No blueprint set for Black Caps openers
Openers Henry Nicholls and Martin Guptill haven’t been given any special instructions to rein it back with the bat.
Nicholls is quickly shaping as New Zealand’s preferred option to team up with Guptill at the top of the innings for the Cricket World Cup, which begins in June.
The usual No 6 was trialled in the opening role in the fourth ODI against India in Hamilton and has been handed an opportunity to impress in the three-match series against Bangladesh.
Nicholls took his chance in Wednesday’s eight-wicket thumping in Napier, hitting 53, and teaming up for a 103-run opening stand with Guptill.
It was New Zealand’s first ODI century partnership December, 2017. Poor starts with the bat hurt New Zealand in their 4-1 ODI series loss to India with the highest opening stand just 23 runs and the other four failing to reach 20.
Against India, New Zealand targeted aggressive starts, with both Colin Munro and Guptill guilty of going too hard, too early, and at times getting out meekly.
The opening match against Bangladesh was a complete contrast with Guptill and Nicholls starting sensibly and not taking risks. They scored 42 runs from the first 10 overs, slow by modern standards, and were prepared to build a platform and punish the bad balls.
‘‘There’s no real direction in terms of being like that,’’ Nicholls said ahead of today’s second ODI at his Hagley Oval home in Christchurch.
‘‘Me and Martin assessed the other night that we’re chasing 230, the importance that their opening bowlers were to play in that.
‘‘We knew if we took it longer, [with] wickets in hand that was going to be important. It was more about assessing that situation in chasing that total, than an overall directive.’’
Nicholls’ half century was relatively subdued coming off 72 balls, content to nudge it around into the gaps for ones and twos with no scoreboard pressure to worry about.
If the Black Caps view Nicholls as the man to partner Guptill for the World Cup, they will need him to find the boundary regularly in what is expected to be a high-scoring tournament, where scores of over 300 are tipped to be the norm.
Nicholls has a strike rate of 85.44 from 39 ODIs, similar to Guptill’s career mark of 86.95.
While some view Nicholls as conservative with the bat, he has shown in the middle order in ODIs, he can be destructive when needed.
He blasted 12 fours and three sixes against Sri Lanka in Nelson in January on his way to an unbeaten 124 from 80 balls – his maiden ODI ton. In test cricket, Nicholls has also demonstrated he can free his arms on various occasions.
If New Zealand opt not to take wicketkeeper Tim Seifert to the World Cup, who has played just three ODIs, but caught the eye in T20s, Nicholls would be Tom Latham’s deputy gloveman.
Should the Black Caps go down that route, it would make sense to give Nicholls a go behind the stumps in the third ODI in Dunedin on Wednesday – in case he’s needed at short notice in England.
Nicholls said there hadn’t been any word from the New Zealand coaching staff about that happening.
Morning showers, turning to fine spells in the afternoon are forecast for Christchurch today.
New Zealand would clinch the ODI series 2-0 with a match to play if they can prevail over Bangladesh at Hagley – a venue the Black Caps have won eight of nine ODIs at.