India frustrated by New Zealand taking breaks

India have expressed frustration at what they hinted was a ploy of New Zealand batsmen to slow the game down through comfort breaks. They feel that denied their bowlers momentum just as they had begun to build pressure on Kane Williamson and Tom Latham. In a wicketless second session, before rain washed out the rest of the day, India managed to get in 26 overs. Eight of these 26 overs were bowled by the quicks. There were seven to eight unscheduled breaks taken in the session.

India's batting coach Sanjay Bangar was asked about the frustration of the rain break when he spoke about the New Zealand tactics. "It was starting to turn a bit, and the bowlers were getting into good rhythm," Bangar said. "I think the break of rain and the intermittent breaks in between definitely hampered the bowlers' rhythm. That is something that we need to be aware of. And if somebody has come out with a ploy we need to negotiate that as well."

There was a period towards the end of the second session when the ball started to do tricks for the spinners. For the last 20 minutes or so of that session, not in this context, you felt the batsmen could do with a break because the bowlers seemed to be building towards something. The last 10 overs of the day brought 25 runs compared to the overall run rate of 3.23.

Bangar seemed to suggest it was a deliberate ploy. He did say that all sides, including India, look to gain every inch before evoking the spirit of cricket. "That may have been a strategy, and that is something we have spoken of," Bangar said. "We need to make sure that we are getting a lot of overs and that is something that the umpires are aware of that no matter how hot and humid the conditions are, you still have to make sure that the continuity of the game is not hampered.

"Not to read too much into it, but there are certain areas wherein every individual looks to score and advantage over the opposition. Even we do that at some point of time. That is something we need to be aware of, but ultimately it is the spirit of the game that needs to be kept in tact."

Bangar suggested the umpires might have assured India in this matter. Asked what they plan to do about this "strategy", Bangar said: "That is something the umpires have been aware of. It is something the on-field umpires and the match referee are aware of. Obviously they will make sure that certain corrective measures will be taken in the days to come."

Towards the end of the session, the umpires did seem to get involved when New Zealand batsmen called for drinks or change of gloves. Latham, who got treatment for what seemed like cramps minutes before the tea break, did so with the umpires standing in close vicinity of the physio administering the treatment.

Other than that it worth noting that it has been incredibly humid in Kanpur. On day one Mark Craig was completely soaked as he bowled. Mitchell Santner even said the sweat made it difficult for them to maintain the ball for reverse swing. There were also a number of times a bowler had to be stopped because someone was walking in front or right above the sight screen, but that was the case when India batted too.

It is impossible to tell now whether it was a New Zealand strategy, because their press conference was conducted before India's. However, in a different context, Craig McMillan, New Zealand's batting coach, was asked if they had decided to not let Ravindra Jadeja rush through his overs. Against South Africa last season, Jadeja was finishing his overs in under two minutes, but he couldn't do that here.

"Well he has one of the shortest run-ups in world cricket, so it is never going to take long for him to get through his overs," McMillan said. "As a batsman it is important you are not rushed and you take your time so you are ready to face in your own time. That can be difficult when someone has such a short run-up, but I thought the guys did that well.

"It doesn't matter what bowler you face, you have to make sure you're ready. He's got one of those short run-ups so he gets through his overs quickly. It's just about being prepared and making sure you're ready to face up and you're not rushed. I thought the guys were fine but it is something to keep an eye on because sometimes those guys with shorter run-ups can be bowling the ball before you've even looked up."