Review looms after Ferns flop
New Zealand aren’t stealing too many leaves from Cricket Australia’s playbook right now, except one: their team’s gritty fightback against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates last month.
Australia’s final-day scrap to secure a first-test draw in Dubai provides a reference point for the Black Caps, bracing for one of test cricket’s most daunting assignments starting tonight (7pm NZT).
With captain Kane Williamson likely to defy a groin niggle and lead the side, the top-seven rounded out by BJ Watling and Colin de Grandhomme face a test of technique and patience against seamer Mohammad Abbas – with 59 wickets from his first 10 tests – and dual spin threat Yasir Shah and Bilal Asif.
‘‘It’s a war of attrition, a battle within yourself to stay within the gameplan. That’s not just batting but bowling,’’ said coach Gary Stead.
"When the wickets are so flat it’s playing that waiting game and being comfortable with that without getting too frustrated.’’
With captain Tim Paine leading the way, Australia batted out a draw on the final day in Dubai after trailing by 280 on the first innings. It went downhill after that when Abbas took 10 wickets in Pakistan’s series-clinching 373-run win in Abu Dhabi, but that first-test performance offers hope for other desert visitors. Former Otago wicketkeeper Marty Croy looks set to lead another review into a White Ferns world tournament flop as the pressure mounts on coach Haidee Tiffen.
New Zealand return to Providence Stadium in Guyana today (9am) to face Pakistan but, unless Ireland upset India earlier, the Ferns’ semifinal hopes at the Women’s World Twenty20 will be officially over.
Those were essentially dashed for the world’s third-ranked team after back-to-back defeats to India and Australia, amid ever-growing noises about disharmony among senior players and questions over Tiffen’s leadership.
New Zealand Cricket’s high performance general manager Bryan Stronach said a review took place after every world tournament regardless of results, and was reluctant to comment on what had gone wrong with the tournament still in progress.
‘‘It’s a World Cup and we want to win World Cups. We’re not overly happy that we’ve lost two games against two very good teams, but we want to beat good
Kane Williamson (captain), Tom Latham, Jeet Raval, Ross Taylor, Henry Nicholls, BJ Watling, Colin de Grandhomme, Tim Southee, Neil Wagner, Will Somerville, Ajaz Patel, Ish Sodhi, Trent Boult, Matt Henry, Tom Blundell.
Pakistan (from): Sarfraz Ahmed (captain), Mohammad Hafeez, Imam-ul-Haq, Azhar Ali, Asad Shafiq, Haris Sohail, Babar Azam, Saad Ali, Yasir Shah, Bilal Asif, Mohammad Abbas, Hasan Ali, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Afridi, Mir Hamza.
TAB odds: Pakistan $1.65, NZ $3.80, draw $4.25 teams,’’ Stronach said. ‘‘That [review] will happen when they return; not just around the result at the tournament but the wider system.’’
Stronach hadn’t confirmed the independent person to run the review but his preference was Croy, who had worked for High Performance Sport NZ and Paralympics NZ. Players and support staff would be interviewed and all feedback would be confidential, Stronach said.
Alarm bells sounded pretournament when New Zealand’s star player Suzie Bates announced she was stepping aside as captain and handing over to Amy Satterthwaite.
Bates later acknowledged differences of opinion with Tiffen on selection and tension between the pair on the tour of England.
Said Stronach: ‘‘It’s been documented there’s been a little bit of tension in the group which we’ve been working on, but I also think at times it’s a good thing to not be too comfortable in an environment with anyone.’’
Tiffen’s contract, along with that of assistant coaches Matthew Bell and Jacob Oram, and mental skills coach Ron Corbin, expires in six months, Stronach said.
Depth of international quality players is clearly an issue in New Zealand, which NZC says it is trying to address, but Stronach wouldn’t be drawn on whether Tiffen’s role was under scrutiny. She was at the helm for the 50-over World Cup last year when they missed the semifinals.
‘‘That comes out of the review post the tour. Right now they’re in the middle of the tournament and it’s about us supporting the team.’’
On suggestions there was division in the team over selections, Stronach said: ‘‘We’ve lost two games so that would suggest no, we haven’t got it completely right.’’