India routed the Kiwis at home winning both test matches. Overall Taylor claims positives for New Zealand even in defeat. For India also without Dravid and Laxman passing the first test with confidence brings a lot of positives.
2012 Ind vs NZ Series Schedule and Results
Series Facts
Ross Taylor completed 3000 Test runs.
Southee went past 50 Test wickets.
Ashwin reached 49 test wickets in 14 innings of 8 tests.
India registered their 5th biggest chase in Test matches in 2nd test.
India registered second biggest victory in Ind-NZ bilateral test series at Hyderabad.
Ashwin recorded the best bowling spell in a test by bowler from either sides in their bilateral series.
Two centuries from India and one century from New Zealand were scored in the 2-Test series.
Positives for New Zealand
Batting of van Wyk and Franklin, bowling of Southee and keeping of van Vyk can act as positives for the Kiwis to strengthen their future serious claims as competetive test player. As a captain, Ross Taylor is yet to impress.
Positives for India
Batting of the youngsters and captain is the best motivation for India, specially with the pressure around after retirement of Laxman and Dravid added with the non-performance of Tendulkar and established openers Sehwag and Gambhir. OVerall it was Kohli and Dhoni who performed in every innings, with good show by Pujara. Raina was the weakest link and his selection again in Test may surprise many now.
Bowling may look good at home with 40 Kiwi wickets in 2 test matches, but except Ashwin and Ojha in patches the bowling again looks dismal. England and Australia may find them easy meat to pile scores of runs. India must find an answer to the pace department. Umesh was not much effective and Zaheer could not penetrate even when Bangalore provided the swing support.
Captain Dhoni performing as batsman and wicketkeeper is the most inspiring performance of the series. Probably, for Laxman he is the best replacement. For Dravid, Pujara and Kohli may provide the answers during the next two big series, even if both series are at home.
Openers looked positive finally in the final innings of the test series. But the way Sehwag and Gambhir threw their wicket again, opens the questions against their shot selection and seriousness to India’s cause. Probably it is time to fulfill the desire of Sehwag to let him bat down the order.
Not only Rahane, but now even Unmukt Chand can be counted as a possible test opener. Batting does not lack talent in India, although the big boots of Fab four is difficult to fill. India must take calculated chances with better performers rather than sticking around the likes of Raina (in Tests) and Rohit Sharma (in tests and shorter versions).
Pujara is indeed the find of the series. With more calculated moves it may not take long to provide again a strong batting line up.
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