Batting blues haunt NZ
FOR the second time in four years, New Zealand’s cricketers packed their suitcases early in Cardiff with questions over their batting and big-match temperament away from home.
It’s again clear: their dream run through the 2015 World Cup and imposing record in their own cocoon gives a false impression of how good these Black Caps are. In ODI series deciders and tournament knockouts overseas their recent record is poor (two wins from nine in the last four years), and it continued in Cardiff with successive emphatic defeats in three days.
This lack of progress is a worry for coach Mike Hesson two years out from the World Cup in the UK, with no more scheduled internationals till West Indies arrive in November to start another packed home summer.
Ranked fourth in ODI cricket, the Black Caps were the first of eight Champions Trophy sides eliminated after they couldn’t defend 265-8, missing the semifinals in back-to-back tournaments after contesting the 2009 final and winning in 2000. Bangladesh were worthy fivewicket victors after a remarkable 224-run stand between Shakib Al Hasan and Mahmudullah – star of their World Cup upset of England – but they should have been chasing at least 30 more which may have changed things.
Top of the list of pleaseexplains is how New Zealand’s middle order wobbled so alarmingly from a strong platform in all three matches. Neil Broom looked increasingly out of place at No5 and allrounders Corey Anderson and Jimmy Neesham barely fired a shot in the same XI.
Against Australia they lost 7-37 in scoring 291, which still looked a winning total when rain arrived with New Zealand in charge after three early wickets. Against England it was an 8-65 collapse on a variable pitch against a strong pace attack, dismissed for 223 chasing 311, and yesterday they went from 201-3 in the 39th over to lose 5-51 and add just 64 in the final 11 overs.
That was the nadir against a team who hadn’t beaten New Zealand away from home in 16 ODIs, before their Dublin victory last month.
Captain Kane Williamson ended with 244 runs at 81.33 and strike rate of 92. Outstanding numbers, but increasingly a solo show with backup from Ross Taylor (148 runs at 49) and little else.
Williamson tried to explain where it went wrong for his side, without throwing any team-mates under the bus. His measured tone became weary when challenged on his own run out for 57, with New Zealand poised on 152-3 in the 30th. Williamson called Taylor through for a risky single and paid the price, another chapter in the pair’s too frequent running dramas.
‘‘Frustrating, game,’’ he said.
Williamson said 300 was certainly on, after they won the toss. Spinner Mossadek Hossain (3-13 off three) had other ideas after being introduced in the 42nd over and removing Broom, Anderson and Neesham in quick succession.
‘‘Bangladesh bowled well. part of the There’s a number of factors and it wasn’t through lack of effort. We certainly didn’t play our best cricket,’’ Williamson said.
‘‘We were in a position of strength with the bat and if things were to go our way we know we have a lot of power in that middle order and they’re very talented. It’s a short tournament and you want everyone firing and it wasn’t to be. We left a few runs out there.’’
There were no selection howlers and it looked New Zealand’s best XI. The Luke Ronchi opening experiment paid off against Australia before they were denied by rain. Martin GETTY IMAGES Guptill looked in sublime touch but scored 86 runs for a high score of 33, too few from their matchwinner.
Broom suffered coming in after similar tempo players Williamson and Taylor, when they needed Anderson or Neesham to push up to five and put the foot down with more time. It’s a spot Colin Munro could ably fill at his best, although his temperament and international consistency leave question marks.
Neesham had a poor tournament and was overtaken again by Anderson, who was also below par aside from his 3-55 against England.