Pune: New Zealand wicketkeeper-batsman Tom Latham, who scored an unbeaten century in the team’s surprise first One Day International (ODI) win over India, prefers playing the sweep shot against the spinners rather than hitting them down the ground.
At the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, left-handed Latham relied on sweeps and reverse-sweeps to overcome the challenge posed by the Indian spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav.
“Everybody is different in the way they play spin in different conditions,” said Latham. “I think the Indians play the different way, they are used to these conditions and they have got their game.
“One thing that comes to me is sweep that I have played throughout my career. It’s something that I find easier to play than hitting down the ground.”
The southpaw, who was among the runs when the Kiwis toured India last year, was speaking ahead of the second ODI in Pune.
“The other guys may find hitting down the ground easier,” he added. “It’s important to have different game plans for different conditions and try to stick to that.”
Latham paid heed to the advise by senior professional Ross Taylor who asked him to use sweep and reverse sweep to disturb the length of Yadav and Chahal.
The middle-order batsman has been in good run form coming to India, scoring a half-century and a ton in the warm-up games and following up with a century in the first ODI.
“I am not too sure (about the secret to success).” he said. “We had a lot of preparation back home, coming out of the winter, when we come to India, it is obviously massive focus on spin and we were lucky enough to be here last year, so we knew a little bit how India played and watching them against the Australian team, so lot of work in terms of spin and playing in the middle.
“I put little bit of work in terms of coming over here and playing spin. On surfaces back home they were a little bit drier and quite responsive to spin. So, that was (a part) of the preparation.”
The Kiwis are on the cusp of winning their first series in India and Latham feels that they have a chance to do that.
“It was obviously pleasing to make a contribution and be there till the end (in Mumbai),” he added.
“The partnership which me and Ross (Taylor) put on was vital for that and Ross played very well and deserves credit.
“It was nice to keep the communication lines going. We have got one more game starting tomorrow, and if we play some good cricket then hopefully we would give us a chance of winning the series,” he said.
Latham, who is a specialist opener, has moved down the order to No 5. He said he is pretty familiar with his current batting spot. “I have played in that position before when I started playing for New Zealand,” he said.
“So, it’s not a position which is unfamiliar to me. It was more of a tactical shift than anything. Coming in the middle when the ball is little bit softer and playing a bit more spin. It is nice that I adapted quickly.
An under-pressure India will face their stiffest test in recent times when they try to bounce back in the series.
It is not often that India find themselves in a save-the-series situation, having won their past six bilateral engagements.
Not many had also expected New Zealand to topple India in the series-opener, playing their first match since the Champions Trophy, did it in emphatic style.
The way they played spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav was commendable, considering the Australians struggled against the same combination in the preceding series.
The hosts, no doubt, were off-colour at Wankhede but the Virat Kohli-led side are expected to come back hard at the Black Caps.
Bowling coach Bharat Arun said to level the series is a challenge and the team are ready for it.
“We look at it as a big challenge right now,” he said. “New Zealand competed exceptionally well, they had a fantastic partnership (in Mumbai) and they went on to win that game.
“It is a bigger challenge for us to come back, we know we have our plans in place and it is a good testing ground for the team (on) how you come back from behind and do well in the series.”
— PTI
