Stead not panicking despite shaky start
Gary Stead isn’t one to lose his cool and mouth off when the going gets tough, so it’s no surprise the Canterbury coach is remaining level-headed as his team’s Plunket Shield title defence teeters.
Three losses from four games, a raft of injuries to the fast-bowling stocks and an underperforming top-order might be too much for some to stomach, but not Stead.
He’s been around long enough to know his team – fifth in the six team competition – is not out of the hunt, particularly if they can beat Auckland at Eden Park, starting on Friday.
‘‘There’s no panic,’’ Stead said ahead of the final Plunket Shield match before the players stash away their whites and spend the next three months playing one-day and Twenty20 matches.
"Our success in the last few years hasn’t been because we’ve won every game, it means you’ve got to win enough games.
‘‘It’s been a slow start to the season but if we manage to get a win out of this game and go in with two wins, you’re still in with a chance."
If the reigning champions are going to get back into the mix, Stead desperately needs his batsmen to start firing.
None have reached triple
figures this season and Canterbury’s last five innings – 156, 118, 218, 194 and 202 – make for tough reading. ‘‘We haven’t quite got as many high individual scores or partnerships as we would have liked. That’s an obvious target for us, to keep improving in those areas.
‘‘We’ve got the quality within our team to do that, we just need guys to stand up and make their mark now.’’
Boosted by the availability of Black Caps Tom Latham and Henry Nicholls against Wellington, Stead will have to make do without them against Auckland ahead of New Zealand’s two-test series against West Indies.
He’s made six changes all up, with Black Caps seamer Matt Henry also unavailable. Allrounder Todd Astle is tied up with NZA commitments and Henry Shipley is the latest quick to be ruled out through injury.
His absence, on top of the unavailability of fellow quicks Ed Nuttall, Kyle Jamieson and Nathan McNicol, means Australian all-rounder Daniel Sams rejoins the team.
‘‘Henry Shipley has got a bit of shin soreness, so we’re just trying to do the right thing by him and make sure he doesn’t blow out from a pace bowling stock point of view,’’ Stead said.
Ken McClure is the other player who won’t feature. Michael Davidson, Michael Pollard, Leo Carter and 19-year-old bowler Fraser Sheat have all travelled to Auckland. In some rare good news, Stead confirmed left-armer Nuttall (back stress fracture) and Jamieson (foot) were both making good progress in their recoveries.
‘‘Ed’s had a couple of games of club cricket now, he’ll play in our Canterbury A game [against Otago in Rangiora] on Monday, with a view on probably being back early to mid December at first-class level,’’ Stead said.
Jamieson recently started some ‘‘low level’’ bowling and was running again. Stead wouldn’t put a timeline on his return but was hopeful he would be back playing early next year.
‘‘We can’t really cry over spilt milk, but we’ve got a group of young bowlers who are all in that vulnerable age-group at the moment, and we just need to get them back on the park for a start and manage them wisely when they’re there.’’