Stats preview to the Test series between India and New Zealand
Bharath Seervi20-Sep-20161988 The last time New Zealand won a Test in India, at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. Since then, in 14 Tests, the hosts have won six and drawn eight. The last three Tests between the two teams in India were all won by the home team, while the five previous Tests were all drawn. New Zealand have won only two Tests in India in 31 attempts.3 Consecutive series without a defeat for New Zealand in Asia – all three were drawn. They drew against Sri Lanka in 2012-13, Bangladesh in 2013-14 and Pakistan in 2014-15. In seven matches played in those three series, they won two, lost two and drew three. Overall, though, New Zealand have lost eight out of ten series in India.9 Tests, out of the last 10 in India, that have produced decisive results – all nine have been won by India. They won four out of four against Australia in 2012-13, both the matches against West Indies in 2013-14 and three Tests against South Africa last season. The only draw during this period was the Bangalore Test against South Africa, which was badly affected by rain and had only 81 overs of play. Incidentally, four of the last five Tests in India were completed by the third day itself.6 Players from the New Zealand squad who have played Tests in India. Among them, Kane Williamson has had the best batting average (36.22). New Zealand will miss the services of Tim Southee, who was ruled out of the Test series with an ankle injury. Southee has taken 12 wickets from three Tests in India, at an average of 29.66.
Batsman Mat Inns Runs HS Ave 100s/50sKane Williamson 5 9 326 131 36.22 1/2Ross Taylor 5 9 293 113 32.54 1/1Martin Guptill 4 8 187 85 23.37 0/2BJ Watling 1 2 8 6 8.00 0/0
Bowler Mat Wkts BBI Ave SR 5WITim Southee* 3 12 7/64 29.66 54.0 1Trent Boult 2 5 3/93 49.40 80.2 0Doug Bracewell 2 3 2/91 77.00 106.3 081.08 Percentage of India’s wickets taken by spinners in ten Tests at home since the start of 2013: spinners have nabbed 150 out of 185 wickets taken by Indian bowlers during this period. R Ashwin has been the dominant bowler, taking nearly 50% of the spin wickets. He has taken 72, while Ravindra Jadeja has picked up 47. The specialist spinners in New Zealand’s squad – Ish Sodhi, Mitchell Santner and Mark Craig – have not played a Test in India.155 Williamson’s average against spinners in Tests since 2015 – the best among all batsmen who have faced 500-plus balls against spin. Ross Taylor comes next with average of 118 against slow bowlers in this period.
Batsman Inns Runs Balls Dis AveKane Williamson 17 465 766 3 155.00Ross Taylor 14 354 587 3 118.00Adam Voges 22 618 968 6 103.00Joe Root 34 913 1296 9 101.44Younis Khan 20 576 755 7 82.2818 Wickets taken by Ashwin in the two-match series when New Zealand last toured India, in 2012. He took five-wicket hauls in three of the four innings of that series. His bowling average of 13.11 in Tests against them is his best against any team. Ashwin needs seven wickets in his next Test to become the second fastest to 200 wickets.85.20 Virat Kohli’s average against New Zealand – his best against any opposition. In seven innings against them, he has gone past 50 five times, including two centuries. When New Zealand toured in 2012, Kohli’s scores were 58, 103 and 51 not out.2009 The last time Kanpur hosted a Test match – India beat Sri Lanka by an innings and 144 runs in that game. India have won four of their last five Tests here, while one was drawn. In these five Tests, India’s spinners have accounted for 70% of the total wickets taken by the team’s bowlers. Indian spinners have taken 63 wickets at 23.80, but none of the spinners in the current squad have played a Test here.
