Avoiding Super Overs and other T20 lessons AT A GLANCE
That tricky final selection discussion is a while off for coach Gary Stead and co-selector Gavin Larsen, but after four winless T20s against India and four to go in the home summer (one against India then three against Australia in March), it’s worth reflecting on what we’ve learned.
Two lessons are obvious from Hamilton and Wellington: the batting order and personnel need regular fine tuning, reviewing and even reshuffling, and Super Overs must be avoided at all costs.
An inability to finish off elementary run chases is the biggest worry for New Zealand and threatens to make them a one-dimensional bat-first team who try to post a total then strangle the chasing side via early wickets then the dual spin of Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi. That can be effective but not on every surface.
Colin de Grandhomme – who is sitting out this weekend – and Ross Taylor remain Stead’s top picks but they shouldn’t be automatically locked in at four and five. There are options to explore further, including Chapman and Tom Bruce.
Neesham’s recent deeds for the Firebirds – winning matches with bat and ball – mark him down as a major player in the T20 mix. He clouted another 70 off 60 balls against Canterbury in 50-over cricket yesterday and looks ideal at six as a batting finisher. His presence in Hamilton and Wellington could have changed those results.
Surely, Neesham slots back in for the Australia T20s at the end of March, and adds to the deathbowling mix which needs bolstering. After Australia there are up to 13 T20s in Scotland, Ireland and the West Indies, then it’s back home before the World Cup.
Conway’s runfest continued with 57 off 64 against Canterbury and most in New Zealand Cricket are counting the days until the South African becomes eligible in early September. Tentatively scheduled home games against Bangladesh and West Indies in October give him a chance to slot in. He just can’t be ignored and
Kane Williamson (captain), Martin Guptill, Colin Munro, Devon Conway, Tim Seifert, Ross Taylor, Mark Chapman, Colin de Grandhomme, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Ish Sodhi, Tim Southee, Lockie Ferguson, Trent Boult, Hamish Bennett.
Tom Bruce, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Scott Kuggeleijn, Blair Tickner. offers backup wicketkeeping.
That makes the top order logjam even more complicated.
Colin Munro was a headscratcher in games two and three then produced a more robust 64 off 47 that should have won New Zealand game four in Wellington. He said: ‘‘It was nice for me to show a bit more maturity in getting through that tough period with the new ball and get myself in. Obviously I was disappointed with the way I got out [run out by Virat Kohli]. Nice to contribute to a team total.’’
Tim Seifert looks much more at home in the top-three than No 6 and Kane Williamson’s absence with a shoulder injury allowed him to stamp his mark. He looked the part and gave his side a stranglehold on the match until that fateful final over.
With Conway there, New Zealand will have five genuine contenders for top-three spots and can hopefully pick on form and potential impact.
The bowling will be more rounded with Boult and Ferguson back to provide the early wickettaking threat New Zealand lack. Sodhi and Santner were back to their old selves in Wellington, combining effectively as they did in the 2016 tournament in India and with more firepower around them can be the Black Caps’ trump cards.
Said Sodhi of Sky Stadium, where they combined to take 4-52: ‘‘We started exploiting the bounce. I talked to Mitch early on and he said overspin was bouncing and holding a bit, not too much turn, so for me wrong ’uns and topspinners were going to be the best option for getting wickets. We have to remember our roles can be different at certain grounds. At times my role is going to be more aggressive than his and vice versa, and it’s just about recognising that in the middle. Our communication was on point and that’s something we need to keep doing.’’
On current evidence it’s not entirely rosy for New Zealand’s T20 hopes, but with the cavalry returning and if they select on form rather than hurling their eggs in one basket too soon, then there is room for optimism.
Potential Twenty20 World Cup squad:
On the fringes: