1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,467 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport Podcast with Jason Fine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,987 Speaker 1: from Newstalk ZB. 3 00:00:12,787 --> 00:00:16,027 Speaker 2: Black Caps on the verge of a first ever Test 4 00:00:16,267 --> 00:00:19,907 Speaker 2: series win in India, dominating the opening two days of 5 00:00:19,947 --> 00:00:23,067 Speaker 2: the second Test in Poune, looks closing in with the 6 00:00:23,187 --> 00:00:23,667 Speaker 2: army and. 7 00:00:23,827 --> 00:00:26,267 Speaker 3: By a finger goes up. I'm by a Paul Rifle 8 00:00:26,707 --> 00:00:28,547 Speaker 3: has had a good deal as well, and so has 9 00:00:28,587 --> 00:00:31,707 Speaker 3: the man on your screen, Mitchell Santna. The second best 10 00:00:31,707 --> 00:00:34,907 Speaker 3: figures by New Zealander and India Mitchell Sandner. 11 00:00:35,267 --> 00:00:37,747 Speaker 2: Seventh for fifty three. What a spell of balling. 12 00:00:37,747 --> 00:00:39,707 Speaker 3: It's been well for the first time. 13 00:00:39,747 --> 00:00:41,547 Speaker 2: Mitchell Santa is going to get to hold that ball 14 00:00:41,627 --> 00:00:44,187 Speaker 2: up and he will hold it up very, very proudly. 15 00:00:44,227 --> 00:00:44,667 Speaker 1: Indeed. 16 00:00:44,747 --> 00:00:47,507 Speaker 2: So match scores New Zealand two fifty nine and one 17 00:00:47,587 --> 00:00:50,507 Speaker 2: ninety eight for five, India all out one fifty six. 18 00:00:50,587 --> 00:00:54,387 Speaker 2: Mitchell Santner seven for fifty three. His best Test figure 19 00:00:54,387 --> 00:00:56,827 Speaker 2: is by a long way. The second best figure is 20 00:00:56,827 --> 00:00:59,827 Speaker 2: ever by New Zealander in India. The equal eighth best 21 00:00:59,867 --> 00:01:03,387 Speaker 2: innings bowling figures by any New Zealand bowler in our 22 00:01:03,467 --> 00:01:06,667 Speaker 2: Test cricket history that has The Black Caps had by 23 00:01:06,787 --> 00:01:09,827 Speaker 2: three hundred and one, with five second innings wickets in 24 00:01:09,867 --> 00:01:12,387 Speaker 2: hand and three days still to play. Let's just put 25 00:01:12,387 --> 00:01:15,147 Speaker 2: this in context for you. We've been touring India since 26 00:01:15,307 --> 00:01:19,427 Speaker 2: nineteen fifty five. What's that nearly seventy years. This is 27 00:01:19,467 --> 00:01:22,667 Speaker 2: the thirteenth time New Zealand have played a Test series 28 00:01:22,667 --> 00:01:26,307 Speaker 2: in India. Of the previous twelve, eleven have been won 29 00:01:26,347 --> 00:01:29,587 Speaker 2: by India. The only drawn series was in the back 30 00:01:29,667 --> 00:01:32,347 Speaker 2: end of two thousand and three when both Test matches 31 00:01:32,707 --> 00:01:35,587 Speaker 2: were drawn. Scott Styris was in that team actually that 32 00:01:35,667 --> 00:01:37,427 Speaker 2: drew both those Test matches at the back end of 33 00:01:37,427 --> 00:01:40,027 Speaker 2: two thousand and three. He joins us now, Scott, I 34 00:01:40,107 --> 00:01:42,667 Speaker 2: honestly didn't think I'd be saying the sentence. Mitchell Santina 35 00:01:42,707 --> 00:01:44,987 Speaker 2: has bowled New Zealand into a winning position. What did 36 00:01:45,067 --> 00:01:46,667 Speaker 2: you make of his bowling on Day two? 37 00:01:48,267 --> 00:01:52,547 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think Mitchell center, of course, has been having 38 00:01:52,587 --> 00:01:54,467 Speaker 3: short of terrific with the white ball in his hand. 39 00:01:54,547 --> 00:01:56,227 Speaker 3: The red bull's been a bit more of a challenge. 