Munro keen to kick on ... with the ball
He might be better known for his explosive hitting but it is Colin Munro’s efforts with the ball that could be the key to keeping his place in the Black Caps. Phillip Rollo reports.
If Colin Munro was able to pick the opposition every week, Bangladesh might just be at the top of his wish list.
The Black Caps batsman is making a habit of posting career-high totals against the South Asian nation, plundering 87 off 61 balls in his latest performance as New Zealand opened their three-game one day international series with a 77-run win in Christchurch on Boxing Day.
Though overshadowed by teammate Tom Latham’s slightly more patient haul of 137, the pair’s 158-run stand was the foundation that the victory was built on.
On a personal note, Munro’s attacking exploits at Hagley Oval won’t be forgotten any time soon as he nudged ahead of his previous best score by two runs.
The 85 he smacked in 2013 was also against Bangladesh, seeming to find form every time he’s taken on the Tigers.
In the twenty20 arena, of which Munro is a regular in the New Zealand set-up, he’s belted 73 from 39 and scored a solid 35 from 33 respectively against them, so you can see why he backs himself to deliver when he strolls out against Bangladesh.
‘‘I was very happy with the way I batted and obviously exceptionally happy for Tommy at Hagley, his home ground, to score some runs as well. We really batted well together, fed off each other and communicated well in the middle. I really enjoyed bat with Tommy and hopefully we can bat a few more times together,’’ he said.
‘‘You’re always trying to get better but the biggest thing for us was the fact we made meaningful contributions to a winning performance, which everyone in the team expects from the batters. It was pretty good for us to put that partnership on and put us in a winning position.’’
The big hitter from Durban has been a key figure in New Zealand T20 side for a number of years but has found opportunities much more limiting in the 50-over format and even less in the test arena where he has one sole cap.
Monday’s game was just his 16th ODI but he knows his latest selection, reinstated for the Chappellhadlee Trophy series against Australia and the current series against Bangladesh, are the stage to prove he’s more than just short-form specialist.
He said he’s had regular discussions with coach Mike Hesson around what he needs to do to extend his ODI and test career and it seems the answer is actually with the ball.
‘‘I’m talking to them regularly and wanting to play that but my bowling hasn’t been up to scratch so it’s been tough to break in,’’ he said.
A right-arm medium-fast bowler, Munro has bowled just 11 overs in his ODI career and is yet to take a wicket. On his test debut against South Africa, which was nearly four years ago now, he took 2-40 in 18 overs.
Munro said it needs work but he is eager to prove he could be the ‘‘sixth or seventh’’ bowling option as it would set him aside from the competition, eyeing the No 5 position in the test team.
‘‘If I can get back bowling then test cricket might be on the agenda. I need to be a real option for them at some stage.
‘‘If we have five bowlers then myself or Kane [Williamson] have to be the next bowler so there’s definitely an expectation on me to bowl a couple of overs in one day cricket and even in twenty20.
‘‘If I’m lucky enough to play longer formats then I’ll have to bowl longer spells as well, so I’ll have to get my body ready for that.’’
Munro’s versatility wasn’t required in Christchurch, acknowledging that if the team is bowling well then it’s unlikely he will be called upon, but he said he wouldn’t shy away if the ball comes his way at Saxton Oval in Nelson in the next two games tomorrow and Saturday.
‘‘I’ll probably come in and bowl at the difficulty times, so obviously I might get hit a little bit, but that’s part and parcel of being a sixth or seventh option in the bowling order.’’