Smash, spin for Black Caps
Blast away with the bat early, and suffocate with spin.
New Zealand’s winning start to the one-day cricket international triseries, which continues against Bangladesh in Dublin tonight, offered more hints about their Champions Trophy blueprint.
Luke Ronchi, Martin Guptill, Mitchell Santner and Jeetan Patel become central figures in this, assuming the pitch for their opener against Australia at Edgbaston on June 2 is as flat as they expect it will be.
Aside from Santner’s matchwinning five-wicket haul, and Neil Broom’s return to form, the sight of Ronchi freeing his arms and sending the ball to the rope against Ireland was another heart-warmer for coach Mike Hesson. As was Ronchi’s brace of slick stumpings later on.
The innings wasn’t conclusive proof of Ronchi’s success as an ODI opener - highest score 22 from his previous seven ODIS for New Zealand at the top - but a brisk 37 off 26 balls was a start.
His riding instructions were clear: blaze away in the first 10 overs, Brendon Mccullum-style in the hope of pinching a rapid half-century and easing the pressure on batting kingpins Guptill, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor in the big matches.
One more significant Ronchi contribution in these next three games in Ireland should be enough to push on and open with him against Australia, England and Bangladesh next month and hope it doesn’t swing and seam much, and he can clear the infield early. It’s risky against quality pace, as shown at the last tournament four years ago, but with no one having nailed Mccullum’s spot since his retirement it’s worth a punt.
An attacking wicketkeeper as an opener opens the door for two, maybe even three pace bowling allrounders (Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme and potentially Corey Anderson) and two spinners in the same XI.
Santner showed his absolute class with the white ball when under the pump in his opening spell against Ireland, returning with the wind in the 39th over to snare four wickets in as many overs and seal the 51-run victory with his clever changes of pace and flight.
Santner and Patel - who doesn’t join the squad till game four against Bangladesh next Wednesday - have both taken the new ball effectively in ODIS and one of them looks likely to again.
Hesson said on departure: ‘‘The ability to take wickets in the first 10 overs when the ball’s not swinging is going to be crucial [at the Champions Trophy]. In recent times the white ball hasn’t swung in England so it’s not something you can expect.
‘‘You need guys who have some tricks who can take wickets in those first 10 overs, and Jeetan has been able to do that for us.
‘‘We’re thinking a little bit outside the square. Some of those lineups we’re looking to play are pretty explosive and if it’s not swinging you’ve got to come up with some other skills to take wickets.’’
Debutants Scott Kuggeleijn and Seth Rance were both handy with the new ball on Monday, and Kuggeleijn with his extra pace returned to take a crucial wicket in the 36th over and start Ireland’s slide. Trent Boult and Adam Milne loom as New Zealand’s best attacking options in the UK, up front then in the final 15. Milne has arrived from the Indian Premier League and will feature in the next week, while Boult, Tim Southee and Mitchell Mcclenaghan won’t arrive from the IPL playoffs till the warmup game against India on May 28.
A full strength Bangladesh will provide a stern test for a new-look New Zealand twice in the next eight days. They’ve never beaten the Black Caps in 15 ODIS away from home but will fancy their chances at Clontarf, especially if it’s slow and low for their spinners.
Just six of the Black Caps XI who beat Ireland - including stand-in captain Tom Latham - will push on to the Champions Trophy, and the squad will be bolstered by eight IPL players over the next week including captain Williamson.