40 00:01:56,267 --> 00:01:58,587 Speaker 3: But you know, he's got a lot of talent, there's 41 00:01:58,587 --> 00:02:00,507 Speaker 3: no question about that, and it's great to see him 42 00:02:00,507 --> 00:02:04,347 Speaker 3: step up and conditions which favor him. It's fair to say, 43 00:02:04,467 --> 00:02:06,187 Speaker 3: but you've still got to deliver, and he did that. 44 00:02:07,147 --> 00:02:09,547 Speaker 2: Well, I think you're right that the conditions do favor him. 45 00:02:09,547 --> 00:02:11,387 Speaker 2: But aj s Pattel at the same time didn't get 46 00:02:11,427 --> 00:02:14,027 Speaker 2: any wickets in the in the in the in the 47 00:02:14,067 --> 00:02:16,587 Speaker 2: first thing. So so you've got to put it down 48 00:02:16,627 --> 00:02:19,707 Speaker 2: to Mitchell Santner doing something that he hasn't really done 49 00:02:19,707 --> 00:02:22,787 Speaker 2: a Test level. That's just bold, terrifically well, don't you. 50 00:02:24,467 --> 00:02:27,827 Speaker 3: Yeah. I think what we saw is his height, place 51 00:02:27,867 --> 00:02:29,667 Speaker 3: and advantage he's got. He's a tall man, he's got 52 00:02:29,667 --> 00:02:32,627 Speaker 3: a nice high action, very similar to a Daniel Vittori. 53 00:02:33,107 --> 00:02:35,507 Speaker 3: So he was the one that extracted a lot more 54 00:02:35,547 --> 00:02:37,707 Speaker 3: bounce out of the surface and that's what caused the 55 00:02:37,747 --> 00:02:41,747 Speaker 3: batsman problems. Wasn't so much the variable bounce. When you 56 00:02:41,787 --> 00:02:44,587 Speaker 3: couple that with the ability to stand theball almost tennis ball, 57 00:02:44,707 --> 00:02:49,387 Speaker 3: like I thought Mitchell Santner, then just every over you 58 00:02:49,427 --> 00:02:52,707 Speaker 3: could almost see that the approach from the batsman, the 59 00:02:52,747 --> 00:02:55,587 Speaker 3: Indian batsman was different to Santana to the others because 60 00:02:55,587 --> 00:02:58,427 Speaker 3: of the fact Phillips and a Jazz Battel are a 61 00:02:58,427 --> 00:03:00,387 Speaker 3: lot shorter and they don't get that same climb. 62 00:03:01,627 --> 00:03:04,347 Speaker 2: So in that regard then Scott. Is it likely he'll 63 00:03:04,387 --> 00:03:07,227 Speaker 2: be the most important bowler for New Zealand and the 64 00:03:07,227 --> 00:03:10,147 Speaker 2: second innings as well, or with the pitch wearing, is 65 00:03:10,147 --> 00:03:13,027 Speaker 2: it likely to bring the likes of Patel, Phillips, maybe 66 00:03:13,027 --> 00:03:15,427 Speaker 2: even Ravendra into play. 67 00:03:16,027 --> 00:03:18,427 Speaker 3: I think it will be still all about Satna just 68 00:03:18,467 --> 00:03:21,347 Speaker 3: because of that bus. That's the one. You always want 69 00:03:21,467 --> 00:03:23,827 Speaker 3: variety in your bowling attack. And even though those two 70 00:03:23,907 --> 00:03:26,987 Speaker 3: left arm spinners they're very different left arm spinners, there's 71 00:03:27,027 --> 00:03:29,587 Speaker 3: usually a little bit quicker, has their bounce bowls, a 72 00:03:29,627 --> 00:03:33,067 Speaker 3: really nice undercutter, which is often the type of delivery 73 00:03:33,067 --> 00:03:35,507 Speaker 3: in India which has the most success, not necessarily the 74 00:03:35,547 --> 00:03:40,187 Speaker 3: traditional overspin that you see the likes of Victorial, Adju 75 00:03:40,387 --> 00:03:44,227 Speaker 3: Patel look to