Black Caps back bowlers to handle heat in decider
Black Caps bowling coach Shane Jurgensen hopes his attack will bring the heat, and early, in the deciding one day international against India in Kanpur tonight (NZT).
New Zealand heads into game three with the series locked at 1-1 after Thursday’s six-wicket defeat cancelled out their promising six-wicket victory in the opener.
The bowlers took a step backwards in Pune, with Tim Southee, Adam Milne, Mitchell Santner and Colin de Grandhomme unable to assert any real dominance, snaring just one wicket apiece as India chased down a mediocre 230-run total with four overs and six wickets to spare.
Stand that up against game one in Mumbai, where Trent Boult took 4-35 to put India on the ropes, and it is clear which performance Jurgensen would like his bowling unit to replicate in the decider.
’’I was really happy with the way that we bowled in the first game, in Mumbai. Traditionally the Mumbai pitch is a pretty good pitch for batting, and I thought that we adjusted pretty well under extreme conditions,’’ Jurgensen said.
‘‘For our first game in this type of weather, coming from New Zealand, it was an impressive performance.
‘‘I thought the way that we adjusted with our plans to their batsmen was excellent, and that was something we had been talking about as a group amongst our bowlers. They did really well and they stood up.
‘‘We need to make sure we start well with the ball, and we didn’t quite do that the other night [in the second game].
‘‘We were OK in the initial overs, but when [Virat] Kohli came to the crease, and with us having a smaller total than we probably wanted on that pitch, we probably chased it and went searching a bit of wickets.’’
The oppressive conditions provide an extra challenge when playing in India but Jurgensen said maintaining a high level of fitness was the best way to counter it.
‘‘It’s more about getting your head around it,’’ he said.
‘‘As a player you need to be as fit as you can, and I know the guys take a lot of pride in their fitness.
‘‘A good example is Trent Boult, how he was able to bowl.
‘‘I thought it was an outstanding performance, in those conditions, and I don’t think he could be any fitter.
’’The keys are making sure we stay aggressive, but sometimes being prepared to keep it very simple and specific and focus on executing.’’
With a quick three-day turnaround between games one and day, Jurgensen welcomed the much-needed extra day off ahead of game three.
‘‘That break has been really good to get fresh, and to think about what we didn’t get right previously in the Champions Trophy and to come back here,’’ he said.
‘‘It gives you time to reflect and go ‘why are we a good bowling unit? what do we do when we are a good bowling unit’?’’
‘‘And then you’ve got to go out there and do it.’’
As a player you need to be as fit as you can, and I know the guys take a lot of pride in their fitness. Shane Jurgensen