How New Zealand cricketers battled illness to conquer India

The New Zealand team that defeated India 3-0 to register arguably their biggest victory in cricket history battled illnesses, a report in New Zealand media has said.

The Tom Latham-led Blackcaps became the first team to whitewash India in their backyard. They registered New Zealand's first-ever Test win in India in 36 years in first Test at Bengaluru, then ended India’s unbeaten 18-series streak at home in Pune, and then inflicted first whitewash on India on Indian soil. 

They did all of this despite not being in the best of health.

Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel, who took 11 wickets and Player of the Match Award at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, said that he was unwell going into the third and final Test.

“Before the last game, Will Young was quite ill. Before that, Devon Conway was a little bit ill. Timmy's been a little bit ill, and myself before the start of this game – I didn't feel great,” Patel was quoted as saying by stuff.co.nz.

“I am not a doctor and I don’t know exactly what’s been going on. But there have been a lot of guys at different times going through fevers and colds and stuff like that.”

Coach Gary Stead, who was a disappointed man in September after New Zealand’s one-off Test against Afghanistan was washed out, said that illness was par for the course while touring India. 

“We were fortunate that in the first game, the conditions were a bit cooler. But certainly in the last two games, they weren't easy, because it was quite hot and sticky – I guess what you'd expect out of the subcontinent.

“Guys were really saving their energies and making sure that they could go out there and put it all out there, so it was really special in that respect.

“It's one of the things that you don't really see from the outside, but being in the changing room, you see and you know how much grit the boys show to go out there and present themselves and perform.”

Skipper Tom Latham, who is the son of former New Zealand player Rod Latham, was elated after the historic win. 

“Very, very ecstatic. Looking back at the start of the series and to be in this position. Boys have done a very good job and to finally to do it here in Mumbai, we were challenged with bat and ball. Very happy,” he was quoted as saying by the International Cricket Council (ICC).

Latham also praised the players’ ability to adapt to different conditions.

“Just being able to adapt to each ground. There is no one way of doing things - the seamers did the job in Bangalore, different guys stood up at different times. More contributions we were looking for. Last week it was Mitch, this time it was Ajaz. We wanted to come here and try and fire a few shots. Tried to be aggressive with the bat, be proactive and with the ball, keep it simple.”

New Zealand cricket, India cricket, ICC, World Test Championship, Ajaz Patel, Will Young, Tom Latham, Gary Stead