The former batsman looked happy with the way the left-right combination rotated the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking. But it was the use of footwork that impressed McMillan the most.
New Zealand batting coach Craig McMillan lauded opener Tom Latham and skipper Kane Williamson for countering the Indian spinners so effectively at the end of Day Two here on Friday.
The former batsman looked happy with the way the left-right combination rotated the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking. But it was the use of footwork that impressed McMillan the most.
"It's hard to pick a bowler like Ravindra Jadeja, who bowls a consistent line and quick through the air. Both our batsmen used the depth of the crease well and picked the length throughout," said the former skipper.
The art of playing spin in India, he felt, was not to get frustrated with occasional misses and appeals and the real challenge was to keep the mental composure. "That's part of playing in India. Spinners who know the conditions well are going to challenge you at different times. So, mentally it's important to not get disturbed and not get worried when when ball beats the outside edge," said McMillan.
Williamson and Latham have till now added 117 runs for the unbroken second wicket and never looked in trouble against the four Indian bowlers. "They soaked the pressure throughout the innings. Whenever they got the scoring opportunity, they made the most of it," McMillan added.
When asked if he felt that playing with five bowlers helped his side to restrict the long Indian batting line-up, McMillan agreed that skipper Williamson had a variety of options to pick from.
"We did not rely on one or two guys to do the work. The skipper could keep chopping and changing the bowlers because he had five. I think that worked really well for us in the first innings and I hope it works in the second," McMillan said.
On his team's strategy to frustrate Jadeja by wasting time while he was trying to rush through his overs, the 40-year-old said: "Well, he has one of the shortest run-ups in world cricket, so it is never going to take long for him to get through his overs. As a batsman, it's important to take your time in between deliveries. And I though that's what our batters did."
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "craig-mcmillan")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}