Daniel Vettori
The BLACKCAPS captain talks to the press after day one of the first test against India at Seddon Park in Hamilton.
On losing the toss…
"We were always going to bat first. We knew it was going to have a little bit in it and thought that if we could get through that first session we could be 80 for one or 80 for two we could maximise the last two sessions but India bowled really well and you have to give credit to them."
On the situation at lunch time on day one (60 for 6)….
"Obviously we were disappointed with the situation we put ourselves in but I think we sat back and reflected on how well India had bowled. I think they made the most of the conditions. There was just enough in the wicket to suggest it was difficult and they swung the ball as well. "
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On the plan after lunch…
"Our first throughts were to get through to 150. A score of 150 would give us something to play with. Fortunately me and Jesse batted for a long time and put a competitive score on the board. It’s certainly below par but is a competitive score."
On building a partnership with Jesse…
"The big thing for Jesse and me was to play our natural games and we don’t get reckless with it. Sometimes when you are 60 for six you can think, oh well and have a swing and if it comes off, it comes off - if it doesn’t’ we in no worse situation. So it was important that we stuck to how we know how to play. We are both aggressive players but if we’d gone too hard I think we would have got ourselves in trouble."
On the batting conditions for day two…
"It will be a good deck to bat on. It’s a smallish ground with a fast outfield. There’s nothing more you can ask for as a batsman. After that first session it felt like the wicket settled down. We are hoping the morning session on day two picks up again but it generally turns into a very good batting wicket."
On the physiological recovery after rebuilding the innings…
"It creates a different feel in the dressing room once we started to get on top and build a partnership. Guys started to think about what we can do with the ball. If we get close to 300 it’s a good score and gives us some momentum. Once we came off and the innings had finished the dressing room felt good and we were looking forward to going out there and bowling. If we’d been rolled for 100 or 120 it could have been quite demoralising."
On the performance of Jesse Ryder…
"People think of Jesse as a one-day opener and a guy who looks to bash it. They haven’t quite seen the subtleties of his game and I think today he had the ability to leave good balls and put away bad balls and that’s what the great batsmen do. He was good batting in difficult situations and he made the most of it."
On Jesse Ryder batting at five…
"Jesse started his test career batting at three but since he has slide down to five his form has been outstanding. We’d like to keep him there. Daniel Flynn has done a really good job since his elevation to three so I think we are making the most of our batting order."
