Raval opens up on his biggest battle
Jeet Raval’s toughest challenge in test cricket hasn’t been fiery fast bowlers or a swinging new ball, but pre-match nerves.
Raval is set to appear in his 16th test against Sri Lanka in the Boxing Day match, starting on Wednesday at Christchurch’s Hagley Oval.
The left-handed opener made his test debut in November, 2016, at the same venue against Pakistan, but revealed to Stuff he was a mess the night before the match.
‘‘I literally had to get up 10 times thinking ‘is it seven o’clock yet? Is it seven o’clock yet?’ but it was only one hour into my sleep every time.
‘‘I was sweating like anything. I had to have a couple of showers that night. I didn’t get much sleep the night before and I was pretty nervous.’’
Raval’s anxiety finally settled after hitting a few balls in warm-ups before the coin toss. New Zealand fielded first and after pocketing three catches at second slip in the first innings he started to feel more comfortable.
It was a memorable test debut for Raval and allrounder Colin de Grandhomme, who took 6-41 in the first innings on a green seamer and was named man of the match.
Raval contributed 55 and an unbeaten 36, hitting the winning runs as New Zealand ran out comfortable eight-wicket winners against a Pakistan side which was then ranked No 1 in test cricket.
Whether he’s playing at international level or for his Suburbs New Lynn club side in Auckland, Raval gets butterflies in the stomach before batting.
‘‘I’m definitely a lot calmer now, but I still get nervous, don’t get me wrong. I don’t get the sweats like I did the night before my first game.’’
Being nervous before batting wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. It showed how much he wanted to do well and as long as it was being channelled in the right way it wasn’t an issue.
Finding the right balance of adrenaline and emotion was crucial.
‘‘If I’m laughing or relaxing too much I can be a bit loose going into my batting. It’s nice to have a little bit of nerves, which keeps you on the edge.
‘‘I really like that because I know I’m focused and I’m making sure I’m ready for the task ahead.’’
Much has been made of Raval’s bid for a maiden test ton. He averages 34.25 from 15 tests, having scored six half-centuries and a highest score of 88 against South Africa.
His place in the side isn’t under threat for the remaining four tests of the home summer, but a large knock would be reassuring for him and the coaching staff. In 10 test innings in 2018, Raval is yet to reach 50, notching 199 runs at 19.9.
The 30-year-old is a firm believer that if his batting processes were right and he was clear about the way he approached an innings, the runs would take care of themselves.
His first job was to see off the new ball alongside Tom Latham and get New Zealand off to a stable start.
He has been dismissed in the 80s three times in tests and would dearly love to get the ‘‘monkey off his back’’ and reach three figures.
‘‘I’d be lying if I said it’s not playing upon my mind. It is frustrating, but I’ve got to make sure I don’t focus on it too much and keep coming back to things which are team orientated, which is what this team is about.
‘‘It would be very nice to get past 100 and not only get past it, but get past it in a big way like Tommy did in the last game [with his 264 not out].
‘‘That’s what [captain] Kane Williamson talks about over and over again, you put your personal milestone behind the team ones. Whatever we do is done towards the team.’’
Raval has hit 15 first-class centuries and said it was all mental when asked about converting starts into substantial scores.
The poise, concentration and way Latham approached his 694-minute marathon in Wellington was a timely reminder for him.
‘‘It was great to see and sort of refreshed my memory how I would like to go about my innings as well.
‘‘Not thinking because I’ve got 30, 40, or 50, I can start playing all my shots.’’