Munro’s batting stocks take a hit
Colin Munro’s World Cup spot appears in jeopardy, following the announcement of the Black Caps’ ODI cricket squad to face Bangladesh.
The Auckland left-hander has been named for just the third and final game of the series, when captain Kane Williamson will take a pre-planned break.
The 14-man squad features the return of Martin Guptill, pending a fitness test today, after he was ruled out of the T20 series against India, having aggravated a disc in his lower back.
Henry Nicholls will partner Guptill at the top of the order, with Munro having previously been seen as Guptill’s opening partner, before a poor run of form this summer.
The writing was on the wall for Munro when he was left out of the playing XI for the fourth match of the ODI series against India in Hamilton, where Nicholls and Guptill partnered in the eight-wicket win.
Only Guptill’s injury then granted Munro a reprieve for the final game in Wellington, where he scored 24 off 19 balls to make it just one half century from his last 16 innings, with his career average now 25.28, from 50 games.
While selector Gavin Larsen said the option of Munro opening ‘‘remains very very firmly in front of mind for us’’, seemingly the 31-year-old’s only hope for action at the World Cup now comes in the backup batting spot, where he could cover any number of positions.
Across his first 24 ODIs, between 2013-2017, Munro has batted in every spot between No 4 and No 8, before opening in his last 26 games.
While his average and strike rate aren’t too dissimilar between opening or otherwise, his technique has become a constant issue against the new ball – with hard hands and a lack of footwork and patience only getting him so far.
It depends on the way New Zealand want to play. The idea was for Munro to get the team off to a fast start – a la Brendon McCullum – in order to take scoring pressure off Guptill and those to follow.
But coach Gary Stead and fellow selector Larsen look to have bitten that bullet, as Munro’s run of low scores wasn’t doing his role justice.
There is still that aggressive option for New Zealand, though, in another form, if they decide to have Tim Seifert in the World Cup squad.
The 24-year-old hasn’t been included to face Bangladesh but remains the backup wicketkeeping option for the global showpiece, and could be promoted to open with his hard-hitting, inventive game – brilliantly illustrated in his 84 off 43 in the first T20 win over India in Wellington.
‘‘We’re still working through that exact final balance of that Cricket World Cup squad of 15, there’s still little permutations and ways we could go,’’ Larsen said.
‘‘It was really exciting to see him go really big and strong in his 80 off 40-odd balls, and that gives you a real indication as to the strengths and power of Tim Seifert. His keeping’s coming on nicely, and he remains an option.’’
Seifert’s inclusion in the 15-man Cup squad could squeeze Munro out, if the selectors want to add Ish Sodhi or Doug Bracewell to the mix.
Both have missed out on facing Bangladesh, having featured for the first three games against India, but then making way for Todd Astle and Jimmy Neesham respectively for the remainder of that series, after that duo returned from injury.
Meanwhile, with Williamson sitting out the third match against Bangladesh, captaincy duties will fall to Tom Latham, who has led the team in seven previous ODIs.
The Black Caps face India in the third and deciding T20 in Hamilton tonight, before the ODI series against Bangladesh starts in Napier on Wednesday.