New Delhi: New Zealand beating India at their own game on spinning tracks, with him contributing with the bat made their 3-0 Test series victory memorable for Will Young.
The Black Caps became the first team in 91 years to inflict a clean sweep in India in a series of at least three Tests, also snapping a 12-year unbeaten run at home stretching to 18 consecutive victories.
Young filled the big boots of injured top batter Kane Williamson adequately, scoring 244 runs at an average of 48.80 in the three Tests, only behind India’s keeper-batter Rishabh Pant (261 runs) and team-mate Rachin Ravindra (256 runs).
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He made 71 and 51 in the third test in Mumbai on a turning Wankhede track that tilted the balance on their favour as New Zealand won by 25 runs.
“If you look at all three matches, there was different challenges in each. In Bangalore, a lot of wickets fell to spin and then (in) Pune and Mumbai it was a lot more challenging against spin,” Young said after NZ’s win in Mumbai on Sunday.
“As a New Zealander coming over here and playing in Indian conditions, it’s always going to be slightly more satisfaction of scoring runs against spin, so I’d suppose scoring runs in Pune or Mumbai felt more special.”
Long wait on sidelines
In the first Test at Bengaluru, Young took the place of the injured Williamson struck an unbeaten 48 as the Kiwis won by eight wickets. Williamson was subsequently ruled out of the entire series but Young said he was ready to face the challenge of Indian spinners on turning tracks.
“Since my debut about four years ago, I’ve been in and out through form (or) through selection,” he said.
“I’ve been a reserve batter for a number of years now so I’ve come to know the feeling of running the drinks really well,” Young told media here after New Zealand’s historic win, insinuating that he was always ready.
“When I do get an opportunity to play, I’m more excited to go out and do my own thing in my own way and not try to replace Kane or whoever it might be, just play my own game and see it as a great opportunity rather than big boots to fill,” he added.
