Series sweep Kiwis’ ‘greatest’ achievement

Former captain Daniel Vettori termed New Zealand’s 3-0 Test series win on Indian soil as his country’s greatest achievement while ex-batter Ross Taylor said he did not think of a clean sweep even “in our wildest dreams”.

New Zealand had come to India after being thrashed 0-2 by a Sri Lankan team that is in transition. The Black Caps were also without their biggest batting star, Kane Williamson, thanks to injury.

“The expectation for any touring team that goes to India s that it’s going to be incredibly difficult. ...given the history with two Test match wins in almost 80 years and a lot of trying. You have to go back to the great Sir Richard Hadlee’s era, and he could only get one win,” Vettori, a spin great, said. “So for this team to come here and get that first one and then to win a series is probably New Zealand cricket’s greatest.”

Taylor, a former batting star, is in awe of the New Zealand team. “I think we hoped more than thought we were going to win. But a clean sweep — think it still hasn’t quite sunk in among the New Zealand public, probably for the players as well. After winning the first Test, it gave the team as well as the public some belief, but I don’t think even in our wildest dreams we imagined a sweep,” he said. “This has to be the greatest New Zealand series win in Test cricket. This surpasses the 2-1 Test victory in the 1980s against Australia.”

Series win eclipses my perfect 10: Patel

Ajaz Patel said helping New Zealand wrap up the sweep was even more special than his spectacular outing at the Wankhede Stadium three years ago when the Mumbai-born spinner picked up 10 wickets in one innings. The 36-year-old said his incredible figures in the 2021 Test were tarnished by the fact New Zealand lost the match heavily. “It’s certainly sweeter. I can say that for sure,” Patel said. “This time around, bowling the team to a special Test win and a 3-0 sweep in India is pretty epic and pretty crazy.”