It's about learning quickly and moving forward: Williamson
Kane Williamson was disappointed but not despondent. Despite going down 0-1 in the three-match series after a 197-run reverse in Kanpur on Monday (September 26), the New Zealand captain sought to look at the positives from the game, one that saw the visitors hold the upper hand for a good two days before their inexperience came through against the spin mastery of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja.
Losing after being in such a good position...
Obviously, whenever you lose it's disappointing, But credit certainly has to go to India. They're a good side, particularly in their home conditions and they showed that again. In saying that, there are certainly positives for us to take from this Test into the next one. The way Mitchell Santner and Luke Ronchi played were a couple of highlights. As a unit, we want to be able to apply that pressure for longer, which isn't always easy in this part of the world against a side like India. But it's certainly a challenge for us moving forward.
What went wrong over last 3 days?
On the scorecard, it looks like a biggish defeat but there were a couple of moments that I would reflect on from where the game turned slightly more in their favour. The back end of our first innings with the bat and certainly when we bowled in the second innings, there was probably a three-hour period where we didn't bowl very well and they got away from us. It's a combination of us not quite being at our best at certain times and them playing very well.
What can you do between now and Kolkata?
The first thing is the guys need to recover well. There were a lot of good things to come out of this game and for a number of players. It is their first time batting in these sort of conditions. There will be a lot of lessons learned, reflecting on those and looking to apply the skills that worked for a period of time, for a lot longer. That's certainly what the Indian players do, it is very important.
On if losing the game would change the team's approach for Kolkata?
We want to be better, and if we are, that goes a long way to us being more consistent throughout the five days and ultimately winning. That's the challenge for us. For us going to the next one it's about learning quickly and moving forward.
On his dismissals to R Ashwin?
They were pretty good balls, and he is a pretty good bowler. In these conditions there is certainly more spin, so you do take those things into account. The nature of the conditions later on in the game you tend to get some good deliveries. It is part and parcel of playing here and we have to adapt our games to be better equipped going into the next match.
On lessons learned in playing Ashwin and Jadeja?
They're both very good bowlers but there were a lot of positives for us. Guys who hadn't played here before spent some valuable time in the middle and made some valuable contributions. Santner for one and Luke Ronchi, another who certainly showed he had the skill-sets to perform well in these conditions. I do think it's about applying ourselves for longer. It is a challenge against a very good attack but they've got the skill-sets and it's being able to stick to it for a lot longer. That is the same with the ball for our young spin attack who are extremely talented. Being over here in these hot conditions being able to remain focussed for a long period because you know if you put the ball in the area for long enough, you'll get your rewards. That's what the Indian team showed us.
On if there was a specific method of tackling Ashwin and Jadeja?
There will be some homework done but there were some really good things to come out of it. To play the spin like we did for a period of time was good, and then there were moments where we lost concentration and made an error in judgement. That comes down to facing very good bowlers but also having that control in your game that when you are in foreign conditions you are able to adjust and stick to a plan for a long period of time. There were moments we did that, but we need to do it for longer.
On the challenge of facing Jadeja and picking what he is bowling...
It is not easy and that showed, their spinners took a number of wickets which in these conditions is to be expected. The spin bowlers come into play a lot more. It is up to the individual how they look to skin it. Some guys like to sweep, some look to play straight or through the off-side or leg-side, whatever it is. Trying to identify what is most threatening about their skills set, that is up to the individual and their game.
It is certainly difficult, particularly with the new ball. There is that natural variation because it is hard. Some balls skid and some balls turn a lot more. Naturally the slower one tends to turn a bit more. But they're both very good bowlers, they put the ball in a good area for a long period of time and they showed by doing that they got the rewards.
On Mitchell Santner...
He played outstandingly well. It's his first time in this part of the world playing Test cricket and it was a great step in the right direction for his game. We all know he has got the talent with bat and ball and in the field. To apply himself like he did and bowl a number of overs and be successful. He was very good against good players of spin. It was a huge positive for us. He'll look forward to the next one and I'm sure he's learned a lot from this experience.
Was Jeetan Patel in consideration pre-tour or just when Craig got injured?
He wasn't initially. Obviously having three frontline spinners over here we didn't expect to need too many more spin options. In saying that, having played three in the first one, certainly we had to sit down and think about given the number of overs they may bowl and the possible chance of injury, which unfortunately has happened to Mark Craig.
For Jeetan to come into the squad after a period of time away from the team is a great opportunity for him. The guys are all looking forward to having him and his experience in this side. He's been a quality performer for a long period of time and it is that like-for-like swap as well."
On what Jeetan Patel would add to the team...
Jeets loves the game of cricket and loves playing for his country. It was perhaps unexpected. He has played a lot in England lately and almost considers himself a local in that part of the world but we know he's not and we are looking forward to having him back in the side. There are a number of other players from Wellington in the side who have spent a lot of time with Jeets and they're all very excited about it. He is looking forward to coming back and making an impact."
On Martin Guptill and his prospects for the Kolkata Test...
Obviously this game has just finished so we get to sit down and talk about whatever the team may be for the next one and what balance we will go in with. In the first innings, he got off to a good start and was perhaps a bit unfortunate in the second innings but he has certainly shown his class in the white ball format and we are backing him to show that in the red ball. He is working hard at his game and looking to improve. It isn't the easiest of places to play sometimes. We'll sit down in the next day or two and look at the side we might go with.
