The temptation exists to paint Jeetan Patel's international return in Kolkata as a form of serendipity for New Zealand against India. The

One of cricket's sternest tests begins for New Zealand at Eden Gardens tomorrow, possibly without captain Kane Williamson.

Ronchi played his second test against India in Kanpur and so leaves the group of New Zealand cricketers to have won just a solitary test cap.

Kane Williamson's three-way battle for the top ranking among test batsmen has taken another turn.

New Zealand's efforts to bounce back against India are being affected by injury with all rounder Jimmy Neesham unlikely to be fit

Three things we learnt about New Zealand during the first test loss to India in Kanpur.

You'd hope New Zealand's spinners spent as much time as they could watching India's clever spin pair at work during the first test at Kanpur.

You wouldn't have given a dollar for Jeetan Patel's chances of a New Zealand recall - until yesterday.

India have wrapped up a 197-run win over New Zealand in the first cricket test at Kanpur's Green Park.

When the final day starts tomorrow, New Zealand will be 93 for four, chasing an improbable 434 for what would be just the country's third win in India.

India opted to press their foot down hard on New Zealand's neck on the fourth afternoon of the first test in Kanpur tonight.

The scoreboard says it all. New Zealand LBWs 6. India LBWs 0.

A collapse of nine wickets for 103 runs, including a torrent of 5-7 to complete the first innings, compromised and possibly curtailed New Zealand's chances of winning the opening test against India in Kanpur.

LIVE: India have started their second innings after some excellent bowling put an end to the Black Caps' chase.

Former Black Cap James Franklin has defended the contrived declaration which helped his Middlesex side beat Yorkshire to win the English Country Championship today.

Black Caps opening batsman Tom Latham caught a lucky break during day two of New Zealand's first test against India.

COMMENT: New Zealand's relationship with its test spinners has been mixed down the years.

New Zealand continued their strong foray into the opening cricket test against India at Kanpur.

New Zealand's mindset will be to expect the worst as they go in search of just their third win in 31 tests in India.

New Zealand's fears about facing a spinners delight in this week's first test against India may be misplaced - but only slightly.

Another injury setback for Black Caps all-rounder Jimmy Neesham. He's been ruled out of consideration for this week's first cricket

Luke Ronchi has a simple philosophy when he's batting - get off strike. The New Zealand ODI wicketkeeper thrust himself into an outside

Hard-hitting allrounder Corey Anderson is back in the New Zealand team for their ODI series in India. Lefthander Anderson will play

Black Caps pace bowler Tim Southee has been ruled out of the side's three match Test series against India with an ankle injury.

Scott Kuggeleijn could yet play for the Black Caps this summer despite facing criminal charges of rape.

A proposal for a two-tier system in test cricket has been shelved for now. The International Cricket Council has pulled the plans

Jimmy Neesham's return as a test allrounder contender enhances the selection options in the New Zealand squad of 15 named yesterday

We need to talk about Tim Southee. His batting suffered a jump-the-shark moment in the test at Pretoria but it is his bowling that

Neil Wagner is closing in on a record held by New Zealand's greatest bowler, writes Andrew Alderson.

A look at the strike rate column of the 13 players to take more than 400 test wickets reveals Dale Steyn is an outlier.