Williamson praised for stalling tactics

New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson has earned praise from Indian great Sunil Gavaskar for a simple and perfectly legal stalling tactic he employed during the first Test in Kanpur.

Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja may have spun India to victory at Green Park, but Williamson's strategy aimed at upsetting the rhythm of the home side's rampant spinners wasn't unnoticed by Gavaskar in the commentary box.

Quick Single: Kiwis count positives from Kanpur chaos

With left-armer Jadeja completing an over in less than 90 seconds on some occasions late on the fourth day, the Kiwi skipper decided to re-gain some control of the tempo of the match.

On multiple occasions with Jadeja at the top of his seven-step approach to the crease and ready to bowl, Williamson would move away from his stumps to either tap at the playing surface or adjust his protective equipment.

The skipper would even stand motionless for several seconds a few metres off the pitch before re-taking his guard.

Gavaskar said Williamson had every right to take guard when he, and not the bowler, was ready.

"It's a very good tactic," the former skipper said. "You don't want to be rushed in to batting so he's taking his time.

"Every single ball he can go and tap (the pitch). Whether there's anything there or not, it does not matter. He's entitled as a batsman (to do that).

"Jadeja finishes his over in less than two minutes so there's nothing wrong with Williamson's tactics."

Williamson's strategy ultimately proved in vain as the hosts stormed to a 197-run win, although his first innings of 75 briefly gave rise to hopes of an upset victory.

Jadeja and Ashwin took 16 of the 20 wickets to fall for the match, Jadeja grabbing 5-73 in the first innings and Ashwin finishing with 10 for the match.

Quick Single: Ashwin's 10 puts him in elite company

While the left-armer was far less potent in the second innings than he was in the first, he was remarkably frugal, particularly in that final session on day four.

Brought into the attack in the fifth over of the innings with NZ already two wickets down, Jadeja bowled 14 overs for the session, including 10 maidens and seven consecutively to finish the day.

Having conceded seven runs from his first five overs, Jadeja gave up just a single run from the remaining 54 legal deliveries he bowled in the day, the only blemish being a front foot no-ball.

In all, 80 of the 84 legal deliveries he bowled that day were dot balls and he returned the next morning to take the crucial wicket of Luke Ronchi for 80, finishing with 1-58 from 34 overs, with 17 maidens.

The performance of the spin twins in Kanpur was an ominous warning for the Black Caps ahead of the final two Tests of the series, as well as England, Bangladesh and Australia ahead of their upcoming series in India.

Jadeja now averages 16 with the ball in home Tests, taking a wicket every ninth over he bowls, while Ashwin is even more prolific on home soil, striking every 46 balls and averaging 21.

The duo are set to be key factors in Australia's four-Test tour of India earlier next year, having taken 53 of the 79 wickets to fall on the tourists' ill-fated tour there in 2013.