NZ settle into using the sweep strategy

The Green Park pitch

New Zealand played two left-arm seamers and though they tried to go around the stumps quite often, they still managed to create some rough outside the right-hander's off stump. Every bowler is different with their placing on the crease and their exit in the follow-through. While Neil Wagner got off the pitch quite quickly, Trent Boult, bowling close to the stumps, stayed closer to the danger area in his follow-through, and that is likely to help R Ashwin.

90.4 - The rough comes into playThe rough outside the left-hander's off stump comes into prominence for the first time. Mitchell Santner bowls quick into the bowler's footmarks and the ballspins viciously. On this occasion the ball doesn't bounce much and, with Ravindra Jadeja stretching fully forward, it does not cause harm. But with New Zealand's batting line-up containing four left-handers, expect Jadeja to bowl over the stumps into the rough quite often. Since bowling quick is key for spinners too, it is critical to strike early in the spell before the shoulder gets tired.

4.4 - The sweep strategyIt's is only the tenth ball from Jadeja but that does not prevent Martin Guptill from sweeping for a four. In 97 overs, India's batsmen attempted only two sweep shots: one from KL Rahul for a six, and another that Rohit Sharma did not connect. Guptill was quick to go down on one knee and sweep. One of the fundamentals of batting is to play the short ball with the horizontal bat and the full ball with a vertical bat. But on turning pitches, it is not a bad idea to flip this theory. The lack of bounce does not allow batsmen to play with the horizontal bat on the back foot and it is tough to play excessive turn with a straight bat. Expect New Zealand to use the sweep to counter spin throughout this series.

25.6 - Will India miss Mishra?
Jadeja finds a genuine outside edge off Kane Williamson's bat but the ball drops well short of Ajinkya Rahane at slip. This is only the second session of thesecond day and the black soil of this pitch is showing its true colours. The lack of bounce is evident and that will force spinners to bowl even faster through the air, which in turn could force the captain to give shorter spells to spinners as well. India are likely to miss Amit Mishra's presence, for he might not only have taken wickets but also would have also given a break to the other two spinners.

The difference in short-ball strategies
There is a remarkable difference in approach between the two sides. While New Zealand's seamers used the short-pitched deliveries liberally, India's seamers used the bouncers sparingly. Till the 30-over mark, India seamers had attempted only a couple of bouncers. Wagner, on the other hand, bowled six short balls in the fourth over to M Vijay on the opening day.

Latham, Willamson's clarity in defenceWhile all the talk will be around Tom Latham's use of the sweep and Williamson's footwork, the thing that stood out for me in their partnership was their defensive skills. Positive intent is not necessarily going down the pitch or playing an attacking shot, but also being decisive in footwork and shot selection. Both Latham and Williamson did that perfectly. They either went fullyforward to defend - with bat in front of the pad and not beside it - or used the depth of the crease to go back fully. The slowness of the pitch definitely aided them but credit must be given for the clarity of thought and execution.