Blacks Caps must adjust to Otago batsmen skittled by Canterbury the green, green grass of home
THE Black Caps are playing at home, right?
The way Kane Williamson was talking, you would think his side had just arrived on the moon and not the capital for today’s test against Sri Lanka.
But when you have spent six weeks in the United Arab Emirates scratching around on desertlike surfaces, the wicket at the Basin Reserve must resemble something quite alien.
It has grass on it for a start. There will be bounce, pace and carry.
The spinners might see very little action in the first couple of days.
Normally Williamson would feel right at home.
He is averaging 63.07 at the venue and more than 90 against Sri Lanka.
But it is a quick turnaround for the Black Caps. Just over a week ago they battled their way to a historic away test series win against Pakistan — their first since 1969.
And now they find themselves in the unusual position of having to adjust to their home conditions quickly.
Arguably Sri Lanka is better prepared. It had a threeday game against a New Zealand A side in Napier less than a week ago and most of the batsmen got some valuable time in the middle.
So perhaps the captain is right to be con cerned.
‘‘It is a very, very quick turnaround and it is important we adjust back to the conditions at home,’’ he said.
‘‘I suppose they are polar opposites in terms of the UAE and then coming here to the Basin.’’
The Black Caps have made one predictable change. Neil Wagner has replaced Will Somerville in the starting XI.
The left armer will join Trent Boult and Tim Southee in a formidable pace trio.
Wagner bowled 13 overs on the trot to help the Black Caps claim a dramatic fourrun win in the opening test in the UAE.
It is the kind of tenacity Williamson is hoping to carry into the series against Sri Lanka.
‘‘One of the highlights there was the constant fight that the team showed throughout, where the game ebbed and flowed a lot.
‘‘To come through in the end and have a series victory over there was a really positive thing.’’
While the conditions are vastly different, Williamson said some things would stay the same.
‘‘The discipline and trying to execute your plans for a long period of time remain the same.
‘‘Whatever happens after that is what it is. But we know we are going to be up against some tough competition in Sri Lanka, who want to be putting out good performances as well.’’
Sri Lankan captain Dinesh Chandimal said his side had learned a lot from past games in New Zealand but the conditions would present a challenge all the same.
It loss its recent home test series with England 30, so the team is under pressure but ‘‘everyone is in good shape and looking forward to the series’’.
‘‘Our preparation has been really good. Straight after the England series we had three or four practice sessions [on green wickets] because we knew when we came to New Zealand we’d get grassy pitches.’’ DUCK. Swerve. Sway. Do what it takes but just get out of the way of bouncers.
Otago’s top order was skittled by some shortpitched Canterbury bowling at the University of Otago Oval yesterday.
The middle order tended to throw their wickets away. And experienced allrounder Anaru Kitchen was left batting with the tail.
It all added up to another miserable first innings total for Otago this season.
Two hundred and six will not win you many games of firstclass cricket but it might help win this one.
Canterbury had its own issues. The visitors were 98 for four at stumps on day one.
Christi Viljoen led the fightback with two for 18.
But the day belonged to Canterbury leftarmer Andrew Hazeldine.
The 24yearold picked up his maiden firstclass fivewicket bag with a Neil Wagnerlike effort.
He ran in hard and bowled plenty of bumpers for his five for 33. Most of them were welldirected but one or two of the batsmen ought to have done much better.
Hamish Rutherford can count himself among the latter. The lefthander looked in imperious form and got his side through to 105 for two at lunch.
But he fell into the trap second ball after the break for 45. Hazeldine came around the wicket and speared one towards his ribs. Rutherford flicked it straight to the fielder under the helmet at short leg.
That plan worked perfectly and the next scheme did too.
Shawn Hicks was never going to get anything in his own half, given his compulsion to pull and hook.
But he got a terrific bouncer which he had to play and got a faint edge through to the keeper.
He completed the set for Canterbury. All four Otago top order batsmen perished to bouncers.
Canterbury strike bowler Kyle Jamieson (four for 39) employed the short ball to secure two of his four victims as well. He ripped through the middle order but had help from some loose shots.
Nathan Smith (5) scooped a drive to a fielder and Mitch Renwick waved his bat at a wide halftracker and was undone on 31.
Kitchen came in at No 8 with his side in rapid decline at 147 for seven. He swatted a couple of sixes and a four before holing out on 38.
His dismissal was a product of trying to rattle on runs before he ran out of partners at the other end.
Sadly, 206 is actually Otago’s highest first innings score this season.
At Eden Park Outer Oval, Auckland is 142 for three in reply to Northern Districts’ paltry first innings tally of 134.
Wellington is in a power position in Nelson.
Hamish Bennett took five for 39 to help dismiss Central Districts for 158.
At stumps, the visitors were 54 without loss.
In the national under19 tournament in Lincoln, Otago beat Canterbury by two wickets. It restricted the home team to 219 for eight. Hunter Kindley led the chase with 69.