Kanpur Test: India might go back to refusing DRS at home if Tom Latham gets a hundred, jokes Jimmy Neesham

New Zealand all-rounder Jimmy Neesham saw the funny side of Tom Latham’s gritty half-century on Day 2 of the Kanpur Test after the opener got saved thrice by the Decision Review System (DRS) against India on Friday.

DRS came to Latham’s rescue three times in the two sessions in New Zealand’s first innings when the batsman was on 5, 10 and 50. He became only the second batsman after England all-rounder Moeen Ali to overturn three OUT decisions in an innings using the DRS in Test cricket.

Latham was first given out LBW by the on-field umpire in the third over itself when he was wrapped on the pads by a delivery from Ishant Sharma. Replays showed the batsman got an inside-edge onto his pads which saved him.

KANPUR TEST: Day 2 Highlights

The left-handed opener was again given out LBW by the on-field umpire in the 15th over when Ravindra Jadeja’s delivery struck him on the pads but once again Latham took the DRS immediately and replays confirmed that the ball had hit the inside-edge of his bat.

Ravichandran Ashwin was the next unfortunate Indian bowler to miss out on a wicket on Day 2 after he got Latham caught-behind to wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha in the final session but the decision was overturned once again as his bat had hit the front pad instead of the ball in the 56th over.

With fortune favouring Latham, his teammate Neesham took to social media to take a cheeky dig at the home side.

“If Tommy Latham gets a ton here India might go back to refusing to use DRS at home,” Neesham tweeted.

If Tommy Latham gets a ton here India might go back to refusing to use DRS at home

— Jimmy Neesham (@JimmyNeesh) November 26, 2021

Latham certainly rode his luck to hit his 21st Test fifty as New Zealand reached 129 for no loss at the end of play on Day 2, still 216 runs behind India’s first innings 345. Latham gave good support to Will Young, who remained unbeaten on 75 till stumps.

The duo are not part of the third-highest opening partnership in Test cricket for New Zealand in India. Earlier, Tim Southee claimed 5 for 69 while Shreyas Iyer made 105 as India posted 345 on the board after electing to bat first.

The hosts were able to add 87 runs to their overnight total from Day 1 before getting bundled out in 111.1 overs in Kanpur.