New Zealand will go into the second Test against Bangladesh with a fresher mind after a three-day break gave them adequate time to relax and analyse their game in the drawn first Test in Chittagong.
The Kiwis had a tough time in the first Test conceding a first innings lead before struggling to keep the scoreboard ticking on an otherwise batting-friendly pitch at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury stadium in the port city.
‘The break has done us well,’ New Zealand all-rounder Corey Anderson told reporters at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium. ‘The first Test was tough, so the three days off was good. We are refreshed and revitalised.
‘We played golf yesterday [Thursday]. We wanted to go out again but we were relaxed. ’ he said.
Anderson, who made his debut in the Chittagong Test, posed greater danger for the Tigers than the two regular pacer bowlers, Trent Boult and Doug Bracewell, taking 2-34 in his 17 overs in the first innings before both of his two overs in the second innings ended as maidens.
The Christchurch-born 23-year-old all-rounder, who won a New Zealand contract at 16 being their youngest ever player, however, was unable to make a serious contribution with the bat having scored one and a duck in two innings.
‘It was a lot higher intensity than I was used to,’ Anderson explained his debut Test experience. ‘I came out and the crowd was going.
‘It is a lot different than the four days we play back home. I loved it, all the same.’
Anderson hoped the intensity of the first Test will help in getting used to the condition and put up a better show in the second Test, beginning in Dhaka on Monday.
‘It has been a few good days after the Chittagong Test,’ he said. ‘It was my first taste [of Test cricket] and was tougher than I thought.
‘I think we are progressing well. We had a good session and have a few days of training left for the Test match. We want to come out with a bang in the second Test.
‘We came over here with a decent amount of warm-up. We were ready for the first Test. Now that we have a game under our belt, we will be good to go for the second one,’ he said.
-With New Age input
