Rising star Seifert giving selectors plenty to ponder

There is no place to hide in T20 cricket so it’s a good thing that Tim Seifert is not the shy, retiring type.

New Zealand’s best player across the two T20s against Pakistan, Seifert is not only scoring his runs all around the park but is giving New Zealand selectors a 360-degree view of his talent.

He might also be forcing a rethink of his future.

At the risk of being pigeon-holed as a T20 specialist, Seifert preceded his match-winning knocks of 57 and 84 not out against a quality Pakistan attack, with a century and a halfcentury for New Zealand A against West Indies A in first-class matches.

The neat line of succession that would have Tom Blundell assume the wicketkeeping role in the test team when BJ Watling retires might still be in place, but the 26-year-old Seifert is giving Gary Stead and Gavin Larsen a lot to think about.

While question marks might remain about Seifert’s glovework compared with the very best, few can question the scope of his shotmaking ability.

What has impressed keen judges more than anything has been his ability to learn on the fly.

One of those judges is New Zealand batting coach Luke Ronchi.

“He’s been awesome,” Ronchi said. “Just to see him time the ball. The first two games of the year [against the West Indies] he tried to hit it too hard. Last night [Sunday] he made it look easy.”

Seifert’s unbeaten 84 included eight fours and three sixes but rather than raw power, it was the way he paced the chase that most impressed.

Seifert has spent the past few months being a sponge alongside Brendon McCullum — a player who can safely assume he sees a bit of himself in — while winning the Caribbean Premier League, then being a late call-up to the Kolkata Knight Riders squad.

Describing himself as a “visual learner”, Seifert said the three months with McCullum and the chance to play and train alongside world-class players has seen a major lift in his confidence.

That has been obvious over the past week. Seifert said he was disappointed to “get myself out” after making starts against the West Indies and has avoided the same mistakes against Pakistan. “Sometimes a lot of shots are going through your head — which can be a downfall as well,” he said after the series win.

“In the West Indies series, I got myself out trying things.

“You know when you need to bring those shots out.”

At the moment, he’s picking his spots well, using largely conventional methods to beat the field during the powerplay and then reaching into the box of tricks, which includes one of the best scoop shots in the game, when the field is spread.

New Zealand wraps up the T20 series tonight in Napier, with victory already assured.

In many ways the pressure is off, but Seifert doesn’t have time to relax if he wants to keep reminding people how far he has come and how quickly.