Kiwis flying high after stunning cricket-mad India

Article content

There was unbridled joy in Rawalpindi and unexpected outrage in Pune.

Article content

Across the border in Pakistan, the home team clobbered high-flying England by nine wickets and, in India, the home team crashed to its first Test series loss in 12 years.

There was pin-drop silence at the Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium as New Zealand became the first team since Alastair Cook’s England in 2012 to breach the Indian fortress.

A week ago, the tourists clobbered India for its first Test victory in India in 36 years and now they have an embarrassed the top Test nation in the world.

As one would expect, diehard Indian fans and former internationals were infuriated with the unexpected defeat and called on Rohit Sharma to hand in his armband as skipper and for veteran ace Virat Kohli to retire.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

Play Video

But, of course, that isn’t likely to happen as India will soon be heading to Australia in defence of the Border Gavaskar Trophy, the most anticipated clash in Test cricket. This encounter has in recent years overtaken the Australia-England Ashes series in terms of worldwide appeal and television ratings.

Article content

Article content

The Kiwis have to thank Mitch Santner for this 113-run victory in Pune as the left-armer snapped up 13 wickets for 157 runs and became an overnight hero in his country with his feat and that of his teammates in India will be talked about for years to come.

New Zealand finished the game inside three days after posting 259 and 255 while India was restricted to 156 and 245.

For the visitors, Devon Conway topped scoring with 76 while skipper Tom Latham blasted 86 in the second knock.

For India, spinner Washington Sundar, who was a surprise selection, was the pick of the team with a haul of seven for 59 in the first innings and four for 56 in the second. Also, opening batsman Yashasvi Jaiswal made a superb 77 in the second innings while the rest of the batsmen fired blanks with the exception of Ravindra Jadeja, who weighed in with 42.

Article content

“It is a collective failure,” Sharma said. “The team has failed to accept the challenge thrown at us.”

Losing the series 2-0 with one Test to go in Mumbai on Friday, India isn’t likely to forget the ignominy of being skittled for 46 in that first-Test trouncing.

Of a greater concern for India as it embarks for Down Under will be the form of skipper Sharma, who has scored 62 runs in four innings while demigod Virat Kholi hasn’t been much better with a mere 88 runs and that includes one knock of 70 in the first Test.

ENGLAND STUNNED

England still is spinning from the drubbing it received from Pakistan in the three-Test series.

Not only was Ben Stokes’ squad hammered by nine wickets inside three days, its highly touted new style of attacking cricket called Bazball fizzled and died. The all-out attacking style, that was introduced by coach Brendon McCullum, has its limitations and, while England is being lauded for this aggressive style, fans obviously have a short memory.

Article content

It was the West Indies led by the irrepressible Viv Richards who had fans dancing in the stands with the power unleashed by the Calypso Kings.

The demand to watch these Caribbean stars across the world was as huge as the demand for Taylor Swift concerts seats. Tickets were sold out well in advance as fans came in droves to watch the Caribbean fast bowlers and the batsmen who flayed every ball.

In that crucial third Test, spinners Noman Ali (six for 42) and Sajid Khan (four for 69) grabbed all 20 wickets and it was sweet revenge for skipper Shan Masood and his squad after going down 3-0 to England two years ago.

In the first innings, Khan bagged six for 128 and Ali three for 88. England made 267 and 112 and Pakistan put on 344 and smashed 37 for one off just 3.1 overs.

Article content

ONE STEPS DOWN, ONE FIRED

World Cup-winning coach Gary Kirsten has resigned as head coach of Pakistan’s white ball team and, in another shock development, the United States booted out head coach Stuart Law.

Kirsten, who led India to the World Cup in 2010, was appointed Pakistan’s coach six months ago and it was hailed as an amazing coup to get a coach of his calibre. But he found himself at logger heads with the selection committee, who wanted more of a say than him.

He has been replaced by former Aussie fast bowler Jason Gillespie, who coaches Pakistan’s Test squad.

Meanwhile, the firing of Law after seven successful months sent shockwaves in U.S. cricketing circles. The former Aussie player helped the U.S. reach the second round of the World Twenty20 Cup against all expectations.

The news was first revealed by Cricbuzz and later confirmed by Cricket U.S.A. that there were serious allegations of discrimination, mistrust and favouritism laid by captain Monank Patel and seven or eight senior players.

Check out our sports section for the latest news and analysis.

Article content