New Zealand vs. India: Ranking All 24 Players from the 2014 Test Series
The Test series between New Zealand and India is at an end, with the hosts victorious 1-0 thanks in large part to Brendon McCullum’s 302 to secure a draw in the second Test.
As both sides depart for new challenges ahead of the ICC World Twenty20, let’s take a look back at the series and examine how every player performed.
Read on for a power ranking of every single individual who took to the field in the Tests, based on their performances in the two matches.
All stats courtesy of ESPNCricinfo.
24. Ish Sodhi
1 match
23 runs; 11.50 batting average; 23 highest score
0 wickets
Playing just the one match in the series was spinner Ish Sodhi, who may have scored runs in the first innings but went wicketless throughout.
He will have wanted to make a bigger impact, but at 21 years old still has plenty of time to assert himself in Test cricket.
23. Peter Fulton
2 matches
32 runs; 8.00 batting average; 13 highest score
At the bottom of New Zealand’s batting averages comes Peter Fulton, who just could not make an impact with the bat in this series.
Opening the batting, Fulton would have wanted to build far more of a platform for his team.
22. Ravindra Jadeja
2 matches
82 runs; 41.00 batting average; 30* highest score
3 wickets; 85.66 bowling average; 1-10 BBI
In a country not known as being a spinner’s paradise, Ravindra Jadeja suffered much with the ball.
A return of just three wickets will be disappointing, as Jadeja was overshadowed by the seam bowlers.
21. Hamish Rutherford
2 matches
53 runs; 13.25 batting average; 35 highest score
New Zealand’s other opener, Hamish Rutherford also enjoyed a torrid series against the new ball in helpful bowling for swing and seam.
He is still relatively inexperienced in international cricket though, so will have more time to adapt.
20. Ross Taylor
1 match
44 runs; 22.00 batting average; 41 highest score
Just the one match for Ross Taylor, who missed the second Test as his wife was due to give birth.
He will have wanted to score more runs in Auckland, but you sense that right now he has other priorities.
19. Murali Vijay
2 matches
48 runs; 12.00 batting average; 26 highest score
Much was expected of Murali Vijay, and he failed to deliver in India’s much-vaunted battling lineup.
He may well find his place under threat once again in the future.
18. Cheteshwar Pujara
2 matches
60 runs; 15.00 batting average; 23 highest score
Cheteshwar Pujara is another Indian batsman with great potential who did not show much of it in this series.
He had plenty of opportunities to build a big total, but failed to do so when his team needed him the most.
17. Tom Latham
1 match
29 runs; 14.50 batting average; 29 highest score
Tom Latham made his Test debut in Wellington and looked decent with the bat.
Stepping into Ross Taylor’s shoes is never easy, but he acquitted himself pretty well and should have more chances in the future.
16. Corey Anderson
2 matches
105 runs; 26.25 batting average; 77 highest score
New Zealand’s newest all-rounder Corey Anderson failed to take a wicket but again was handy with the bat.
His 77 in Auckland was enormously helpful as New Zealand built a strong total in their first innings.
15. Zaheer Khan
2 matches
53 runs; 17.66 batting average; 22 highest score
9 wickets; 42.44 bowling average; 5-170 BBI
Still working as hard as ever, Zaheer Khan did well in helpful conditions and is still clearly useful for India.
He battled hard in the second innings at Wellington to take 5-170 in 51 overs, but in the twilight of his career will surely prefer to have an easier workload.
14. Mahendra Singh Dhoni
2 matches
117 runs; 39.00 batting average; 68 highest score
India’s captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni failed to lead his side to victory away from home, and was criticised in some quarters for being too defensive in his leadership.
He will also be disappointed not to have made more telling contributions with the bat in another series defeat.
13. Rohit Sharma
2 matches
122 runs; 40.66 batting average; 72 highest score
Another who enjoyed a fast start to his Test career but is now being brought back down to Earth is Rohit Sharma, who struggled a little on this tour.
His 72 in Auckland masks a generally poor series, where he would make starts but not push on for a big score.
