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'Great moment' for New Zealand cricket, says Latham

03 Nov 2024

New Zealand's players celebrate with the trophy after winning the three Test match series against India at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on Sunday. AP

New Zealand captain Tom Latham on Sunday said his team's 3-0 Test sweep in India were one of the "greatest series wins" for the country.

The Black Caps won the third Test by 25 runs on Sunday at Mumbai's Wankhede Stadium to hand India only their second series whitewash at home.

New Zealand — cricket's perennial underdogs — turned around their fortunes from a 2-0 defeat in Sri Lanka in September to make India suffer their first Test series loss at home in 12 years.

"It's obviously a great moment for New Zealand cricket, probably one of New Zealand cricket's greatest series wins I think," said Latham. "Again, all we can do is keep playing cricket and keep playing our brand of cricket. We've felt a lot of support over the last couple of weeks, which is really special."

New Zealand host England for three Tests starting November 28 in Christchurch followed by matches in Wellington and Hamilton.

Latham said: "We've got three more big games back home. We've got sell-out crowds in a couple of the games, which is all you can ask for from a cricketer's point of view."

Mumbai-born New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel stood out in the final Test with a match-haul of 11 wickets with his left-arm spin. He took five in the first innings and then six to help bowl out India for 121 in their chase of 147 and Latham praised his match-winner as "fantastic."

Rohit readies for Australia challenge

aptain Rohit Sharma said Sunday their 3-0 Test drubbing by New Zealand was a career "low point" but promised a turnaround in the upcoming Australia tour.

The hosts went down by 25 runs in the third Test inside three days at Mumbai, only their second series whitewash at home. Rohit's team, heavy favourites before the series, failed to chase 147 and were all out for 121. "This will be a very low point in my career, having lost three games at home," said Rohit.

"I fully take responsibility for that. As a leader, I have not been at the best of my abilities right from the start of the series. With the bat as well, I have not been good enough."

India will now travel to Australia for five Tests, starting in Perth on Nov.22. India won 2-1 against Australia on their last two Test tours.

"Australia is not an easy place to play cricket, but we can take a lot of confidence from how we played in the last two series in Australia," Rohit said.

"In the back of our mind, we have to think like that — the Australia series for us is now very, very important."

India have slipped to second in the World Test Championship table, now led by Australia. India will need four wins in Australia to keep the chances of making next year's final at Lord's.

Rohit's own form is a worry, out cheaply on Sunday for 11 and scoring only 1 runs from six innings in the series. Virat Kohli also flopped with the bat, scoring just one fifty with four single-digit scores. He was out for one to Ajaz Patel in the final chase.

"If the batters are not performing, that is a cause of concern. But what's done is done now," said Rohit. "I think as a player, as a captain, as a team, we all have to look forward and see how we can correct what we didn't manage to achieve here," he added. "There is a good opportunity for us to go and do something really, really special in Australia."

Rohit may sit out the first two matches for "personal reasons", according to Indian media reports.

"Right now, I am not too sure whether I will be going (for the opening match)," Rohit said. "But let's see. Fingers crossed."

Agence France-Presse

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