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"In Test match cricket, you need to score first-innings runs" - Morne Morkel admits batting collapses hurting hosts in IND vs NZ 2024 Test series

Team India's bowling coach Morne Morkel has admitted that the hosts are on the back foot in the Test series against New Zealand because the batters have failed to put up good totals in the first innings. He, however, backed the experienced line-up to come up with the goods in the second innings in Pune.

Responding to New Zealand's first-innings total of 259, India crumbled to 156 all-out on Day 2 of the second Test in Pune on Friday, October 25. Kiwi left-arm spinner Mitchell Santner registered career-best 7-53. Earlier, the hosts were all out for 46 in their first innings of the Bengaluru Test and lost seven wickets for 54 runs in their second innings of the same Test.

Speaking after the end of the second day's play in Pune, Morkel acknowledged that India's batting has let the team down in the Test series so far.

“I never like to have a punch up between batters and bowlers but, in Test match cricket you need to score the first-innings runs. If we put our hand up, we haven't been able to do that. There are world class players in our batting line up. I know that individually, they’ve got their processes and they know how to go about those things," the former South African fast bowler said.

Morkel, however, backed the batters to come up with the goods in the second innings. The 40-year-old commented:

“Hopefully, we can iron those mistakes out because it's costing us at the moment. But I'm pretty sure there's enough experience, enough knowledge amongst them to rectify that. I back the team (to come up) with a strong response in our second innings. I’m excited to see how they bounce back and how they play this situation and the conditions."

After knocking over India for 156 in the first innings, New Zealand went to stumps on Day 2 in Pune at 198-5, with a lead of 301 runs.


"We have to believe" - Morkel on whether India can make a comeback in the series against New Zealand

With three full days left in the Pune Test, India are staring at their first Test series defeat at home since 2012, when England beat them 2-1. New Zealand have already gained a significant lead and the hosts will need something near-miraculous to win the Pune Test from here.

Morkel, however, remains positive despite the hosts having their backs to the wall. The former South Africa cricketer asserted:

"We have to believe. This game is a funny game. Our guys are attacking players, there’s guys that know these conditions well. Our talk before this game was that we are masters in these conditions, we know how to sum these conditions up.
“Let's be honest, it’s going to be a tough task. But what an opportunity for somebody to really inspire and put in a fighting and a top performance — that’s the way I see it. When conditions are tricky and tough you'll see real people stand up and fight and if we show that fight and somebody gets the momentum going in these conditions, you never know,” he added.

New Zealand skipper Tom Latham contributed 86 in the team's second innings in Pune. At stumps, Tom Blundell was batting on 30 and Glenn Phillips on nine.

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