Hesson puts heat on top five
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson is calling on his top order to convert starts into substantial scores as attention turns to the five-match Pakistan one-day series.
Fresh off thumping the woeful West Indies 3-0 in the ODIS, Champions Trophy 50-over winners Pakistan will present a far sterner challenge.
New Zealand have three Twenty20s to get through against the West Indies, beginning in Nelson tomorrow, before the focus switches to a vastly improved Pakistan 50-over outfit.
Hesson confirmed they would name their strongest squad for the Pakistan matches after resting skipper Kane Williamson and experienced seamer Tim Southee for the final two ODIS against the West Indies.
Despite New Zealand’s ODI dominance of the West Indies, Hesson said there was always room for improvement.
There were plenty of promising starts from the top five but no one was able to go on and make a large knock, which would be pivotal against Pakistan. The first ODI is in Wellington on January 6.
‘‘We made good starts with the bat, but certainly not major contributions. That’s something we have to improve on against a Pakistan attack, that keeps attacking you,’’ Hesson said.
New Zealand’s ODI squad to face Pakistan should be predictable,
but new and returning players such opener George Worker, legspinner Todd Astle and seamer Doug Bracewell have given Hesson and chief selector Gavin Larsen some healthy problems.
Opener Martin Guptill has recovered from a left hamstring
issue and is expected to open with Colin Munro in the Pakistan ODIS. Guptill is set to return for the opening T20 against the West Indies and will be paired with Munro at the top.
All-rounder Colin de Grandhomme didn’t feature in the West
Indies ODIS after returning to Zimbabwe following the death of his father. Hesson hoped de Grandhomme could play a T20 for Auckland on January 4 and slot back into the Black Caps limited overs side ‘‘at some stage’’.
After a poor Champions Trophy
in June, where the Black Caps failed to get out of their group, Hesson believed their recent ODI performances against India and the West Indies showed they were tracking in the right direction.
‘‘Our percentage winning is as good as it ever has been in one-day
cricket. One of the keys is throughout this last ODI series everyone who has come in has performed their role nicely and made a contribution to winning games.’’
The West Indies are the reigning World Twenty20 champions and ranked fourth in the world by the ICC for cricket’s shortest form.
With T20 power hitters Carlos Brathwaite, Kieron Pollard and Andre Fletcher flying in to bolster the side and legspinner Samuel Badree, Hesson said the tourists would be a different proposition.