employ. So you know, I think the 76 00:03:44,227 --> 00:03:46,107 Speaker 3: fact that that they do have the two left hours 77 00:03:46,107 --> 00:03:48,787 Speaker 3: but they are very different does posts some problems is 78 00:03:48,787 --> 00:03:50,787 Speaker 3: a great strength for us because the spinners have done 79 00:03:51,147 --> 00:03:51,787 Speaker 3: really well on. 80 00:03:51,747 --> 00:03:54,507 Speaker 2: This to it absolutely so. Then New Zealand went out 81 00:03:54,507 --> 00:03:56,587 Speaker 2: to bat with a first innings lead of just over 82 00:03:56,627 --> 00:03:59,867 Speaker 2: one hundred. They were really positive to start. How important 83 00:04:00,387 --> 00:04:03,547 Speaker 2: was Tom Latham's eighty six in the second innings yesterday? 84 00:04:04,507 --> 00:04:06,187 Speaker 3: Oh? I love every minute of it. And the reason 85 00:04:06,227 --> 00:04:08,387 Speaker 3: for that is because of the old school batting, wasn't it. 86 00:04:08,427 --> 00:04:12,067 Speaker 3: I mean, I think we saw two teams of batsmen 87 00:04:12,107 --> 00:04:14,947 Speaker 3: who on that surface where they couldn't necessarily trust the balance, 88 00:04:14,987 --> 00:04:17,547 Speaker 3: didn't know how much it was going to turn. They 89 00:04:17,547 --> 00:04:20,747 Speaker 3: didn't really back their defensive screen, their defensive technique, and 90 00:04:20,787 --> 00:04:23,027 Speaker 3: therefore they were quite aggressive and they didn't have a 91 00:04:23,067 --> 00:04:25,027 Speaker 3: lot of patience. Well, Tom Layton doesn't play a lot 92 00:04:25,067 --> 00:04:27,187 Speaker 3: of T twenty cricket. He does take a lot of 93 00:04:27,227 --> 00:04:30,947 Speaker 3: pride in his defense obviously employs the sweepshot, which worked 94 00:04:30,987 --> 00:04:33,827 Speaker 3: really well. So I think he summed up conditions and 95 00:04:33,867 --> 00:04:37,227 Speaker 3: had the mental discipline if you like to stick to 96 00:04:37,267 --> 00:04:40,627 Speaker 3: that camp plan all the way through, because Newsilla certainly 97 00:04:40,627 --> 00:04:42,307 Speaker 3: needed it. You know, they need to get through fifty 98 00:04:42,347 --> 00:04:45,347 Speaker 3: to four hundred. I think if they do that, then yeah, 99 00:04:45,387 --> 00:04:46,787 Speaker 3: we may well see that first series win. 100 00:04:47,427 --> 00:04:50,227 Speaker 2: So we're three hundred ahead. Now, even that seems a 101 00:04:50,307 --> 00:04:53,187 Speaker 2: tough chase. Or do you think India could chase three 102 00:04:53,267 --> 00:04:53,867 Speaker 2: hundred down. 103 00:04:56,707 --> 00:04:58,427 Speaker 3: I think they could. I mean, if anyone was going 104 00:04:58,427 --> 00:05:00,547 Speaker 3: to them, it's their home conditions. They're used to these 105 00:05:00,547 --> 00:05:05,187 Speaker 3: style of pictures. I'd never feel confident in the subcontinent. 106 00:05:05,627 --> 00:05:08,307 Speaker 3: When they're got the bat in hand, they often over 107 00:05:08,347 --> 00:05:10,467 Speaker 3: the history have just made the pitchure look like a 108 00:05:10,467 --> 00:05:14,147 Speaker 3: completely different surface to battle. I think we won't see 109 00:05:14,187 --> 00:05:15,827 Speaker 3: them be as loose. You know, you won't see pulling 110 00:05:15,947 --> 00:05:19,947 Speaker 3: us another full toss Suffras. Yes he played a loose 111 00:05:19,947 --> 00:05:22,467 Speaker 3: shot to be caught him and off, but I guess 112 00:05:22,467 --> 00:05:25,107 Speaker 3: that's the way he plays. But I expect them to 113 00:05:25,107 --> 00:05:28,027 Speaker 3: be a little bit mentally stronger than that second innings. 