Good Ish T20 effort but tests still goal

Ish Sodhi gave himself a goal early in his cricket career.

He wanted to debut for New Zealand by the time he was 27.

Sodhi is three years ahead of himself, having packed a pile of cricket into his years.

His New Zealand career has been a touch in and out — 14 tests, 38 wickets at 46; 13 ODIs, for a return of 13 wickets at 43, but he’s roaring along in T20 cricket, where he’s played 12 internationals, taking 21 wickets at 14.4

You’ll hear some former players who’d suggest Sodhi should keep pushing his shortest form game, and hope to see the bank account swell.

Sodhi, whose last test was the first in India last October, isn’t ready to change his approach or aspirations.

Not even taking six for 11 — the sixth best analysis in all T20 cricket — in a stunning display for the Adelaide Strikers against the Sydney Thunder in Sydney this week will change his goals in the game.

“I played a full season of Super Smash [ with Northern Districts] and bowled pretty well through the majority of that. I didn’t have a lot of luck but the best thing is I kept sticking to my game plan,” he said. “I guess this [ 6- 11] is reward for sticking to that.”

He’s found his short- term gig with Adelaide has reinvigorated him and he’s grateful ND have given him the opportunity. He’s also appreciated the chance to remind himself other players have their ups and downs.

“I’ve played quite a bit of cricket consistently over the last nine or 10 months. There’s been some downs and you start to question your game.

“But it’s nice to know everyone is going through pretty much the same thing.”

Sodhi spent time chatting with former Australian test legspinner Stuart MacGill — “that was pretty awesome. Legspinners yarning about legspin. It can’t get any better than that” — and wants to spend this year bowling as much as he can.

He will chase an Indian Premier League contract, and with word spreading that Sodhi can do a job in the T20 form, his chances of being snapped up must be decent.

But he’d like to spend time with an English county, broadening his skills.

“Ideally in the long run, something in the country circuit would benefit me more. While I’m going pretty well in T20, I still feel I’ve got a lot to offer in four- day and test cricket. I’ve got to keep believing that, stay true to my bowling.”

Nights like Thursday reinforce to Sodhi that he is on the right track.

“It definitely gives you confidence. Man, if . you get six wickets in a T20 and can’t get confidence from that, I don’t know where you get it from.

“But the biggest confidence for me is it should work in the long run, if I continue to keep believing in it.”

Sodhi will line up for ND against Central Districts in their third round Ford Trophy match in Hamilton tomorrow and is keen to repay the generosity of ND in giving him the chance to play for Adelaide.

Wellington host Auckland and Otago play Canterbury in Dunedin.