New Zealand vice-captain Tim Southee has given the hint that they are prepared to deal with Shreyas Iyer threat when they face India in the second Test at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. The Test will begin on December 3 and Southee said that they have gotten more information about Iyer after having seen his heroics in the first Test in Kanpur.
Shreyas Iyer had a great debut, becoming the first India batsman to smash a hundred and follow it up with a fifty in the second innings as well. Iyer scored 105 and 65 and helped India out of trouble in both innings as well. He looked absolutely comfortable on a sluggish pitch at the Green Park where New Zealand weren’t even able to restrict him with short deliveries.
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“He played exceptionally well, the way he played on his debut and with that confidence, it was brilliant. I guess we have a little more information on him now. It is not that easy to target with a short ball on such slow surfaces. We will look at our plans, although he scored some runs, India has a quality lineup.,” Tim Southee said on the eve of the 2nd Test in Mumbai.
However, Shreyas Iyer is expected to retain his place in the side despite Virat Kohli’s return to the second Test in Mumbai. Kohli, however, didn’t play in the three-match T20I series and the first Test against New Zealand after the T20 World Cup.
Meanwhile, Tim Southee acknowledged that the pitch at the Wankhede Stadium has been under the wraps now and the team combination will be finalized by captain Kane Williamson and coach Gary Stead.
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“I guess the wickets has been under the covers, hopefully, Gary and Kane can have a look at this wicket this afternoon. We were not expecting rain but this is something we need to adapt to it. Those are decisions which Kane Williamson and Gary Stead have to make in the next 24 hours. We have not been able to train because of the weather, they will have a look at the wicket this afternoon and then a decision can be made but we are yet to take a look at the wicket,” Tim Southee concluded.
