New Zealand start India sojourn against Mumbai XI

New Zealand batsman Kane Williamson and bowler Tim Southee practised in tandem at the stadium on a hot Thursday forenoon. First Southee would bat and Williamson would watch from the non-striker’s end, then the roles would reverse. 

New Zealand are known to use unconventional methods at practice sessions as they simulate a variety of situations. Once, ahead of their tour of India, they practised with loudspeakers at the stadium as they sought to replicate a typical, noisy Indian venue.

One may be reading too much into an innocuous batting session, but it was hard not to see Thursday’s exercise as a way of New Zealand bracing up for potential scenarios in the forthcoming Test series. If the pitches are going to be anywhere close to those that were rolled out for South Africa last year, the Kiwi captain, their best player of spin may find himself fighting with the tail.