Tim McIntosh: From Golden Duck to Glory; Guptill: From Mishap to Mettle

by Sreelata S. Yellamrazu

 That was the tale of New Zealand at the end of the first day of the second Test in Uppal, Hyderabad as New Zealand began with their best foot forward, causing some serious sweat for the world's no.1 ranked Test team.

 Tim McIntosh did himself no favours at the end of the first Test when he got the dubious record of a golden duck, having scored nothing in either of the two innings for New Zealand. Fortunately New Zealand fought back through other batsmen, but it did not bode well for the opener who was beginning to look like the weak link.

 But it is only when one is down that one can either rise or continue to stagnate. McIntosh chose the former and the results were there for all to see, certainly a more pleasant sight for the New Zealand captain, Daniel Vettori, and New Zealand coach, Mark Greatbatch.

Although New Zealand are not out of the woods as it were at 258 for four at stumps on the first day, their efforts were certainly enterprising, particularly the second wicket partnership that yielded 147 runs that were instrumental in wearing down the Indian bowlers who enjoyed the sole first hour of the day's play in keeping New Zealand down.

McIntosh's only second Test hundred is the culmination of deep self belief that undid the scrutiny on him following the first Test debacle. What is particularly heartening is that New Zealand have been able extract a measure of confidence after finding their feet in the first Test and have shown that despite their blooper of a series against Bangladesh, they have not entirely lost the art of playing the game as they were criticized by some of their own former New Zealand cricketers.

The second wicket partnership also saw another man shine. This time it was the turn of Martin Guptill, who will be disappointed not to have scored a century of his own. But his contribution of eighty-five cannot be discounted by any manner or means because of the diligence with which he applied himself. It was not an easy first Test for New Zealand who rebounded by making it awfully hard on India to avoid the blushes at home.

More partnerships followed, but what remains to be seen, with Jesse Ryder at the crease, is whether New Zealand can take in the positives from day one and continue in the slip stream to setting a challenging first total for India. That would really bring the game alive, and give it the edge that the series was not believed to have when it began. Back then it was only about Sachin Tendulkar and his fiftieth Test century. How quickly things can change!