Innovative Seifert open for business
With Colin Munro and Martin Guptill still misfiring, busy gloveman’s promotion makes sense to kick-start the Black Caps’ batting. Mark Geenty reports.
Buoyed by memories of his starring role against India last summer, Tim Seifert makes a compelling case for a batting promotion in today’s Twenty20 rematch with England in Wellington.
A flat start to the home season in a seven-wicket defeat to England in Christchurch places the New Zealand top-three under more scrutiny, and raises questions about how to get the best out of misfiring pair Colin Munro and Martin Guptill.
Back in February, the Black Caps T20 wicketkeeper sent the white Kookaburra soaring all over Westpac Stadium, blasting 84 off 43 balls in a series-opening victory.
With Guptill out injured, Seifert and Munro combined effectively against India with opening stands of 86 (off 8.2 overs), 15 and 80 (off 7.4 overs). The two hefty partnerships set up the victories in a 2-1 series scoreline.
Seifert looks most effective at the top in T20 cricket with his dynamic, innovative approach in the Brendon McCullum mould.
Guptill’s lean trot continued when he chopped on for two in Christchurch, making it 14 runs in three T20 international innings this year combined with an average of 12.56 from his last nine Cricket World Cup innings.
With Kane Williamson set to return to the T20 setup for India’s return in January as he misses this series out with a hip injury, Guptill’s place in the shortest format looks the most tenuous for now. A shuffle down to No 3 for the five-match series may ease the pressure and free up Guptill, one of New Zealand’s best white ball batsmen who desperately needs a score to break a run drought stretching back to the Bangladesh series in February.
Seifert was diplomatic on arrival in Wellington as to his preferred spot after his 15th T20 international. He hit 32 off 26 balls at No 3 at Hagley Oval before he was caught off a full toss just below waist height.
‘‘I’d like to be up the top, or three, or wherever. We did start the series well here against India so hopefully we can do the same. Great memories, it was a great day,’’ he said.
Asked if it was a tense time jostling for top-order berths ahead of Williamson’s return, Seifert said: ‘‘Personally, no, it’s not tense at all. I think it’s quite good and we have people there to discuss how we’re going to get better as individuals. Having Munro and Guptill, they’re world class players and it’s awesome to have them there to talk to.
‘‘Once Kane comes in we’ll have to think about it, and that’s for the selectors and coach to make their mind up.’’
On Friday New Zealand’s 153-5 always looked skinny, by at least 20 runs, and England got home with nine balls to spare thanks to James Vince (59 off 38) and skipper Eoin Morgan’s brisk 34 not out.
Seifert said the Black Caps misread the pitch, expecting it to be a belter on first glance. England’s siblings Sam and Tom
Curran were excellent early on, along with Chris Jordan.
‘‘They did bowl well but the wicket was a bit two-paced at the start. It was quite hard to make those good balls into attacking options. We weren’t quite up to standard but luckily we’ve got four more games and plenty of room to get better and tomorrow will be a different story.’’
As always the drop-in pitch will be difficult to predict but for once the weather won’t be, with a 21degC stunner forecast for the 2pm start.
Towering seamer Blair Tickner, a clever T20 bowler, and allrounder Jimmy Neesham both make strong cases to come in, potentially replacing Scott Kuggeleijn and Daryl Mitchell.
England are a man down, with batsman Joe Denly out of the series with an ankle injury suffered at training.
‘‘We weren’t quite up to standard [in game one] but luckily we’ve got four more games . . .’’ Black Caps wicketkeeperbatsman Tim Seifert