Nerve-wracking scenes as dodgy light, NZ debutant and number eleven star in thrilling Test climax

NZ have never won in India?....your narrative has gotten in the way of actual events. And India are quite better than them in neutral venues?, because we are talking test cricket here, India in 89 years of test cricket have played just 1 test at a neutral venue ( according to the times of India 22/05/21 ) ) and they lost that particular game. It was in fact the WTC final, against NZ...who apparently they are quite better than. Personally, I think NZ will struggle in this test, but would love it if they took the win.

India's recent record against NZ is poor. Lost WTC, belted the series before. Here at home and both sides had big names missing, winning the toss, India could not get over the line and at one point were in trouble on day 4. Not seeing any evidence India are a better side. In fact I would say under pressure in all formats, NZ has the edge looking at recent WC games.

Great effort by New Zealand. Showed some good determination to bat out for the draw. I did feel India got let off the hook when they were down 51/5 in their seconding innings.

Selection conundrum awaits. Wagner must return, so which of the two batting heroes misses out?

What are these "favourable" conditions? India has a better than average pace attack, arguably the best spinner in the game and a largely world-class batting lineup - as their efforts in Aussie and England showed. They should be able to win anywhere.

The draw is the result. A fantastic draw.

With some very average umpiring to boot.

Personally, I think it's time to move on from Bernie-bashing.

That is why test cricket will always be the ultimate format n only true format. A drawn game can have so much. Ashwin comments says it all n the BC to bat all day on a tough wicket in India is impressive .

I respectfully disagree. Winning an one off game in favorable conditions to bag said shining trophy is not equal to winning both at home and overseas far more consistently and at times a severely depleted side.

Yes that is fair but not as much fun. India made up to 117 meaningless runs instead of getting NZ in and getting them out.

They've got a great big shiny trophy that says World Test Champions and they easily beat India to win it. There's no way India's a better Test team than them presently.

How are they the best? They are joint best with India. India are quite better than them in neutral conditions. The WTC Final was as close to home conditions as possible for the Kiwis. India have never won in NZ but have now won 2 succesive series in Australia and always brat the Aussies and Poms at home. NZ have never won in India and have lost heavily to Australia both home and away. When was the last time the Kiwis even drew against Australia at home? NZ did win a short series in England befire the WTC Final. India too were leading in England in a much longer series after the WTC Final before it was left in suspended animation. No way are the Kiwis a better test team than India presently.

Yep when a 5 day test has no time lost and the result not known until after the last ball was bowled. Not bad!!!

Doff my hat to the Kiwis - great effort. I've seen many more high profile visiting teams collapse in a 4th innings heap when faced with quality spin bowling. I called 1-1 at the start. Anything but a series win for India is a failure for India. The Kiwis look like they have come prepared for the grind. Maybe India needs to bring back those 5 players we've rested, especially Shami and Boom Boom. I wonder how the pitch will rate. People were describing it as one of the slowest pitches in India in recent memory. Apparently, there wasn't a single bat pad dismissal and only one to slip. But it was also a pitch that gave both teams the ascendency at various points in the match, had all 4 results possible at the start of day 5 and created a thriller. Why on earth isn't this a 4 or 5 match series?!

Great effort, Latham looked very comfortable in both innings. Gutsy stuff from the tail, one on debut. As has been noted Aus/Eng probably would have folded by lunch and spent the rest of the day complaining about the pitch.

agreed. I reckon we'd have been lucky to make it to tea.

There’s no way that Australia would have batted out that last day.

To be fair to Bernie, there are no meaningless runs or wickets in this match. Some useless captaincy though.

Well done NZ. Australia or England would have been done by tea, focused on how the pitch is unfair. Best 2 teams slugging out unrelated to the Ashes.