Black Caps lift the pace for Pakistan
They’re New Zealand’s two fastest bowlers since Shane Bond at his peak, but they’ve never graced the same Black Caps team.
Under new coach Gary Stead that looks set to change, as Lockie Ferguson and Adam Milne are unleashed on Pakistan in the Twenty20 international series starting next Thursday (5am NZT) in the United Arab Emirates.
Rarely have New Zealand fronted with two genuine quicks in the same XI; perhaps Bond and Ian Butler in the test win over West Indies in Barbados in 2002 the last obvious example.
Adding spice to this potential union under the Abu Dhabi and Dubai floodlights is the race for World Cup spots, with Ferguson and Milne seemingly jousting for one position in Stead’s cup 15 in the UK.
‘‘It could happen [the duo in the same XI]. They’re both in the T20 team and even further down the track it’s an option of happening in New Zealand as well,’’ Stead told Stuff as his side prepared to depart yesterday.
‘‘That will depend a little bit on how advanced we are from a selection point of view and potential World Cup spots as well.
‘‘That’s open for debate and this being my first tour, I want a bit of time for that to see where they’re at.’’
All-out pace isn’t everything, but it’s certainly a handy point of difference.
Ferguson and Milne were both sought after by England county sides in T20 cricket and in oneday internationals have similar records: Ferguson 21 wickets from 16 ODIs at an average of 35.6 and economy rate of 5.8; Milne 41 wickets from 40 ODIs at 38.6 and an ER of 5.3.
Neither are in the Black Caps ODI squad for three matches against Pakistan, but with three spots still open one of them could force his way in.
Ferguson, 27, started the right way for New Zealand A, snaring 4-28 in their narrow defeat to Pakistan A in Monday’s first 50-over match.
The 26-year-old Milne hasn’t played an international in nearly a year, since the India tour. He tuned up in Plunket Shield for Central Stags last week, taking 4-67 off 26 overs in their win over Auckland.
Stead hoped both bowlers could do more than just go flat out. ‘‘Pace with a little bit of movement, be it off the deck or in the air, is always great. Genuine pace, most people can handle that OK, but with a little bit of swing is that little bit harder and puts batsmen on edge a bit more.’’
Trent Boult will miss the three T20s for paternity leave, leaving Tim Southee, Ferguson, Milne and Seth Rance as the pace options, with Ish Sodhi the only frontline spinner in the shortest format.
Last time New Zealand toured the United Arab Emirates four years ago, they shared the test and T20 series against Pakistan and won the deciding ODI to hit the home summer on a high.
The Black Caps play Pakistan three times in each format, with the third test stretching into December.
When captain Kane Williamson leads the side out next Thursday it will be nearly seven months since their last match – the draw against England in Christchurch which clinched the test series.
‘‘Pakistan are a battlehardened team and they’ve had success over Australia, so it’s not going to be a tour where you throw your weight around; it’s a war of attrition on those wickets and we’ll have to get our heads around it very quickly,’’ the new coach said.