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Dhoni: It’ll be bigger test of character in Test series
Dejected after being crushed 0-4 in the ODI series against New Zealand, India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Friday said his team failed to adapt and improvise quickly enough against a side, which was consistency personified.
“Throughout this series, they (New Zealand) have played very good cricket. Their new ball pair has been very good but where they’ve taken the game away is in the middle overs batting, which set up their charge late in the innings, picking up 80-90 runs consistently,” Dhoni said.
Asked about his own team’s performance, Dhoni said, “It is important to improvise and adapt quickly, which we have failed to do.”
“From the talent point of view these are the players who have done very well in the past, winning the Champions Trophy.
But they have to back themselves to play their strokes and the execution was lacking,” he added.
“It’ll be a bigger test of character in the Test series and it will be good for our younger players. I am looking forward to it,” said Dhoni.
Dhoni’s opposite number Brendon McCullum said it was easily the biggest triumph for the Kiwis in a long time.
“It’s probably the best series win since I have started playing for New Zealand. The boys worked very very hard to pull this off, especially against a tough one-day side like India.
“We saw (debutant pacer) Matt Henry come in and take to it outstandingly, there was Hamish Bennett and Jimmy Neesham and the emergence of Corey Anderson as well. It’s been pretty pleasing to see Kane (Williamson) and Ross (Taylor) score all those runs,” he said.
“In all the time I’ve seen him play, Ross hasn’t been as good as he’s looked in this series. For a guy who’s young, Kane’s become one of our experienced lads and has been moving from strength to strength,” he added.
