Black Caps looking for clean sweep
There was no need for subterfuge as Bangladesh’s tour of New Zealand returns to where it started against a dominant, occasionally ruthless, opponent.
The Black Caps and Bangladeshi cricketers are well acquainted given this three format itinerary started on Boxing Day, so as the final fixture looms on Friday Trent Boult made no attempt to disguise his bowling unit’s tactics.
When Christchurch’s Hagley Oval staged the first match of the ODI series, short-pitched deliveries contributed to the demise of five of the nine dismissed visiting batsmen - only one, tailender Mustafizur Rahman was yorked.
The Black Caps success ratio with short of a length bowling might not have been as pronounced for the remainder of the tour, though the tactic was undeniably effective during the first test at the Basin Reserve.
Mushfiqur Rahim had a thumb fractured during his masterful 159, and when he attempted a valiant rearguard action in the second innings crouching into a Tim Southee delivery left him in hospital with a mild concussion on Monday.
‘‘It’s a method that we’ve been using for a while, we’ve used it successfully as well,’’ said the 27-year-old right-armer who admittedly still prefers swing to sting.
‘‘It’s always intimidating coming out facing a barrage of short-pitched bowling. I’m sure there will be some short-pitched bowling among the group.’’
Short-pitched bowling bounced around as a discussion point during and after the first test, particularly after Mushfiqur was taken from the pitch by an ambulance, but Boult - and new Bangladesh captain Tamim Iqbal - endorsed the strategy on Thursday.
Asked if short-pitched bowling was being overdone, Boult responded: ‘‘The short ball is a valuable skill as a fast bowler.
‘‘People have to realise why people are bowling short in the first place. It’s to upset the batsman and get them stuck in the crease, to make the fuller ball more effective.
‘‘You’re definitely not throwing it down there with the intention of hurting anyone. It’s to make your other skills a bit more effective and have a bit more purpose.’’
Two of Boult’s three second innings wickets in Wellington were secured by yorkers, and he hoped the Black Caps could use other methods on a block that favoured seam bowling when Pakistan were skittled for 133 before losing by eight wickets in November.
‘‘We’re hoping it’s going to be nice seam bowling conditions so we can pitch the ball up and skin the cat in a different way,’’ he said.
Tamim, who replaces Mushfiqur after the captain was ruled out with the thumb injury, was relaxed about facing another short-pitched assault, spearheaded by Neil Wagner.
‘‘Short ball is a part of the game. I can’t really complain about it. If we feel a certain batsman is not very comfortable against the short ball we might use that tactic,’’ he said, remembering Wagner was struck on the helmet three times by Kamrul Islam last weekend.
‘‘If they feel some of our boys are not comfortable, they’ll use it. I think it’s a fair game.’’
Bangladesh will feature at least one other change with Soumya Sarkar set to open the batting with Tamim after Imrul Kayes did not recover from a thigh strain.
The Black Caps should field the same line-up that secured a remarkable seven-wicket win on the final afternoon in the capital, though Boult conceded pressure was on the bowlers to perform with Matt Henry also in the squad and speedster Lockie Ferguson developing at pace.
‘‘You can’t get complacent with your position in the side. It’s not just just Lockie, Matt Henry is a world class bowler and a guy that can deliver on any surface really.
‘‘No one’s getting comfortable. We’re always looking to work harder,’’ said Boult, who took celebrated the most recent of his fivewicket hauls at the Adelaide Oval in November, 2015.