NZ glean positives from Latham, Ronchi performances

Tom Latham (194 runs at 32.33)

One of the three batsmen to score a fifty or more in each of the Tests. Latham has little experience of playing in such heat and on such pitches, and he showed a lot of courage and determination to fight it out for long periods of time. Not for long enough as it turned out.

Luke Ronchi (200 runs at 33.33)

A bit of a surprise as he was not an established Test player coming into the series, but showed quickness of feet and eye to put India under pressure for brief periods of time. Got two rough lbw calls, but still would have liked to convert one of those contributions into a big one.

Mitchell Santner (159 runs at 26.5, 10 wickets at 52.4)

On his first Test tour to a country where he is expected to win his side matches, Santner did not quite answer that call but showed a lot of promise as an important player for the future. There was a lot of application in his batting and determination in his bowling. Could well end up as a genuine allrounder for all conditions.

Trent Boult (10 wickets at 33.3)

With only one of the Tests played in conditions that kept him in the game, Boult did well to end up as the third-highest wicket-taker in the series. Never let up the intensity that New Zealand pride themselves on. Would have loved to run through the tail at least once.

Kane Williamson (135 runs at 33.75)

Came as arguably the best Test batsman going around, began brightly enough with a half-century in his first innings of the series, but fell all four times to R Ashwin when playing on the back foot. Missed the middle Test with illness. Couldn't win a toss either.

Neil Wagner (5 wickets at 39.2)

Brought the hostility he is known for, took out Virat Kohli once and played a part in setting him up on another occasion, but again failed to run through the tail, which you expect of hostile bowlers. With little or no reverse swing happening, he became a bit of a one-trick pony.

Jeetan Patel (6 wickets at 48.66)

Coming back after he had almost given up on playing for New Zealand, Patel bowled better than the numbers suggest. He was close to the pace required on the Indian pitches, stayed accurate for long periods, and could have perhaps made a difference in Kanpur, the most helpful pitch for the spinners in this series. Scored a 47 too.

Jimmy Neesham (71 runs at 35.5)

These are not the conditions for Neesham's bowling; that and his injury meant he played only one Test. In that Test, though, he showed his aggressive intent could have helped them with the bat, and he did not bowl untidily either.

Matt Henry (6 wickets at 42.33)

Bowled with pace, precision and spirit, and once again the numbers don't tell the whole story. What the numbers do say is that on a green pitch, he and his two partner fast bowlers were stalled by India's tail twice. There was enough to suggest, though, that he will push Tim Southee for a place in the New Zealand conditions even if the incumbent is fit.

BJ Watling (111 runs at 22.2 and five dismissals)

Always seemed to find himself in the middle just when the ball began reversing. Kept fighting with the bat, and no blemish behind the stumps.

Martin Guptill (159 runs at 26.5)

Got out caught off his own boot, bowled off his elbow and run out by the bowler through a deflection onto the stumps at the non-striker's end. Having said that, opening is one of the less difficult jobs in India and, as the aggressive batsman, he was expected to set the tone, which he managed to do only once in six efforts.

Ish Sodhi (3 wickets at 49.66)

On the most responsive of the pitches for spinners, failed to put enough pressure on India and also bowled a fair few loose balls, getting cut or pulled. Sodhi was consequently dropped for the second Test, and played no further part in the series.

Mark Craig (2 wickets at 69.5)

Showed better control than Sodhi, but less menace. Did not make a difference with the bat either as New Zealand lost five wickets for seven runs in the first innings of the series. Unfortunate injury meant he did not get a shot at redemption.

Henry Nicholls (25 runs at 12.5)

Got thrown into the deep end with Williamson injured in Kolkata. Showed application in the second innings but India's bowlers proved to be too good.

Ross Taylor (89 runs at 14.83)

Just couldn't trust his defence after he was out lbw to a straighter one in his first innings of the series. Guilty of plonking the front foot across and getting caught in between, making him a proper candidate for lbws. Not known anyway for disciplined defence, he couldn't bring his cavalier approach against such good bowling in these conditions. Thirty-two of the runs came in a devil-may-care hit-out in the final innings of the series when not much was left to lose.