Selections explained: Why Sodhi’s out and Watling’s in
When Todd Astle isn’t playing cricket for Canterbury or New Zealand, he works as a mental skills coach. He hopes to use that knowledge when the Black Caps take on England in the first test next week. Brendon Egan reports.
takes early tap will utilise the knowledge he preaches as a mental skills coach over the off-season.
Astle started up his own business, Innerspin, last winter, and has already given speeches to the victorious Canterbury NPC men’s rugby team and the union’s academy sides.
He mainly works with agegroup, school, and club teams, and the sport and recreation management graduate said it’s a subject he’s passionate about.
That should prepare Astle well for barbs from England’s Barmy Army supporters group, or aggressive batting from Ben Stokes, Joe Root or Jonny Bairstow.
‘‘That’s an area I’ve had a lot of benefit in myself and I want to give back and help others to be the best they can as well,’’ he said.
‘‘Having played professionally Whether Todd Astle is the country’s best spin bowler became a moot point when the New Zealand cricket selectors picked their test 12 to face England.
With Mitchell Santner facing knee surgery which will sideline him for up to nine months, his replacement needed to be capable of batting in the top eight at test level.
So that effectively ruled out Ish Sodhi, Ajaz Patel and even Jeetan Patel, although the latter quietly retired from test cricket last year and wasn’t discussed, despite taking a 10-wicket bag to spin Wellington to victory over Otago this week.
‘‘First and foremost he [Astle] has been deemed the incumbent second spinner behind Mitchell and we’ve used him in that way in the past,’’ selector Gavin Larsen said.
‘‘Certainly he offers us that extra string to the bow with his batting ability. Having someone like Todd who can bat No 8 is an advantage.’’
Sodhi and Ajaz Patel were both worthy of consideration as the Black Caps’ sole spinner in New Zealand’s inaugural day-night test starting at Auckland’s Eden Park next Thursday.
Sodhi pushed past Astle in the one-day international queue and still looks the best attacking spinner in the country. He also has pink-ball form, snaring 7-107 for Northern Districts against Central Stags under lights in Hamilton a year ago.
Ajaz Patel, like Santner a left-arm orthodox, rocketed to the top of the Plunket Shield wicket charts with 35 at an average of 22.85. Like Astle, Patel was among the top domestic wickettakers for several seasons now.
But, reading between the lines, Larsen and co-selector and coach Mike Hesson’s criteria were clear: was the contender good enough to bat No 8 in a test and potentially contribute a half-century?
Neither Sodhi nor Patel fit that bill, and their selection would mean Tim Southee moving up to eight which is now rightly seen as too risky in a test match.
When you look at England’s likely test lineup, which could feature Moeen Ali at eight and Chris Woakes at nine, batting depth is no issue. At the right time Astle’s wrong ‘un will be handy against an England team stacked with left-handers.
Astle, who made his first-class debut for Canterbury 12 seasons ago, looked unlucky to play just two tests – both wins against Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012 and Pakistan in Christchurch in 2016 – until now.
Another experienced campaigner is BJ Watling, the 32-year-old wicketkeeper who returns for his 53rd test. Two firstclass games for ND behind the stumps was enough for Watling to prove his recovery from a long-term hip injury.
Tom Blundell, who scored a century on test debut against West Indies in Watling’s injury absence, made another bold three-figure statement on Wednesday in the England pink-ball warmup match in Hamilton.
‘‘Tom was superb against the West Indies and we’ve kept communicating with him over the last month or so. He’s been very clear in terms of how we’re seeing things. If BJ proved he was 100 per cent fit, which he’s done, then we would revert back to BJ with all his experience and what he’s done for us before,’’ Larsen said.
Astle’s Black Caps’ journey has been far from smooth. He made his test debut in a victory over Sri Lanka in Colombo in 2012, but wasn’t required again until November 2016 when he featured against Pakistan on his Hagley Oval home ground in Christchurch.
On a seamer-friendly wicket, where Pakistan were skittled for 133 and 171, he bowled just four overs in the match and missed selection for the second test.
He finally made his ODI debut against the West Indies in Whangarei in December, impressing with 3-33. Astle went on to play a further five ODIs against the Windies and Pakistan this home summer, but carried the drinks in the England 50-over matches.
Those difficult experiences and being in and out of the Black Caps had strengthened his resolve and made him hungrier to succeed.
‘‘I’ve been able to tick away now and clocked over 100 first-class games [for Canterbury] earlier this season.
‘‘All that wealth of experience and understanding your game has allowed me to have greater confidence now.
‘‘It’s not been an overnight success. It’s been a 12-13 year success, so it’s been a slow burn, but it’s allowed me to have greater control and understanding of my bowling.’’
Astle’s brief time around the pink ball last summer had provided a couple of key observations.
He reckoned it was closer to the one-day white ball in how it played than a long-form red one.
Today, Astle will link with the test squad in Tauranga, who aren’t involved in two-day warm-up matches against England. The side will train under lights and get a better understanding of the pink ball.
The challenge of proving himself against England at test level was one he was embracing.
‘‘That’s what you play the game for, to test yourself against the best.
‘I grew up watching a lot of those games [on television of] England at Lord’s and this is now a historic game under lights. It will be cool to be a part of it.’’
‘‘I see it of being real value to others, having the tools and strategies to be able to help with modern life.’’
Todd Astle