Winning and losing in sport has a lot to do with confidence. But such is the unpredictable nature of sport that even one failure, on occasions, could beat the athlete down or sow seeds of self doubt. And self doubt leads to vulnerability. The New Zealand cricket team is paddling through such a phase.
INDIA TOUR OF NZ, 2018-19
Embattled New Zealand look for a lift in dead rubber
A struggling top-order has hurt the hosts. © Getty
At home, New Zealand had lost just two ODI since losing to South Africa in 2014-15. However, just ahead of the World Cup in England this year, New Zealand received a severe jolt as they slid to losses in the first three games of the five-match ODI series against India.
The formidable Indian side has exposed quite a few weaknesses ahead of the mega event. The home side is losing too many wickets upfront, the batsmen have generally struggled to play the spin twins - Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal. In the third ODI at Bay Oval, New Zealand lost their way after being in a relatively decent position at 178 for 3. And to make matters worse, barring Trent Boult, rest of the bowlers haven't offered much of penetration.
One of the few batsmen who showed the willingness to wade through the early phase and handle the spin duo with a degree of confidence was Ross Taylor in the third ODI. The mainstay of the line-up played with an open stance to cover for the over the wicket angle from Kuldeep and succeeded.
In an effort to put up an improved show in the
