New Delhi, Former captain Daniel Vettori termed New Zealand’s 3-0 Test series win on Indian soil as his country’s greatest achievement while ex-batter Ross Taylor said he did not think of a clean sweep even “in our wildest dreams”.
India suffered a humiliating series whitewash after losing the third match by 25 runs to New Zealand in Mumbai on Sunday, the first time in their Test history, which goes back to 1933.
New Zealand had come to India after being thrashed 0-2 by a Sri Lankan team that is in transition. The Black Caps were also without their biggest batting star, Kane Williamson, thanks to injury.
“The expectation for any touring team that goes to India on these types of wickets is that it’s going to be incredibly difficult. We understand the challenge and in a lot of ways it’s just how are you going to compete against them.
“… given the history with two Test match wins in almost 80 years and a lot of trying. You have to go back to the great Sir Richard Hadlee’s era, and he could only get one win,” Vettori, a spin great, was quoted as saying by ESPNCricinfo
“So for this team to come here and get that first one and then to win a series is probably New Zealand cricket’s greatest.”
Taylor, a former batting star, is in awe of the New Zealand team after the historic Test series sweep in India.
“I think the way they played throughout the whole series … I think we hoped more than thought we were going to win. But a clean sweep – think it still hasn’t quite sunk in among the New Zealand public, probably for the players as well.
“After winning the first Test , it gave the team as well as the public some belief, but I don’t think even in our wildest dreams we imagined a clean sweep and such a convincing performance from Tom , Gary and the boys.