114 00:05:28,067 --> 00:05:30,307 Speaker 3: They want want to lose that home Test match as well. 115 00:05:30,347 --> 00:05:34,307 Speaker 3: The Test Championship is something that they have won yet 116 00:05:34,667 --> 00:05:37,787 Speaker 3: and they put on a stock into it, so they 117 00:05:37,827 --> 00:05:40,627 Speaker 3: really want to keep developing that Test Cayman, India. They 118 00:05:40,667 --> 00:05:42,467 Speaker 3: book about it all the time and the commentary work 119 00:05:42,507 --> 00:05:45,827 Speaker 3: I do there that that's the version of the game 120 00:05:45,867 --> 00:05:48,787 Speaker 3: that they want to take to the next level. So 121 00:05:48,827 --> 00:05:51,427 Speaker 3: they'll be bristling with the fact that they're behind in 122 00:05:51,507 --> 00:05:53,187 Speaker 3: the series in a big way. 123 00:05:53,267 --> 00:05:55,787 Speaker 2: So Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips will resume today one 124 00:05:55,867 --> 00:05:57,987 Speaker 2: ninety eight for five with that lead of three hundred 125 00:05:58,027 --> 00:06:01,827 Speaker 2: odd What will or what should the batting plan be 126 00:06:01,987 --> 00:06:05,667 Speaker 2: for New Zealand today? 127 00:06:05,827 --> 00:06:09,947 Speaker 3: A good Glenn Phillips doesn't look like he has quite 128 00:06:09,947 --> 00:06:12,347 Speaker 3: worked out how to play the spinners in these conditions yet, 129 00:06:12,907 --> 00:06:15,267 Speaker 3: So in my own mind I'm a little torn if 130 00:06:15,307 --> 00:06:17,187 Speaker 3: he doesn't back his defense. He seems to be going 131 00:06:17,267 --> 00:06:20,387 Speaker 3: back onto the back foot a lot, which is not 132 00:06:20,587 --> 00:06:24,267 Speaker 3: the way to play the spinners over there. So maybe 133 00:06:24,307 --> 00:06:26,747 Speaker 3: it is that aggressive try and go out there and 134 00:06:27,107 --> 00:06:29,427 Speaker 3: get to the bowlers before they get you. If he 135 00:06:29,467 --> 00:06:32,627 Speaker 3: can get thirty or forty, along with Bundle getting another 136 00:06:32,627 --> 00:06:34,427 Speaker 3: twenty or thirty, then you know New Zealand will have 137 00:06:34,707 --> 00:06:36,867 Speaker 3: a total they will feel they can and should win with. 138 00:06:38,147 --> 00:06:40,547 Speaker 3: So it's all about the approach more than anything. How 139 00:06:40,587 --> 00:06:42,867 Speaker 3: are you going to score your runs? The sweep shots, 140 00:06:42,987 --> 00:06:44,667 Speaker 3: the square the wickets have been the one that have 141 00:06:44,747 --> 00:06:47,587 Speaker 3: done well so far. But you know, you've got to 142 00:06:47,587 --> 00:06:49,587 Speaker 3: look at Glen Phillips. You can just see that he's 143 00:06:49,827 --> 00:06:52,387 Speaker 3: a little torn in his own mind about how he's 144 00:06:52,427 --> 00:06:54,067 Speaker 3: going to do it. But this partnership is a big one. 145 00:06:54,667 --> 00:06:58,067 Speaker 2: Indeed. Questions for a few on text actually Scott from 146 00:06:58,147 --> 00:07:00,347 Speaker 2: Jeff what would be better winning a Test series in 147 00:07:00,347 --> 00:07:02,947 Speaker 2: India or winning a Test series in Australia? 