‘Injury does not seem to affect them’: New Zealand coach Gary Stead in awe of India’s bench strength

New Zealand’s head coach Gary Stead is in awe of India’s bench strength and feels injury doesn’t seem to affect them. India has a huge pool of players for all three formats of the game and they have been ticking the right boxes for the team.

India recently defeated Bangladesh by 2-0 in the Test series and then bested the Tigers by 3-0 in the T20I series. Rohit Sharma’s men next assignment is the three-match Test series against the Kiwis.

“If they have an injury it does not seem to affect them like other teams. There is someone else who can come in who is equally adept,” Stead told reporters in Bengaluru.

“They have the mass of numbers they can call, but they are also very skilful and are an experienced team with a lot of Test caps. They play a brand of cricket that makes it very difficult for you over here, but that is the challenge that is ahead of us,” he added.

Meanwhile, India has an impeccable record in home conditions as they have won the last 18 Test series. On the other hand, the Blackcaps won their last Test match on Indian soil back in 1988.

New Zealand will be led by Tom Latham who recently took over the baton from Tim Southee. Stead revealed that the veteran fast bowler is trying his level best to prepare for the India tour.

“From my conversations with Tim, he recognised he has not been at his best but there is certainly no desire to not get back there,” Stead said. “He is working hard in the background, he is doing everything he can and trying to rediscover what that little thing he feels is missing is.”

“There is a couple of little technical points Tim is working on. He is working with (Jacob) Oram around them. We have looked back at quite a bit of video from previous years and times he has played in India and had success. It is just (about) trying to rediscover that and find a little bit, I guess you could call it snap back into his action,” he added.

The opening Test match between India and New Zealand will be played in Bengaluru from October 16.