Skipper Brendon McCullum remains optimistic about comeback in the series
Despite being handed over a big loss in the first test in Gabba, Kiwis skipper Brendon McCullum confided in his team and vowed to fight back in the second test beginning in Perth on Friday. The explosive batsman admitted that they were completely outplayed and also rued missed opportunities, according to IBN Live.
“We won't lose heart. We know we've got a good side and skilled players and our style, when we're able to get the ascendancy, works for us. Obviously, we're off the pace. Australia bossed the game from the start and thoroughly deserved the win. There were some good signs for us, but we're going to have to get better in a short space of time. The size of the result was fair. We were completely outplayed,” he stated.
After the Kiwis drubbing on a batting wicket in Gabba, the two sides move on to the WACA ground in Perth, which has traditionally offered pacers swing and bounce. The Kiwis are currently trailing the three-match series 0-1, and the skipper still believes that his team has got a good chance to level the series in Perth.
"We'll head there with high hopes and we'll be better for the run in this Test match. The beauty is it's a three-match series and we've still got an opportunity to win it,” he said.
Injury Worries for the Kiwis
On the eve of the second test, the visitors were left a worried lot due to the injuries of Tim Southee and Jimmy Neesham. The latter was ruled out of the series due to a back injury. However, Southee’s condition remains unclear and McCullum was confident that he would be fit again in time for the second test.
"I am pretty confident, he(Southee) is starting to come right pretty quickly which is a good sign. Back injuries can recover pretty quickly, we will give him every chance. He showed in that first innings he will pose a lot of questions so hopefully he will play,” he remarked.
The Kiwi skipper raised eyebrows over his questionable captaincy tactics revolving over field settings during Australia’s first innings. But the 34-year old maintained that experimenting with different tactics were part of the game. "We're always going to try and be proactive but we didn't have the level of control we wanted," he said.
"Sometimes it works and people say you're a genius, and sometimes it doesn't and people criticise. That's our style of play, we know it gives us our greatest opportunity, but you've still got to execute as well."
McCullum celebrates Williamson's century
McCullum also heaped praise on fellow batsman Kane Williamson, who played a patient knock of 140 in the first innings and referred to his century as the best hundred by a Kiwi batsman he had witnessed. “Kane Williamson's is probably the best hundred I've ever seen from a New Zealander in the time I've been playing," McCullum said.
"Just full of class and shows once again how good a player he is. That he can score runs in any conditions against any attack in the world. That's a huge positive out of this Test match," he concluded.