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New Zealand batsman Craig McMillan, who scored a fine century as the Kiwis posted a mammoth 630 for 6 declared in their first innings of the second Test against India, explained his team's decision to continue batting on the third morning of the Mohali Test.
"We wanted to put India under pressure and had to get over 600 runs to do that. A target of 400-plus to avoid the follow-on puts pressure on the opposition. If we would have declared at 500 and set them 300 to avoid the follow-on it would have been of no use," he said.
Criticizing India's decision to declare at 500 in the first Test, McMillan added, "Had India not declared at 500 in Ahmedabad, the series would have been quite different."
He said the morning session was a struggle with the ball moving around and L Balaji bowling well.
"We decided to hang around for the first 20 minutes and the fielders on the boundary made it tougher providing some jittery moments in the morning."
He is, however, optimistic about New Zealand's chances.
"Hopefully, things will go our way, though getting 19 wickets in two days after only seven wickets have fallen in three days is being too optimistic. But if we can get Rahul Dravid and Virender Sehwag out early tomorrow morning, the match could turn.
"It will take one bad session from India and one good session from us to win this Test. The morning session will be very important with the new ball 10 overs away. We took the one chance that came our way. Hopefully we will take all the chances that come our way."
Attributing the batting spectacle at Mohali to a great team effort, McMillan said, "The guys at the top of the order set us up beautifully. Four hundreds in a Test overseas doesn't happen so easily. India has failed to dominate us."
On a personal front, McMillan, a diabetic since age 16, said he got a kick up the backside after being dropped for the tour of Sri Lanka.
"It's been a good comeback for me after a tough last year where I missed the Lankan tour. I asked tough questions of myself and realized where I lacked and moved forward.
"To do well in India, which is easily one of the toughest tours in world cricket, has been pleasing."
