Left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner believes the upcoming limited-overs series in New Zealand against India could be a high-scoring affair due to the nature of the grounds and hopes to be fit time, PTI reported.
India, who last toured New Zealand in 2013-’14, will return to New Zealand for a five-match One-day International rubber starting January 23 in Napier, to be followed by a best-of-three T20 Internationals.
“Both teams have changed a lot since then (the 2014 tour). India have performed in England and against (Australia) in conditions similar to New Zealand. It’s (depends on) how quickly they (India) can adapt to those conditions,” Santner said.
“If they can hit the ground running on those home conditions for us, it’s going to make for a very interesting series. It can be a high-scoring series with the nature of grounds and wickets (on offer),” he added.
Santner, along with compatriot Corey Anderson, spoke to reporters in Mumbai. “Virat [Kohli] and other Indian batsmen are scoring a lot of runs at the moment and they haven’t been to New Zealand for four years. But they have played all round the country and scored runs everywhere.”
“So, they will probably like our conditions, where it’s quite flat with not a lot of turn. And obviously, if there’s not a lot of swing, it (series) can be high-scoring. So the batsmen will like it and hopefully the ball swings for us,” the 26-year-old spinner said.
Santner also feels the two teams could take momentum from the series before heading into the 2019 World Cup, which starts in England at the end of May. “The series will be a good test for both the sides leading into the World Cup and I guess in similar conditions. Both the teams will be looking forward to the competition and to take some momentum into the World Cup,” he added.
On a personal note, Santner, who is recovering from a knee injury, hopes to return to action during the India series. “[I have] been out for a while; its been nine months. So have been back training and cricket is not too far away. Hopefully [I] will join the home summer and get back for this Indian series and try and get some wickets,” he noted.
According to Santner, India have a “strong batting line up” and the key for the visitors, with wrist spinners Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal in operation, will be to get wickets in the middle overs. “With the nature of flat wickets, the wrist spinners can spin the ball both ways. The key in ODI cricket is to get wickets in the middle (overs).”
“The wrist spinners – they might leak a lot more runs but have the option (chance) of getting more wickets (too),” he said.
All-rounder Anderson, on his part, said he would like to be in New Zealand’s 2019 World Cup team. “If I stay fit, I would love to be involved in that team (of the World Cup). I have the experience of being (in the team) for the last World Cup. If I am playing my best cricket, I can do a very good job for New Zealand and help balance out the side,” Anderson reckoned.
