Image Credit- AFP
According to captain Tim Southee, New Zealand’s demise
in Sylhet was caused by a lack of batting partnerships and accurate bowling for
extended periods of time. The visitors lost their maiden Test match in
Bangladesh by a margin of 150 runs. The first innings saw the two teams square
off, but the home team emerged victorious in the third with a good showing, and
on the fifth morning they bowled out New Zealand for eighteen runs.
Southee complimented his opponent Najmul Hossain
Shanto for scoring a century at the perfect time and stated that Bangladesh was
accurate for longer periods of time.
“You look at the way that the Bangladesh bowlers
were able to apply pressure for a long period of time. I think we did it in
periods, but we probably didn’t do it for long enough,” Southee said.
“You are always looking at partnerships as a
batting unit. I think Shanto played a great innings. It was obviously a very
timely one as well, given the situation of the game. There’s many things you
can look back on and as a side, you’re just looking to improve and hopefully,
learn from this and move forward in a few days.
“I think the Bangladesh bowlers bowled well, and
very accurate, and in the way they bowl and the style they bowl, we know that
in this part of the world, it tends to get harder to bat as the Test moves on.
It tends to take a little bit more turn and a little bit more variable bounce.
You just need a couple of partnerships.”
Due to the recent good form of players like Kyle
Jamieson, Ajaz Patel, and Ish Sodhi, particularly in the subcontinent, Southee
urged that New Zealand select the best playing XI in Sylhet.
“You look at the conditions and you look at the
squad you’ve got, and you pick your best XI. You look at the bowling group and
KJ (Kyle Jamieson) has been a phenomenal performer for us.
“Ish Sodhi was the Player of the Series in the
last series that he played, and AJ (Ajaz Patel) has been a great bowler for us
in this part of the world. I think you look at it at the start of the Test, and
you pick your strongest side, which you think is going to win you the
game.”