Former Pakistani cricketer Salman Butt lashed out at Team India for declaring their second innings too late on Day 4 against New Zealand, saying hosts feared that the opposition would chase the target down.
The first Test match between India and New Zealand at Green Park, Kanpur ended in a draw as the visitors displayed sensational batting performance to script the draw from the jaws of defeat.
The duo of Rachin Ravindra and Ajaz Patel showed great defensive techniques and hung on to deny hosts the win. After bowling out New Zealand for 296 runs in the first innings, Team India batted for 81 overs and then declared their innings on 234 runs, setting visitors a target of 284 runs to chase.
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India’s decision to declare the innings after facing 81 overs was skewered by many fans and pundits as they felt that the hosts should’ve declared a bit early, considering the bad light, and should’ve given the Kane Williamson-led side an hour to play on the Day 4 rather than only 15-20 minutes.
Salman Butt is the latest entrant who shared his views on the bandwagon. In his YouTube video the former Pakistan cricketer while answering a fan question on whether India should have declared 20 minutes earlier, said that the hosts should’ve declared their innings an hour ago as they could’ve taken the new ball an hour earlier on the final day.
Butt pointed out that the Ajinkya Rahane-led side batted for a long time and didn’t leave them enough time as they feared that New Zealand will chase their target down.
"I am saying they should have had an hour because New Zealand was not going to chase this total. I am saying this because, in the last hour, they could have availed the option of taking a second new ball. On this pitch, the new ball played a few tricks. So, when the tail comes into play on this kind of pitch, you are ought to bowl with the new ball.
“Bowl short to them and irrespective of whether it keeps low or climbs over them, it is bound to cause problems. And India had to bowl their overs quickly because of the spinners. They did not leave themselves enough time. Maybe they were thinking what if NZ chases it down that is why they played for so long,” Salman Butt said.
Salman Butt pointed out the Team India took an hour to score the last 40 runs in their innings on Day 4 and if they had declared a tad earlier they would’ve gotten an extra 15 overs to bowl.
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He added that team should always post a total that the opposition would fancy chasing down on the fifth day. But if they keep a total that keeps the other team interested as India did then a draw is bound to happen.
"They gave themselves far too much cushion in getting to 284. India took an hour to score the last 40 runs. They would have gotten an extra 15 overs to bowl had they declared an hour earlier. Then, they could have even gotten a couple of wickets in the evening (of Day 4).
“I always maintain that you should set a total on the fifth day that the other team would fancy chasing down because your chances increase. Leave a total that keeps the opposition interested. If you set a target that only allows the other team to block on a slow pitch, then this sort of thing is bound to happen,” he said.
Team India will now face New Zealand in the second Test match in Mumbai on 3rd December.
