NZ building towards heavyweight clashes
OPINION: Do we confuse the Black Caps with Joseph Parker?
Over the past two months, the New Zealand men’s cricket side have made two international sides – one with a recent heavyweight belt in their possession – look like punch-drunk bums.
The hosts have battered, bruised and knocked out what have proved to be vastly inferior foes, despite both arriving on our shores with some pedigree or star billing.
It’s as if New Zealand have picked their way smartly through the ranks of the also-rans to deserve a big shot at the heavyweight crown.
That title fight is coming later this summer, when we’ll get to witness Kane Williamson’s men fully reveal their credentials.
Following yesterday’s fourth ODI against Pakistan in Hamilton, the series wraps up in Wellington on Friday, with three Twenty20 encounters to follow.
Then the excitement begins. New Zealand will contest the trans-tasman Twenty20 tri-series against England and Australia, starting with a clash against Australia at the Sydney Cricket Ground on February 3.
After the tri-series, we get what should be a ring-weary England side on our shores for five ODIS and two tests – including our first day-night pink-ball test at Eden Park.
When asked this week if his troops hadn’t received the credit deserved for their dominant winning streak, coach Mike Hesson pushed the question neatly back past the bowler with a textbook straight bat.
He felt others could make their own judgment but explained that all sides had visited here over the past five years and New Zealand’s home record was very good.
But it’s against the absolute elite that New Zealand will want to improve their record.
Last summer against Australia in ODIS, they won a memorable home series after losing the first series 2-1 across the ditch. They lost the three-test series 1-0 to South Africa and the ODI series 3-2.
So, hugely competitive, but with room to take the step-up to be world-beaters. There’s reasons to think NZ can improve too.
BJ Watling should be fit to regain his place in the test team to take on England. While Tom Blundell impressed on debut at the Basin Reserve, Watling is a worldclass test wicketkeeper-batsman who will strengthen the hosts.
It’s likely to be too great an assumption to think that Corey Anderson will feature internationally this summer as he rehabilitates from back surgery which required screws and wire.
Colin Munro now looks at home in the international arena, with the caveat that he will also want to prove his form against Australia and England, but is well-placed confidence-wise to do so.
There’s also burgeoning young talents like Glenn Phillips and the uncapped Tim Seifert ready to stake a claim in the short-form matches, while veterans like Anton Devcich have shown domestically he’s still a quality T20 option.
Tim Southee and Trent Boult have long established themselves as New Zealand’s best new-ball partnership in the history of the game and continue to feature in all three formats, while Neil Wagner has been a test star and must be licking his lips at the prospect of testing out England.
Above it all, there’s Williamson and Ross Taylor.
The captain’s work ethic and skill will continue to push him on to greater things, while Taylor –who made his 200th ODI appearance in Hamilton yesterday – was at pains to emphasise he still saw a big future ahead at 33.
The 2019 World Cup is the grail New Zealand seek most.
Victories against Australia and England will show how on track they are in that quest.