148 00:07:03,987 --> 00:07:08,067 Speaker 3: Oh what a question? Can I say both both? It 149 00:07:08,067 --> 00:07:10,387 Speaker 3: would be amazing wasn't that, I think I think I 150 00:07:10,387 --> 00:07:13,587 Speaker 3: think I think Australia is solely because of how how 151 00:07:13,627 --> 00:07:16,667 Speaker 3: close we are and all the rivalries we have, and 152 00:07:16,667 --> 00:07:19,427 Speaker 3: then every sport that we play, to beat them over 153 00:07:19,467 --> 00:07:21,907 Speaker 3: there would be incredible. I think Australia in their home 154 00:07:21,947 --> 00:07:26,667 Speaker 3: conditions have just been so good for decades. I would 155 00:07:26,747 --> 00:07:30,667 Speaker 3: pick Australia slightly, but only slightly, because India, with the 156 00:07:30,707 --> 00:07:33,747 Speaker 3: way they're dominating the world game, the talent they have 157 00:07:33,827 --> 00:07:35,947 Speaker 3: over there, they do have a lot of respects for 158 00:07:35,987 --> 00:07:38,507 Speaker 3: New Zealand cricket, both on and off the field. They 159 00:07:39,467 --> 00:07:43,627 Speaker 3: really do, so they won't mind losing to us. They'll 160 00:07:43,627 --> 00:07:46,667 Speaker 3: prefer that to say, losing to Australia. They sort of 161 00:07:46,987 --> 00:07:49,467 Speaker 3: treat us as well as the little brother or the 162 00:07:49,827 --> 00:07:53,547 Speaker 3: or the nice breend if you like, and Indian, you know, so, 163 00:07:53,667 --> 00:07:55,707 Speaker 3: I think I think I'd still go with Australia just 164 00:07:55,747 --> 00:07:57,947 Speaker 3: solely because of the history and tradition we have in sport. 165 00:07:58,427 --> 00:08:00,867 Speaker 2: All right, maybe we can get both over the next 166 00:08:00,867 --> 00:08:03,427 Speaker 2: couple of years. And you, obviously you're obviously part of 167 00:08:03,427 --> 00:08:04,627 Speaker 2: that team. As I mentioned at the top of the 168 00:08:04,707 --> 00:08:08,347 Speaker 2: chat that got the series. The two drawn test matches 169 00:08:08,347 --> 00:08:09,747 Speaker 2: at the back end of two thousand and three, you 170 00:08:09,827 --> 00:08:12,187 Speaker 2: got a got one hundred and Mohalley one of your 171 00:08:12,187 --> 00:08:14,427 Speaker 2: five test centuries. Where does that rate among the innings 172 00:08:14,467 --> 00:08:15,067 Speaker 2: that you played. 173 00:08:16,387 --> 00:08:19,427 Speaker 3: Oh, to be honest, I don't really think about those 174 00:08:19,427 --> 00:08:23,307 Speaker 3: sorts of things too much. Look, any any test on 175 00:08:23,347 --> 00:08:25,747 Speaker 3: hundred is amazing. I think about their test more for 176 00:08:25,787 --> 00:08:27,907 Speaker 3: the fact that we That was I was patting with 177 00:08:27,947 --> 00:08:30,587 Speaker 3: Mark Richardson when he had that cramp episode. Everyone to 178 00:08:31,147 --> 00:08:33,307 Speaker 3: take the mickey. That was. That was that test match 179 00:08:33,387 --> 00:08:39,627 Speaker 3: where you know he carried on like a screaming file day. 180 00:08:43,147 --> 00:08:43,747 Speaker 2: So that was that. 181 00:08:44,027 --> 00:08:46,267 Speaker 3: I remember. You remember the funny things from games, not 182 00:08:46,307 --> 00:08:49,027 Speaker 3: so much your own your own performance. I mean, yes, 183 00:08:49,067 --> 00:08:51,027 Speaker 3: you know, you pray of course if you've done well. 184 00:08:51,067 --> 00:08:54,427 Speaker 3: But from that I think we also fielded for two 185 00:08:54,547 --> 00:08:57,787 Speaker 3: and recorded days in a row because we made India 186 00:08:57,827 --> 00:09:01,707 Speaker 3: follow on and therefore that was probably I remember that 187 00:09:01,747 --> 00:09:03,787 Speaker 3: because of the biggest stint in the field two hundred 188 00:09:03,787 --> 00:09:07,227 Speaker 3: and seventy overs or thereabouts than the field in a row, 189 00:09:07,267 --> 00:09:08,307 Speaker 3: which is just brutal. 