Milne poised for key role
Two spinners and some high speed loom as New Zealand’s bowling mix for their Champions Trophy cricket opener against Australia.
Fast bowler Adam Milne, who was rested from Wednesday’s loss to Bangladesh in Dublin, will be unleashed on India in the Black Caps’ first warmup game at The Oval on Sunday as a test run.
All going well with Milne – who emerged from the Indian Premier League with a minor side strain – he’s likely to join Trent Boult as the frontline pace duo at Edgbaston next Friday, alongside two allrounders and spin duo Mitchell Santner and Jeetan Patel.
Coach Mike Hesson finally assembled his tournament 15 in London on Thursday where captain Kane Williamson said: ‘‘There’s not much time for slipups nor is there much time for conservative cricket,’’ as the Black Caps play group matches against Australia, England and Bangladesh in an eight-day span.
In what looks a high-scoring tournament, after England amassed 339-6 in a 72-run win over South Africa at Headingley this week, early attack with bat and ball is part of the blueprint.
Wicketkeeper Luke Ronchi remains in strong consideration as a pinch hitting opener alongside Martin Guptill, with Tom Latham also a contender, while the mix of swing, spin and speed from Boult, Patel and Milne could be the plan to the top order.
‘‘It’s about guys taking wickets in that first 10, and guys that have the ability to create something on surfaces where things aren’t happening and also the death phase,’’ Hesson said.
Milne certainly fits that bill, although the coach said he was keen to see all four IPL pacemen (Milne, Boult, Tim Southee and Mitchell McClenaghan) in the warmup matches against India and Sri Lanka. The 25-year-old Milne has 34 oneday internationals to his name, and his eight-over spell of 1-29 against Ireland last Sunday was his first ODI in 15 months. He sat out Bangladesh, New Zealand’s only defeat of the tri-series.
‘‘He’s come off a one-dayer three days earlier which was his first one for a while. He’s ready to go and he’ll play that first warmup game for us [against India].
‘‘Plus, we’re playing Bangladesh in a couple of weeks time so we didn’t want to show them too much,’’ Hesson said.
Asked if Milne loomed as a key figure, Hesson gave a strong push which might mean Southee and McClenaghan struggle to make the XI.
‘‘In the last World Cup he [Milne] played a big role and he bats well and fields well. He’s a nice package for us.’’
New Zealand play India at The Oval, where they won’t play again unless they make the semifinals which looks a tough ask from a group featuring Australia and England.
Sri Lanka at Edgbaston, Birmingham on Tuesday will give the strongest pointer to the Black Caps’ plans for their opener on the same ground three days later, before they play England and Bangladesh in Cardiff.
Two spinners in each side has been mandatory at Edgbaston in domestic one-day cricket this year, and Patel will almost certainly play on his home ground and take the new ball. Two years ago at Edgbaston the Black Caps conceded 408-9 against England and lost by 210 runs.