Table of Contents
The second T20I of the ongoing 5-match series between the India National Cricket Team and the New Zealand National Cricket Team went down to a thin edge at the Hagley Oval in Christchurch. After the match, the New Zealand skipper Mitchell Santner told the media that a few small moments decided the momentum of the match.
The sudden exits of the two fast bowlers, Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson, were also two crucial moments of the match. It is now hard to tell, arguably impossible to tell, what would be the result of the match if both of them could finish their bowling quotas against India today.
Mitchell Santner addressed the departures of Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson
At the post-match press conference, Mitchell Santner was asked about the departures of Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson from the middle of the second innings, when the match was in balance. The New Zealand cricket team leader informed the reporters that, as they did not want to take risks with the bowlers, they took precautionary measures due to the busy schedule of upcoming fixtures.
Mitchell Santner stated that Matt Henry left the ground due to a tight calf muscle, and Lockie Ferguson's departure from the ground was also part of the team's safety measures.
"Yeah, Matt experienced, like, a tight calf. So, we didn't want to risk it with, you know, I guess the amount of cricket we've got coming up as well. And I think Lachie, you know, he went off as well. So, just a couple of precautionary injuries," Mitchell Santner said after the India vs New Zealand 2nd T20I match.
New Zealand likely to rotate their playing combination
Moments after the penultimate over of the match, when both of the captains, Santner and Shreyas Iyer, and Tilak Varma, the Player of the match, gathered to give the ceremonial speech, the Blackcaps captain addressed the injury threats to their two experienced fast bowlers.
He did not say anything different at that time as well. The NZ skipper mentioned that going ahead, they will have to play more matches, including the One Day Internationals, so they would like to rotate the squad in some games.
"I think it’s precautionary, and I think Lockie went off as well. So hopefully those guys scrub up okay. But I think with the quick turnarounds throughout the series and in the one-days, there could be a bit of rotation. I think that’s just what it’s going to have to be," Mitchell Santner told the media.
Bowling stats of Matt Henry and Lockie Ferguson in the 2nd T20I vs India
Before walking off the ground, Matt Henry delivered two overs, including a maiden over,r and offered the Indian cricket team only 11 runs. He left the field with an economy rate of 5.50.
His pace bowling partner, Lockie Ferguson, bowled in three overs and proved expensive as the speedster went for 12.33 runs in his spell, without taking any wickets.
India will next face New Zealand for the 3rd T20I on October 27 in Wellington.
