1st India vs New Zealand Test: Salman Butt says “Setting target of 284 seemed like series was on the line”

Former Pakistan captain Salman Butt believes India’s attitude to the Kanpur Test against New Zealand, which ended in a draw, was overly harsh. Butt believes India should have declared on Day 4 at least an hour earlier.

New Zealand lost nine wickets in their chase for 284 runs, but the last-wicket duo of Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel batted for 8.4 overs, allowing them to escape with a draw in failing light.

“India should have declared at least one hour earlier on Day 4 and should have bowled at least 12-13 overs. 235-240 would have been a good target but they went too far. Setting a target of 284 seemed like the series was on the line and they wanted to save it.”  he said

“This approach was not suitable from India’s point of view because they had three specialist spinners. Once the ball would have become old, runs were not going to be scored on this pitch. Also, New Zealand doesn’t have the kind of players to score on such surfaces nor are they aggressive like England. Without risk, this chase wasn’t possible, all the more reason for India to have declared early. But credit to New Zealand, they were outstanding with their tactics.” He added

India showed no desire on the fourth day of play in Kanpur, bowling only four overs at New Zealand’s bats.

Ravindra Jadeja

India’s spinners failed to trouble Ravindra or Ajaz despite having nearly nine overs to claim the last New Zealand wicket.

The slow bowlers, said to Butt, lost a trick by not inviting the Kiwi tailenders to play some strokes.

“The last New Zealand pair played 50-plus balls. Two left-handers were out in the middle, still Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel bowled all deliveries within the stumps to them. They should have bowled outside the line of the stumps even if it meant conceding a few boundaries. If the ball had spun from there, panic could have set in.” he said

On December 3, the second Test of a two-match series between India and New Zealand will begin at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

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