New Zealand coach Gary Stead credits his bowlers for keeping Indian batsmen under pressure in Wellington Test

Team India was completely annihilated by the rampaging Kane Williamson-led New Zealanders at the Basin Reserve in Wellington and one of the prime reasons for it was the lack of fight shown by their much-vaunted batting unit against the relentless trio of Trent Boult, Tim Southee, and Kyle Jamieson.

Barring Mayank Agarwal, who scored a half-century and to some extent, Ajinkya Rahane were the only two batsmen who put some sort of resistance against the Kiwi pace attack. The lack of any competitiveness by the Indian batting-unit– that failed to score 200 in both innings– has surprised New Zealand Head Coach Gary Stead.

However, the BlackCaps coach reckoned that one of the reasons for its watershed ability of New Zealand bowlers to put pressure on Indians for a long period of time.

“It was a bit of a surprise but it was also due to the pressure we put on those guys for long periods of time. You get Trent and Tim to operate in our conditions and both were outstanding. Trent’s freshness after being out for eight weeks added spark,” Gary Stead, New Zealand Head Coach said as quoted by Times Now.

‘That’s a pride thing’: Gary Stead on making New Zealand a fortress

New Zealand has been unbeaten at home since their 0-1 loss to South Africa in 2017 and Stead reckons that it is the drive to make New Zealand one of the toughest places to tour, which has resulted in such an imperious record.

“We want teams to believe that it is as tough in New Zealand as it is playing anywhere else in the world. That’s a pride thing,” Gary Stead added.

Referring to the Wellington Test, Stead reckoned that the wicket of Ajinkya Rahane on the fourth morning and post that he knew that his side will wrap up things pretty quickly. He added– “Guess picked up wickets at critical times in the match. We got Rahane out and it was the catalyst of the belief.”

After having won the first Test comprehensively, the New Zealanders will hope of an encore in Christchurch as the No.1 ranked side battles to keep their proud record of not losing a Test series in the ongoing Test championship intact.

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