Excerpts from his post-match press conference.
Losing after being in such a good position...
Obviously, whenever you lose it's disappointing, But credit certainly has to go to India. They're a good side, particularly in their home conditions and they showed that again. In saying that, there are certainly positives for us to take from this Test into the next one. The way Mitchell Santner and Luke Ronchi played were a couple of highlights. As a unit, we want to be able to apply that pressure for longer, which isn't always easy in this part of the world against a side like India. But it's certainly a challenge for us moving forward.
What went wrong over last 3 days?
On the scorecard, it looks like a biggish defeat but there were a couple of moments that I would reflect on from where the game turned slightly more in their favour. The back end of our first innings with the bat and certainly when we bowled in the second innings, there was probably a three-hour period where we didn't bowl very well and they got away from us. It's a combination of us not quite being at our best at certain times and them playing very well.
What can you do between now and Kolkata?
The first thing is the guys need to recover well. There were a lot of good things to come out of this game and for a number of players. It is their first time batting in these sort of conditions. There will be a lot of lessons learned, reflecting on those and looking to apply the skills that worked for a period of time, for a lot longer. That's certainly what the Indian players do, it is very important.
On if losing the game would change the team's approach for Kolkata?
We want to be better, and if we are, that goes a long way to us being more consistent throughout the five days and ultimately winning. That's the challenge for us. For us going to the next one it's about learning quickly and moving forward.
On his dismissals to R Ashwin?
They were pretty good balls, and he is a pretty good bowler. In these conditions there is certainly more spin, so you do take those things into account. The nature of the conditions later on in the game you tend to get some good deliveries. It is part and parcel of playing here and we have to adapt our games to be better equipped going into the next match.
On lessons learned in playing Ashwin and Jadeja?
They're both very good bowlers but there were a lot of positives for us. Guys who hadn't played here before spent some valuable time in the middle and made some valuable contributions. Santner for one and Luke Ronchi, another who certainly showed he had the skill-sets to perform well in these conditions. I do think it's about applying ourselves for longer. It is a challenge against a very good attack but they've got the skill-sets and it's being able to stick to it for a lot longer. That is the same with the ball for our young spin attack who are extremely talented. Being over here in these hot conditions being able to remain focussed for a long period because you know if you put the ball in the area for long enough, you'll get your rewards. That's what the Indian team showed us.
On if there was a specific method of tackling Ashwin and Jadeja?
There will be some homework done but there were some really good things to come out of it. To play the spin like we did for a period of time was good, and then there were moments where we lost concentration and made an error in judgement. That comes down to facing very good bowlers but also having that control in your game that when you are in foreign conditions you are able to adjust and stick to a plan for a long period of time. There were moments we did that, but we need to do it for longer.
On the challenge of facing Jadeja and picking what he is bowling...
It is not easy and that showed, their spinners took a number of wickets which in these conditions is to be expected. The spin bowlers come into play a lot more. It is up to the individual how they look to skin it. Some guys like to sweep, some look to play straight or through the off-side or leg-side, whatever it is. Trying to identify what is most threatening about their skills set, that is up to the individual and their game.
It is certainly difficult, particularly with the new ball. There is that natural variation because it is hard. Some balls skid and some balls turn a lot more. Naturally the slower one tends to turn a bit more. But they're both very good bowlers, they put the ball in a good area for a long period of time and they showed by doing that they got the rewards.
On Mitchell Santner...
He played outstandingly well. It's his first time in this part of the world playing Test cricket and it was a great step in the right direction for his game. We all know he has got the talent with bat and ball and in the field. To apply himself like he did and bowl a number of overs and be successful. He was very good against good players of spin. It was a huge positive for us. He'll look forward to the next one and I'm sure he's learned a lot from this experience.
Was Jeetan Patel in consideration pre-tour or just when Craig got injured?
He wasn't initially. Obviously having three frontline spinners over here we didn't expect to need too many more spin options. In saying that, having played three in the first one, certainly we had to sit down and think about given the number of overs they may bowl and the possible chance of injury, which unfortunately has happened to Mark Craig.
For Jeetan to come into the squad after a period of time away from the team is a great opportunity for him. The guys are all looking forward to having him and his experience in this side. He's been a quality performer for a long period of time and it is that like-for-like swap as well."
On what Jeetan Patel would add to the team...
Jeets loves the game of cricket and loves playing for his country. It was perhaps unexpected. He has played a lot in England lately and almost considers himself a local in that part of the world but we know he's not and we are looking forward to having him back in the side. There are a number of other players from Wellington in the side who have spent a lot of time with Jeets and they're all very excited about it. He is looking forward to coming back and making an impact."
On Martin Guptill and his prospects for the Kolkata Test...
Obviously this game has just finished so we get to sit down and talk about whatever the team may be for the next one and what balance we will go in with. In the first innings, he got off to a good start and was perhaps a bit unfortunate in the second innings but he has certainly shown his class in the white ball format and we are backing him to show that in the red ball. He is working hard at his game and looking to improve. It isn't the easiest of places to play sometimes. We'll sit down in the next day or two and look at the side we might go with.
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