372-run margin.
