New Zealand wicketkeeper Tim Seifert admits it has been tough to get to grips with Jasprit Bumrah’s variations in the on-going series with India.
The Black Caps currently trail the visitors 2-0 in the current five-game T20I contest.
India continued their domination with a seven-wicket win in Auckland on Sunday.
The third T20 takes place in Hamilton on Wednesday. India are 1.47 (7/15) favourites with 10Cric to make it 3-0. New Zealand are available at 2.35 (27/20) with the same firm to bounce back at Seddon Park.
Bumrah hard to pick for struggling New Zealand
Bumrah was again at the heart of India’s tactics to keep the pressure on New Zealand’s batting line-up.
Seifert admits it has been tough to adapt to the Mumbai Indians’ paceman.
He said: “Even in the first game, Bumrah bowled slower balls that were going wider. Normally, death bowlers get into straighter lines, plus yorkers and mix it with chest height. He kind of changes things a lot and is tougher to play.
“The ball was holding a lot more which made it tougher. So sometimes as a batsman you have to move away from the stumps and see if they bowl straight.
“I was backing myself to do something different instead of just standing there at the wicket.
“It was tricky and the ball was holding a little bit. When Kane (Williamson) got out in the over against Yuzvendra Chahal, we knew it was the over to push because they had Bumrah coming back,” he added.
Seifert’s praise for “strong” India
The New Zealand keeper says his team have just been outplayed in the series so far.
“To be honest, in the first game they were 110-1 and they had wickets in hand,” he added.
“We didn’t bowl too badly in that first game. In the second game, we only got 130 and it is tough to bowl at Eden Park (with that total).
“170 was the target in mind but once you get 130 on the board, that was going to be very hard at Eden Park against a team that is very strong and playing really well. But our spinners were outstanding. Good balls have gone to the boundary.”
Seifert is now targeting a comeback for the Black Caps in Hamilton.
He said: “We have lost the first two games but we haven’t played badly. We definitely haven’t played our best though while India has played very well. If we lose the series on Wednesday, it is not the end of the world. But if we can turn things around, and win, we will take things from there.”
