Mitchell Santner using Daniel Vettori advice to spin his way to success

And Daniel Vettori was more than forthcoming with suggestions for the Black Caps young all-rounder and fellow left-arm orthodox spinner. Former New Zealand captain Vettori took 31 wickets in eight Tests in India and 98 Test wickets on the sub-continent in total.

After claiming three crucial wickets to have the hosts 291-9 and help the Kiwis to a share of the spoils on day one of the first test in Kanpur, Santner said what Vettori offered was perhaps more simple than some made it to be in those conditions.

"Our conversations were more about putting the ball in an area for a long period of time. Obviously we still wanted plenty [of revolutions] on it, but it was about not trying to do too much and letting the wicket play its part.

"You just have to be patient, build dots and try and get wickets that way, through false shots rather than trying to snick guys out."

The 24-year-old Northern Districts product did that as well, bagging the first wicket of the day at Green Park Stadium with a tiny outside edge.

But it was the ability of all three Black Caps spinners (Santner, Ish Sodhi and Mark Craig) to hit the same areas consistently and find the right ways to utilise the slow turn that created pressure and opportunity.

Santner broke an increasingly ominous-looking 112-run second wicket partnership to double his tally, before Rohit Sharma tried to force the issue and mistimed an attacking drive directly to mid-on at an important stage later in the day.

It wasn't just monotonous line and length which helped the New Zealand spinners collect five of the nine wickets to fall, though, he said.

"You just have find a pace that's suitable to the wicket. It might change in the second innings, but today it was that faster pace. If it is turning slow you want to beat the bat at a reasonable pace, but the key as a spinner is to mix up that pace. As a three I think we can be reasonably happy with our performance."

With extra reason, too, given the expectation that comes with bowling spin in India.

And while Santner is well aware of what it indicates the red-hot duo of Ravi Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja may be capable, for the moment he is satisfied in the knowledge the Kiwi trio have found a recipe for success.

A recipe passed on by a man who has cooked up countless methods to overcome some of the world's best players of spin.