New Zealand coach Walter rues missed chances, backs team to bounce back

New Zealand head coach Rob Walter on Sunday rued missed opportunities in the first two T20Is against India but backed his team to bounce back, saying the visitors had capitalised on crucial moments in two closely fought matches.

New Zealand lost the second T20I by four wickets after posting 180, having also gone down in the series opener. Walter said his team had performed well for large parts of both games but failed to put the finishing touches on its efforts.

“Both games we could easily have been on the winning side of it, but weren’t,” Walter said.

“Probably missed out on a couple of opportunities each time where you probably would have sealed the game off for us. It’s a bit of disappointment but also very happy with how we’ve played.” New Zealand had not played much competitive cricket as a team before the series, but Walter felt they had performed well for around 80 per cent of each match. “We just haven’t been able to put the finishing touches on it each time, which is disappointing. But still so much good stuff to come out of both games so far,” he said.

Walter acknowledged that his team needed to improve in key moments, pointing to a no-ball and missed fielding opportunities in the second T20I. “No one’s ever trying to make those errors but it does creep in and it can cost you,” he said.

However, he was pleased with the batting effort after New Zealand slipped to three wickets down in the powerplay before recovering to post 180. “Even back to last night, three down in the powerplay. It’s not often you get to 180 from that position,” Walter said.

“Bevan and Glen did a hell of a job there to get us to 180 in the end, which was a defendable total if we’re honest.” Walter also praised skipper Mitchell Santner for his four-wicket haul in the second T20I, saying the left-arm spinner’s skill and control had swung the match in New Zealand’s favour.

“Sometimes it’s unappreciated just how skilful he is. I think last night was a great demonstration of his full repertoire of skill set,” Walter said. “It wasn’t a pitch that was turning a hell of a lot. There was a little bit of bounce on offer. But just the way that he moved the ball around the crease and played with his pace. If you’re really appreciative of the art, it was a hell of a display.”

Walter said Santner’s calmness and leadership were equally valuable to the side.

“It’s great to be able to lean on him as a calm head, even when there’s a lot going on. The players are hugely respectful of his leadership and the way he leads the team,” he said.

With the five-match series moving to Wellington for the third T20I, Walter also explained New Zealand’s decision to rotate their fast bowlers as part of a planned workload-management strategy ahead of a busy summer schedule.

“We’re trying to really work through our rotations of fast bowlers,” he said, adding that Blair Tickner and Matt Fisher would join the squad while Lockie Ferguson would miss a game and Matt Henry would remain at home.

“It’s not a perfect science, but we’re doing our very best to give everyone a chance to get ready. But also put their best foot forward when they do run onto the park.” Walter said the team would need to adapt to the conditions at Wellington’s stadium, where swirling winds could make fielding difficult and drop-in pitches could offer different challenges. Meanwhile, Walter said the fitness of two players remained under assessment, with scans scheduled for Tuesday after the public holiday. He said the team would have more clarity on their condition after the examinations.