India vs New Zealand ODIs: Pamment Lays Out Keys to Success
Ahead of India's five-match ODI series in New Zealand, former New Zealand assistant coach James Pamment has outlined what will matter most for players. The series follows a five-match T20 contest and features Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, which has added extra interest to the upcoming matches.
Jasprit Bumrah has been left out of the ODI series, creating a bowling challenge for the Indian side. Pamment, who also served as fielding coach for Mumbai Indians, shared his thoughts in an interview on the role bowlers will play.
He said bowlers must work out the exact length they want to maintain and deliver their best ball consistently. According to Pamment, the cricketers who keep hitting the right length over and over are the ones most likely to succeed.
The former coach also spoke about how New Zealand pitches have changed. In the past, he said, seam movement kept the ball low and made runs hard to come by. Over the last five to ten years, however, the surfaces have improved, and bowlers who generate pace and bounce now stand to gain the most.
For batters, Pamment recommended a positive approach supported by realistic targets. He said that a score above 300 is possible at every ODI venue when batters play well, communicate effectively and build partnerships.
Pamment pointed out that a 50-over match generally lasts about four hours. A first innings finishing around 7 pm would be followed by a second innings starting near 7:40 pm, pushing the finish close to midnight. He cautioned that the second innings could be harder for bowlers due to conditions.
He expects fielding in the second innings to become difficult, which may lead teams to prioritise batting. Pamment believes ODI cricket is best played in favourable conditions and recommended that captains winning the toss bat first, post a strong total and then fight hard to defend it. He said the pitch should hold up reasonably well over the 100 overs of a match, though conditions could still shape toss decisions.