Tom Latham heaps praise on new sensation Rachin Ravindra after his exploits earned him the player of the match.
Tom Latham was effusive in his praise for Rachin Ravindra’s match-winning exploits that saw New Zealand beat India at Bengaluru.
Latham was speaking about what catapulted his side to their first victory on Indian soil in 36 years. He cites his pace attack’s relentless discipline and Rachin’s maturity as the chief reasons.
“We’re blessed with a couple of guys on our side, a couple of young guys that have stepped up in this match,” Latham said after the win in the first Test in Bengaluru. “I think the way Will [O’Rourke] bowled was outstanding, but I think I also look at the other two seamers, Tim Southee and Matt Henry, the pressure they were able to apply with that new ball on day one was outstanding. Matt got the rewards and Will got the rewards in that first innings.
“It was a combination of everything. [It is] a really special feeling to be in this position. I think the work we did in the first and second innings with the ball and then obviously with the bat, really set the game up for us. It’s obviously a proud moment for this group and the one we will celebrate.”
Ravindra’s 134 in the first innings was the chief architect of New Zealand’s massive first-innings lead of 356. This was after New Zealand’s seamers ran rampant to bowl out the hosts to 46.
Ravindra also showed his game awareness and maturity in spades in the game-changing 8th wicket partnership with Tim Southee. It is a testament to his burgeoning talent despite this being his 10th test match.
“The way he [Ravindra] played the situation of the game was really important for us,” Latham said. “A 137-run partnership with a No. 9 batter is awesome. I think the way he played leading up to that [second] new ball was really important.
“Even this morning, the way he came out with the game in the balance. Another couple of wickets there and it could have been a nervy 50-60 runs. But I think the way he calmed the dressing room with his composure out there for a young guy in his ninth or tenth Test to play in that fashion is obviously exciting.
“We’ve seen the talent that he has got over the last 12 months. Certainly happy he is on our side.”
Although Tom Latham has captained New Zealand in nine previous Test matches, this was his first since Southee resigned following the Sri Lanka series last month and Latham was made full-time captain. On the second morning, he brashly said that he was “very happy” to lose the toss since he too would have chosen to bat first. Rain ruined the first day of play, and New Zealand exhausted the Indian batting lineup for the better part of two days with the wicket covered.
“I guess it’s just one of those times where you fall on the wrong or right side. Whatever way you look at it, it’s always hard,” he said. “I guess the time that the wicket was under the covers, they obviously didn’t have the preparation time that they probably would have liked and [I am] happy that it fell the right way for us.
“I think you try to look at what’s going to be harder. Is it going to be harder on day one or is it going to be harder on day five? We expect the match to go the duration of the game and I think we even saw it this morning when [Ravindra] Jadeja got that one out of the foot marks that hit Rachin in the head.
“Obviously, the pitch was deteriorating. The cracks were starting to open a little bit more and we certainly saw that from a seamer’s point of view when the ball did hit those cracks that went up and down a little bit. I guess that’s a fine balance when you come over here and there’s not many times that you win the toss and bowl. So yeah, happy it fell on the right side.”