New Zealand will have mixed emotions following the conclusion of the 1st Test at Ahmedabad. There will be pride that they gave the number one ranked test side a real run for their money in their own backyard.
But there will be disappointment also that they were unable to take advantage of the position that Chris Martin's inspired spell of bowling gave them when India looked into the abyss at 15 for five in their second innings. Daniel Vettori will know that in the final reckoning at the end of the three match series, his side may come to regret letting India off the hook.
Tim McIntosh - 0: After bagging a pair, McIntosh gets his third zero of the match. In danger of becoming Zaheer Khan's bunny after getting out to him twice.
Brendon McCullum - 6: His first test since relinquishing the gloves for good and he played well for his 65 until he was brilliantly stumped by Dhoni. We're not too sure about his bowling though.
BJ Watling - 2: Bowled by the first ball of spin he had faced in India, which doesn't bode well for a improved performance in the next two tests.
Ross Taylor - 6: Looked calm and assured in compiling 56 before playing a terrible shot to gift Harbhajan his only wicket of the match.
Jesse Ryder - 8: Ryder's talent may not quite much the size of his girth, but his composed hundred means he now has a test match average of 52. New Zealand will hope that Ryder regains full fitness in time for Hyderabad.
Kane Williamson - 9: You cannot ask much more from a 20 year old on test debut to score a hundred against the number one ranked side and New Zealand look to have found a real talent on this showing. A long and successful career beckons.
Daniel Vettori - 8: Superdan was his usual reliable self taking four wickets in a long and controlled stint of bowling and hitting a useful 41. If he had hit the stumps with Harbhajan stranded early on the final day then he could have been celebrating a famous victory.
Gareth Hopkins - 6: Outfoxed by Ojha in his only innings but kept tidily enough to suggest that McCullum's days with the gloves are indeed over.
Jeetan Patel - 5: After a poor performance on the first day and a torrid time at the hands of Sehwag, Patel bounced back well to snare Tendulkar and Laxman on the second day. Went at nearly five runs an over though.
Hamish Bennett - 3: Injured his groin on the first day so his 15 wicketless overs for 47 will be his only contribution of the series. If he had been fit on the final day, who knows?
Chris Martin - 8: Bounced back after a poor performance in the first innings to bowl an inspirational spell with the new ball in the second, which nearly won his side the match. Figures of five for 63 on that pitch means that Martin deserves all the plaudits that came his way.
Where next?
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