New Zealand Test: Overseas curse strikes again!

New Zealand has always been a nightmarish place to tour for India and this time around, it proved to be no different. And the Kiwi team ensured that the reputation stayed intact and sent India back home with nothing to show for their efforts.

Although India had a few moments in the tour, overall it was a dismal one. It was a familiar tale of a flop show abroad, a tale that threatens to repeat itself every time when the team embarks on an overseas tour. A spectacular triple hundred from the Kiwi skipper Brendon McCullum who was ably supported by young BJ Watling saved the Kiwis from what looked like a certain defeat in the Wellington test and extended India's agonizing wait for an overseas win.

Coming out of a prolonged lean patch in sports can be a herculean task and at the moment, nobody knows it better than the Indian team. The Indian team seems to be caught in a web of defeats, spun more by its incompetence in handling testing situations and alien conditions, than by the brilliance of its opponent.

Our record overseas has never been one to boast off, but the recent string of defeats is definitely a cause for serious concern. A loss in one or two games can be forgiven and forgotten but getting beaten in almost every match for over three series points to a dangerous losing pattern. An average Indian fan shudders to think of how low India's ranking would fall to if it plays only overseas matches for a couple of years.

Having lost the ODI series comprehensively, India badly needed to win the test series to redeem itself. But,in the longer format too, they came up second best. Although NZ is way below India in the ICC rankings, the end result and the performances suggest otherwise. In Auckland test, India were in a position where they required less than 200 runs to win with 8 wickets and plenty of time left. When a display of sound technique was needed to fend off the new ball threat, the batsmen faltered and the team collapsed to a 40 run defeat. After all, winning on subcontinent where the conditions are all too familiar, is one thing and excelling on overseas pitches is another, where there are overwhelming odds. Most of the sub-continent pitches are batting paradises with little pace and bounce. But, the overseas pitches are vastly different.

In Wellington, NZ were in dire straits at 94/5 with the threat of an innings defeat looming large. It was a great chance for India to level the series and break their winless streak. An Indian victory looked highly likely and another wicket there could have effectively shut the doors on NZ. But, then came a spectacular turn-around. The bowling attack which looked ominous till then slowly began to lose its effectiveness. Instead of trying to draw the batsman into playing a false shot, the hope that batsmen will make mistake sooner or later, grew. When India needed just one final telling blow to close out the contest, they failed to land it. That record breaking partnership between McCullum and Watling not only erased the massive deficit but also eventually led them to post a target which would be well beyond India's reach. Once the duo got settled, the Indian bowlers never looked like being anywhere close to dislodging them. For his remarkable performance, this test will be remembered as Brendon McCullum's test.

No matter the strength of the bowling line-up, scoring a triple hundred is always something special as it requires tremendous patience and long hours of concentration. And to do that from the situation which Mc Cullum came to bat in, it is doubly special. Of course, Mc Cullum was dropped very early in his innings by Virat Kohli, but every marathon innings contains a slice of luck in it.

When the opportunities presented themselves, India failed to capitalize and make them count. It deservedly paid a heavy price for squandering them. But when NZ got them, they grabbed them with both hands and turned the tables on India.

Some decisions in the series call MS Dhoni's captaincy skills into serious question. Once hailed as a great leader and a cool captain, his captaincy now has few supporters, leave aside his die-hard fans. His decision to give a long spell to Ravindra Jadeja, whose left-arm spin looked harmless for most part, is questionable. His defensive field placements have often been subject of debate. As a batsman, he is an under-achiever in tests. His seemingly inexplicable tactics often did wonders in limited overs cricket but fell flat in tests. Clean-sweeps in England and Australia already set the tongues wagging against his captaincy and with the latest defeat, calls for his sacking will only grow louder. Is it time to look for a replacement for Dhoni as Test captain ? Probably Yes !

However, there are a few positives to take from this series. Ajinkya Rahane's century in the second test was impressive. His career is still in the nascent stage and this maiden hundred will do a world of good to his confidence. He is a class act with an amazing record in the domestic circuit and has solid technique necessary to excel at the highest level. Ishant Sharma claimed two six wicket hauls in two matches, which is a rare feat for an Indian pacer. But, it is too early to claim that he emerged as the spearhead of the bowling attack as every time in the past when people thought so, he proved them wrong immediately. The young and hard-working Mohd. Shammi , has shown the potential to become a strike bowler. He swings the ball well at a lively pace and is a player for the future. This tour demonstrated how difficult life outside the subcontinent will be for the young brigade of team India and taught them a hard lesson.

-Praveen NVS-