12. BJ Watling
2 matches
136 runs; 34.00 batting average; 124 highest score
When New Zealand needed someone to bat for a long time alongside Brendon McCullum in Wellington, along came BJ Watling to grind out a century.
He struggled mightily otherwise, but his 124 when his country needed him the most was a superb effort when the Black Caps looked dead and buried.
11. Mohammed Shami
2 matches
2 runs; 2.00 batting average; 2 highest score
10 wickets; 35.10 bowling average; 4-70 BBI
Still remarkably consistent for India is seamer Mohammed Shami, who once again took wickets regularly.
As India look to build for a new era without Zaheer Khan, the 23-year-old will be a key cog in that rebuilding process.
10. Trent Boult
2 matches
10 runs; 10.00 batting average; 7* highest score
10 wickets; 27.00 bowling average; 3-38 BBI
One of New Zealand’s triumvirate of superb seamers, Trent Boult again looked impressive in this series.
He may be young, but he is incredibly adept at exploiting conditions and if he stays healthy should be a mainstay for many years to come.
9. Ajinkya Rahane
2 matches
162 runs; 54.00 batting average; 118 highest score
Based on his performances here, Ajinkya Rahane may be batting slightly too low for India at No. 6.
His 118 in Wellington was his first Test century, and spoke of a young player with plenty to offer in his country’s middle order.
8. Neil Wagner
2 matches
21 runs; 10.50 batting average; 14 highest score
11 wickets; 24.54 bowling average; 4-62 BBI
In helpful conditions for seam bowlers, Neil Wagner took full advantage to end as New Zealand’s joint-leading wicket taker.
His eight wickets in Auckland were especially useful in securing New Zealand their only win in the series.
7. Tim Southee
2 matches
85 runs; 21.25 batting average; 32 highest score
11 wickets; 23.81 bowling average; 3-38 BBI
Still New Zealand’s premier seamer, Tim Southee led the way with another extremely consistent display of fast bowling.
He has also improved his batting markedly too, reaching double figures in every innings of the series.
6. Ishant Sharma
2 matches
30 runs; 10.00 batting average; 26 highest score
15 wickets; 25.13 bowling average; 6-51 BBI
India’s best bowler and the highest wicket taker among both teams, Ishant Sharma twice took six wickets in an innings to nearly bowl his side to victory.
However, he was a little expensive at times, especially in the second innings in Wellington when he conceded 164 runs without taking a single wicket.
5. Kane Williamson
2 matches
170 runs; 42.50 batting average; 113 highest score
Despite his tender age, Kane Williamson has shown himself to be enormously capable at the top of the order for New Zealand.
Coming in at No. 3—often early in the innings—Williamson showed he is a superb batsman who can be dominant on the international stage for many years to come.
4. Virat Kohli
2 matches
214 runs; 71.33 batting average; 105* highest score
India’s latest superstar batsman enjoyed another good series, but Virat Kohli will still have left some people wanting more.
His unbeaten 105 came in a lost cause in Wellington, and twice he was guilty of getting out when looking well set.
3. Shikhar Dhawan
2 matches
215 runs; 53.75 batting average; 115 highest score
Enhancing his reputation in New Zealand, Shikhar Dhawan showed he is enormously capable at opening the innings even in testing conditions.
His 115 in Auckland almost took India to victory, while his 98 in Wellington helped them build an enormous advantage in the first innings.
2. Jimmy Neesham
1 match
170 runs; 170.00 batting average; 137* highest score
1 wicket; 87.00 bowling average; 1-62 BBI
Another debutant for the Black Caps was Jimmy Neesham, who took to the situation well in Wellington to stroke an unbeaten century in the second innings.
He is a very promising cricketer with a full array of strokes, and may well find himself playing Tests more regularly based on this performance.
1. Brendon McCullum
2 matches
535 runs; 133.75 batting average; 302 highest score
Leading the way is Brendon McCullum, who scored two double centuries and became the first New Zealander ever to score a triple century.
His 302 saved the match in Wellington for the Black Caps, and his 775 minutes at the crease helped his side win the series in relatively comfortable fashion having been under the cosh at 94-5.