India vs NZ 2020: Test Series Player Performance Ratings (Report Card)

Kyle Jamieson and Tim Southee among the stand-out performers as we look at the player performance report card for the 2020 India vs NZ Test series.

In what turns out to be Team India’s worst batting performance since the 2002-03 tour of New Zealand, Team India have been butchered in the 2-match Test series with end result being 2-0 in the favor of New Zealand. This is also the worst series result under Virat Kohli’s captaincy. 

Barring a half-century from a few players, there was literally no application from the Indian batsmen in any of the innings. While the pitches weren’t as bad as you would have seen in 2002-03, but there was absolutely no intention to score runs.

New Zealand batsmen, on the other hand, did marginally better than Team India. Part of the reason has to go to Team India’s indisciplined bowling in the first Test match. However, Indian bowlers came back stronger in the second Test match with Jasprit Bumrah leading the pack. Mohammed Shami too looked brilliant after a poor outing in the first Test match.

So, analyzing the overall performance of the players, what ratings do they get? Let’s have look at our India vs NZ Test series player performance report Card. 

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Methodology:

Batting: As always, we have analyzed the batting performances basis the batting rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as runs scored, consistency, relative % of team runs, and the number of match-winning and good knocks. 

Bowling: We have analyzed the bowling performances basis the bowling rating calculated from the overall aspect of the game such as wickets taken, consistency,  relative % of team wickets, and the number of match-winning and good spells. 

Right then, let’s look at the player ratings (report card) of the key players during the 2020 India vs NZ Test series.

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Batsmen: 

#5: Virat Kohli

Inns: 4 || Runs: 38 || Avg: 9.5 || Hs: 19

Rating: 0.7 

A series to forget for the champion, Virat Kohli. Even the ghosts of the 2014 England and 2016 Australia tour would find the performance scary as Kohli managed a total of just 38 runs at a bizarre average of 9.5. Not once did Kohli look comfortable on the pitch as he succumbed to swinging deliveries.

A lot was expected from Kohli after failures in the T20I and ODI series, but he failed to deliver as a player and as a captain. While rating Kohli’s performance would not be appropriate, but if we calculate the rating, Virat Kohli gets 0.7.

#4: Mayank Agarwal

Inns: 4 || Runs: 102 || Avg: 25.5 || Hs: 58

Rating: 3

Such has been the horrendous batting display by the Indian batsmen that Mayank Agarwal with a rating of 3 has been Team India’s best batsman of the series. He looked good in the first Test having notched up a fifty, but was poor in the second Test. Overall, Mayank managed to score 102 runs at an average of 25.5 with just 1 fifty. 

#3: Kane Williamson 

Inns: 3 || Runs: 97 || Avg: 32.3 || Hs: 89

Rating: 3.3

Barring a fifty in the first Test, Kane Williamson too had poor returns overall. He scored 89 in the first Test, but managed just 8 runs in the second Test match. With home pitches in place, and him being a technically sound batsman, returns should have been better. Thus, Kane Williamson gets a rating of 3.3 for his performance. 

#2: Tom Latham

Inns: 4 || Runs: 122 || Avg: 40.7 || Hs: 52

Rating: 4.7

The leading run-scorer of the tournament, Tom Latham had a good outing as an opener. He scored two fifties in 4 innings including a 7 not-out in the first Test. He made sure New Zealand survive the opening passage so that the middle-order can capitalize on that. Overall, he scored 122 runs at an average of 40.7. So, Tom Latham gets a rating of 7.5 for his performance. 

#1: Kyle Jamieson 

Inns: 2 || Runs: 93 || Avg: 46.5 || Hs: 49

Rating: 5.2

In his debut series as a Frontline bowler, Kyle Jamieson emerges as the best batsman of the series. Kyle played only two innings, but scored in both with scores of 49 and 44 respectively. The top-order of both the teams should learn a lesson from Jamieson on the batting application.

I wish we had a separate rating for bowlers as a batsman so that Kyle Jamieson had secured a higher rating. Nevertheless, Kyle Jamieson gets a rating of 5.2 for his batting performance. 

Apart from these five, Tom Blundell gets 3.8, Cheteshwar Pujara gets 2.5, Prithvi Shaw gets 2.4, Ajinkya Rahane gets 2.3, Rishabh Pant gets 1.1, and Ross Taylor gets 2. 

#5: Mohammed Shami 

Inns: 3 || Wkts: 6 || Avg: 36.6 || BBI: 4/81

Rating: 5.4

After a poor outing in the first Test match, Shami returned with a 4-wicket haul in the first innings of the second Test match. However, Shami didn’t look his best as he failed to create the desired pressure on the batsmen. Overall, he managed to take 5 wickets at an average of 36. Mohammed Shami gets a rating of 6 for his performance.

#4: Jasprit Bumrah 

Inns: 4 || Wkts: 6 || Avg:31.7 || BBI: 3/62

Rating: 5.9 

Jasprit Bumrah started poorly in the first Test match accounting for just 1 wicket. He lacked discipline, and failed to bowl with the right length in the first Test. However, he bounced back strongly in the second Test match taking 5 important wickets. So, Jasprit Bumrah gets a rating of 5.9 for his performance. 

#3: Kyle Jamieson

Inns: 4 || Wkts: 9 || Avg: 16.3 || BBI: 5/45

Rating: 6

A near-perfect debut series for the speedster, Kyle Jamieson rocked the Indian batting in the first innings of both the Tests. His effective bouncers paved the way for many wickets in the series. While he was excellent in the first innings, he went wicketless in the second innings of both the Test match. So, Kyle Jamieson gets a rating of 6 for his bowling performance. 

#2: Trent Boult

Inns: 4 || Wkts: 11 || Avg: 19.4 || BBI: 4/28

Rating: 7.4

Trent Boult had started on a lighter note in the first innings of the first Test match, but he struck thrice in the rest of the series. His deadly inswingers were too hot to handle. Overall, Boult took 11 wickets from 4 innings at a consistency of 75%. Hence, Trent Boult gets a rating of 7.4 for his performance. 

#1: Tim Southee

Inns: 4 || Wkts: 14 || Avg: 13.1 || BBI: 5/61

Rating: 10

The champion of all the bowlers, Tim Southee bowling went perfectly in sync with the pitches being offered. He is the best example of how tight line and length can get you rewards. He bowled in right channels, and got the ball to swing both ways. The result of which is 14 wickets in 4 innings with a consistency of 100%. Thus, Tim Southee gets a perfect 10 for his performance. 

Apart from these five, Ravindra Jadeja gets 6.1, Umesh Yadav gets 2, and Neil Wagner gets 1.8.

Thanks for reading! Which player impressed you the most from our India vs NZ Test series report card? Kindly, let us know your thoughts in the comments down below.

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