Hagley Oval hitout
Black Caps ooze wary confidence
Black Caps quietly confident for Boxing Day test.
‘We want to keep building on what we’ve been able to achieve recently and obviously there’s a big carrot to build towards in six weeks . . we need to ensure we’re performing over the next little while.’ Brendon McCullum
THE form, depth and popularity of the New Zealand cricket team are as good as they’ve ever been and captain Brendon McCullum is keen to ride the wave all the way to a deep World Cup run.
Despite being in the shadow of the 14-team, global ODI tournament, McCullum said the two-test series with Sri Lanka, which starts today at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, can play a big part in the team’s buildup.
Momentum and confidence were already high, but a test series win against a ‘‘quality’’ Sri Lankan side would only help.
‘‘[Starting well] is important because we want to keep building on what we’ve been able to achieve recently and obviously there’s a big carrot to build towards in six weeks. Realistically, for us to be a big chance we need to make sure we’ve got form and confidence and to do that we need to ensure we’re performing over the next little while.’’
Run-scoring machine Kumar Sangakkara, captain Angelo Mathews and wicket keeper-batsman Prasanna Jayawardene aside, the Sri Lankans are relatively unknown in New Zealand but McCullum insists they’re a team with plenty of weapons and not one to be taken lightly.
‘‘They travel a lot better than what they used to as well. As a group they’ve had some success in similar conditions to this too; they’re a quality side, they’re not going to lay down for us.’’
He said New Zealand would have to play ‘‘very good cricket’’ to be competitive, but the strength and depth of his squad instilled in him plenty of confidence.
Exactly who does turn out for New Zealand in the first test is to be decided this morning.
Coach Mike Hesson got to spend the start of Christmas Day with his family in Dunedin and he and McCullum were to discuss the playing XI last night and make a final call after inspecting the pitch today.
The side had a light Christmas Day training before some joined the Christchurch-based McCullum family for a BBQ.
The skipper said a couple of players’ injuries needed to be double-checked this morning, though there were no major concerns.
Jimmy Neesham injured his groin in New Zealand’s 3-2 ODI series win over Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, but came through training this week.
Tim Southee, the side’s most experienced bowler, sent a small quiver of worry through the camp when he had to have a hamstring checked out, but he too took a full part in training and bowled at full pace. Both are expected to play.
The head-scratcher remains who of Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner will play and join Southee and Trent Boult.
Both have form and both are working hard.
Bracewell took nine wickets in a recent Plunket Shield match at Hagley and is expected to swing the ball more.
But Wagner bustles in all day and should the deck flatten out, his energy and ability to get something out of dead pitches will become an asset.
‘‘All four seamers are bowling nicely and know the conditions well,’’ McCullum said.
‘‘Whatever combination we go for I’m sure will be the right one.’’
One thing is for certain, Otago offspinner Mark Craig will play.
Hagley’s bounce will help him and even though the covers were left on at times yesterday and there was no sun to burn off the green grass, McCullum said Craig would still be valuable.
‘‘We look to pick a team for five days so we’ll pretty much always look to include a spinner now. And Mark Craig is a really good package as a cricketer. He’s bowled well, the 10 wickets he got in the last test were superb, the runs he’s scoring and he can field in the slips.’’ Play starts at 11am today. Dean Brownlie and whichever quick misses out are expected to return to their associations for the start of the domestic one-day competition tomorrow.