190 00:09:08,547 --> 00:09:11,267 Speaker 2: And that, yeah, absolutely, because I think what you guys 191 00:09:11,307 --> 00:09:14,107 Speaker 2: got six hundred and twenty for five or six declared, 192 00:09:14,107 --> 00:09:15,987 Speaker 2: didn't you? And then Yeah, you what bottlemt for four 193 00:09:16,027 --> 00:09:18,227 Speaker 2: hundred and then forced to follow on. Man, that is 194 00:09:18,307 --> 00:09:20,427 Speaker 2: tough all that time out in the field, but it 195 00:09:20,507 --> 00:09:23,067 Speaker 2: must be. I mean India, we know we from from 196 00:09:23,107 --> 00:09:24,907 Speaker 2: watching on and you've been there a lot of times. 197 00:09:24,907 --> 00:09:29,147 Speaker 2: They just absolutely adore their cracket, don't they like more 198 00:09:29,187 --> 00:09:32,027 Speaker 2: than we can probably comprehend. 199 00:09:33,467 --> 00:09:38,507 Speaker 3: Yeah, it's rugby in this country. On another level, I 200 00:09:38,587 --> 00:09:41,187 Speaker 3: spend probably three months a year there due to the 201 00:09:41,187 --> 00:09:43,067 Speaker 3: commentary that I do over that part of the world, 202 00:09:43,307 --> 00:09:44,867 Speaker 3: and it's an awesome part of the word. I mean, 203 00:09:44,947 --> 00:09:47,867 Speaker 3: India is just a terrific place. Love going there. It's 204 00:09:47,867 --> 00:09:50,067 Speaker 3: certainly not a chore like it used to be for 205 00:09:50,467 --> 00:09:52,907 Speaker 3: you know, the guys in the sixties, seventies, eighties, where 206 00:09:53,107 --> 00:09:56,707 Speaker 3: everything was third world. You know, India is certainly a 207 00:09:56,787 --> 00:09:59,787 Speaker 3: lot of first world about it now. So it's easy 208 00:09:59,787 --> 00:10:03,587 Speaker 3: for the players and it makes it great because you 209 00:10:03,627 --> 00:10:07,427 Speaker 3: get the different culture, you get the different legions, the languages, 210 00:10:07,507 --> 00:10:09,227 Speaker 3: all of that, and then of course their love for 211 00:10:09,227 --> 00:10:11,947 Speaker 3: the game of cricket and they just really do have 212 00:10:12,027 --> 00:10:15,907 Speaker 3: a hero culture, hero mentality for their cricketers, both the 213 00:10:16,027 --> 00:10:19,387 Speaker 3: domestic guys and the international players that come across. So 214 00:10:19,427 --> 00:10:22,107 Speaker 3: it's a it's a great thing to experience as a player, 215 00:10:23,027 --> 00:10:25,147 Speaker 3: and the IPI certainly has been front center of that. 216 00:10:25,227 --> 00:10:26,507 Speaker 3: It's just such a massive tournament. 217 00:10:26,947 --> 00:10:29,067 Speaker 2: Good man, Scott, always love chatting credit with you, mate, 218 00:10:29,067 --> 00:10:32,187 Speaker 2: Thanks for taking our call any type. Cheers all right, 219 00:10:32,267 --> 00:10:38,227 Speaker 2: cheers mate. That Scott Starris, former international, hugely respected commentator. Now, 220 00:10:38,427 --> 00:10:40,067 Speaker 2: as you say, three months a year he spends up 221 00:10:40,107 --> 00:10:43,667 Speaker 2: in India commentating, so knows the conditions really well. 222 00:10:43,707 --> 00:10:46,867 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 223 00:10:46,987 --> 00:10:50,387 Speaker 1: to News Talk ZB weekends from midday or follow the 224 00:10:50,427 --> 00:10:51,907 Speaker 1: podcast on iHeartRadio