At the end of day one of the 500th Test India were 291-9 in 90 overs against New Zealand. Against the new ball(both)Indians scored 101 runs and lost 5 wickets.
In 4-test series in West Indies, India batted in only 4 innings, but managed to score 1636 losing only 34 wickets @Avg 48.11. And against the new ball they lost 10(41.70%) wickets @ Avg 49.30 a much better performance.
Interestingly in the first two test matches West Indies delayed(91 and 92 overs) taking the second new ball. Perhaps India’s score at that time(302/4 & 263/2)was discouraging for them to take it immediately.
Below is stats analysis of Indian batsmen against the new ball in West Indies. Here i believe that the ball remains fairly new and shiny for 20 overs, hence the first new ball range is 0-20 overs. The second new ball is from the time it is taken till 20 overs have been bowled with it.
Below table is comparison of India’s batting against the new ball in West Indies
| Batting performance against the new ball | Overall batting performance | |||||||||
| Balls | runs | Wkts | Scoring shots | 4/6s | Players | Balls | Runs | Wkts | Scoring shots | 4/6s |
| 137 | 79 | 3 | 36 | 10-1 | Kohli | 400 | 251 | 4 | 138 | 28-1 |
| 123 | 56 | 0 | 26 | 6-1 | Rahane | 524 | 243 | 2 | 126 | 23-3 |
| 171 | 139 | 3 | 55 | 20 | Rahul | 392 | 236 | 3 | 111 | 24-3 |
| 130 | 54 | 0 | 27 | 7 | Ashwin | 575 | 235 | 4 | 135 | 18-1 |
| 70 | 34 | 0 | 12 | 5 | Saha | 445 | 205 | 4 | 106 | 19-1 |
| 153 | 72 | 3 | 40 | 6 | S Dhawan | 251 | 138 | 4 | 67 | 14-1 |
| 46 | 9 | 0 | 8 | 0 | Pujara | 226 | 62 | 2 | 43 | 4 |
| 11 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | Rohit S | 82 | 50 | 2 | 22 | 3-3 |
| 26 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | Vijay | 26 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
| 867 | 451 | 10 | 209 | 55-2 | Total | 3064 | 1636 | 34 | 815 | 146-17 |
In the ongoing 500th Test against India, New Zealand were not shy to take the new ball when it was due after the 80th over. India were 256/5.
Here is how their bowler’s performed in their last series that was played in Africa(2 each test match against Zimbabwe and South Africa). A comparison of their new ball performance.
Here is how their bowler’s performed in their last series that was played in Africa(2 each test match against Zimbabwe and South Africa). A comparison of their new ball performance.
| Bowling performance in Africa | ||||||||
| Bowlers | Balls | runs | wkt | R/o | Consecutive Maidens % | % maidens | Consecutive < 3 runs | Less than 3 Runs |
| Wagner | 869 | 338 | 20 | 2.33 | 5.33 | 19.72 | 34.64 | 53.29 |
| Boult | 830 | 349 | 11 | 2.52 | 8.43 | 22.12 | 29.50 | 49.52 |
| Southee | 888 | 444 | 11 | 3.00 | 8.75 | 21.61 | 32.42 | 45.28 |
| Santner | 618 | 252 | 9 | 2.45 | 1.67 | 21.73 | 40.95 | 63.51 |
| Sodhi | 362 | 199 | 8 | 3.30 | 14.75 | 29.51 | 40.98 | 54.10 |
| Bracewell | 320 | 170 | 3 | 3.19 | 3.40 | 19.25 | 21.51 | 31.70 |
| Guptill | 54 | 16 | 3 | 1.78 | 31.03 | 51.72 | 51.72 | 62.07 |
| Total | 3947 | 1829 | 65 | 2.78 | 9.42 | 14.90 | 43.32 | 65.52 |
With the new ball.
| New ball performance in Africa | ||||||||
| Bowlers | Balls | runs | wkt | R/o | Consecutive Maidens % | % maidens | Consecutive < 3 runs | Less than 3 Runs |
| Wagner | 144 | 53 | 4 | 2.21 | 8.33 | 37.50 | 45.83 | 75.00 |
| Boult | 392 | 150 | 4 | 2.30 | 7.65 | 22.96 | 24.49 | 45.92 |
| Southee | 391 | 174 | 5 | 2.67 | 6.14 | 21.48 | 24.55 | 41.43 |
| Santner | 162 | 86 | 1 | 3.19 | 3.70 | 11.11 | 51.85 | 62.96 |
| Sodhi | 18 | 9 | 0 | 3.00 | 0.00 | 33.33 | 0.00 | 33.33 |
| Bracewell | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0.60 | 0.00 | 0.00 | 60.00 | 60.00 |
| Guptill | DNB | DNB | DNB | DNB | DNB | DNB | DNB | DNB |
| Total | 1117 | 473 | 14 | 2.54 | 6.45 | 22.56 | 31.15 | 50.49 |
