New Zealand Test specialist Neil Wagner, who missed the first game against India in Wellington awaiting the birth of his child, revealed his plans for the Indian skipper Virat Kohli in the upcoming Test match at Christchurch.
Wagner, who caused a lot of trouble lately to Steve Smith, bowling into his rib cage, while the latter gave sitters to leg gully, mentioned about targeting the best player from the opponent team.
Kohli and Co. have their task cut out on a similar-looking pitch at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, in front of a possible all-seam attack of New Zealand.
With Wagner available for the second Test and India’s vulnerability against seaming conditions, New Zealand can include all four pacers in Trent Boult, Tim Southee, Kyle Jamieson, and Colin de Grandhomme as the fifth bowling option.
Kohli has had a quiet New Zealand tour thus far. His last 20 innings in Test cricket has been devoid of any three-figure score.
The Kiwi pacer intends to continue Kohli’s dry form with the bat, even in the final match of his New Zealand tour.
The last time fans witnessed a similar, prolonged but rare run drought was during his tour to England in 2014.
“Every team I play against, I always try and target and go for their best players, because you know what a big stride it makes within a team when you get their best players out,” stated 33-year old left-arm pacer, according to Stuff.
Wagner has a decent record against India’s captain in Test cricket, dismissing him thrice in six innings. One of those dismissals, changed the course of the match in Auckland, during the 2014 Indian tour.
“Drying him up, making sure they don’t score and putting a lot of pressure on him from both ends [is imperative],” Wagner confirmed his plans to Kohli.
