Skipper Tom Latham's joy knew no bounds after leading New Zealand to historic 3-0 clean sweep over India in the three-match Test series, saying his players rose to occasion by being aggressive with the bat and proactive with the ball. (Match Blog | Scorecard | More Cricket News)
India faced a humiliating 0-3 defeat at home for the first time ever after losing the thi𒉰rd Test by 25 runs. Set a target of 147, India were all outಞ for 121.
"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 b♎all. Very happy," Latham said at the post-match presentation ceremony.
"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 di🤪fferent times. More contributions we were looking for.
"Last week it was Mitch (Mit🔜chell), this time it was Ajaz (Patel). 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 came into the ꦦseries after losing 0-2 to Sri Lanka in an away 𝓰rubber, but Latham said they didn't play badly against Islanders.
"I෴ don'🍬t think we played all that bad over there. Fell on the right side of the toss in these conditions and put enough runs on the board.
When you are c🤪hasing a target on a tricky wicket, it is important to have runs on the board."
He also lauded New Zealand women's team for🦂 winning the recently-concluded T20 World Cup.
"Girls winning the World Cup was fantastic, being in this position, we can only brag once we get to this position," Latha🅷m said.
Player-of-the-match Ajaz Patel, who returned with a rich match haul of 11 for 160, said he just focussed on exploi꧒ting the pitch and was confident of tossing the ball up, which paid dividen🃏ds.
Spin bowling is about rhythm. Wh💖en you are in rhythm it is about making the mos𓃲t of it. I felt confident even in the morning session (on day two) but the wicket did not offer me much.
"After lunch I got𓄧 the confidence to toss it up and use my guile. He's (Pant) batted phenomenally throughout the serie🍎s, I had to think out of the box and made sure to come up with a new plan and stay ahead of him," he said.
Will Young was name🎶d player-of-the-series for his 244 runs in the three matches.
"One win was huge but to go again a☂nd again was huge. I tried to keep it simple🌃, at times I need to trust my defence and at times I need to work out where I want to score," he said.
"Memories with the boys we have created with the boys. We go back and en✤joy 🌺each other's company."
