Aggressive Sodhi can turn it on at Seddon Park
Hamilton happy hunting ground for legspinner, recalled as Black Caps seek to regain trophy
The last time Australia were at Seddon Park, Ish Sodhi took two wickets in three balls and New Zealand retained the Chappell- Hadlee Trophy.
Now the enthusiastic legspinner has been recalled for the decider at the same venue and with national selector Gavin Larsen dropping hints like confetti that Sodhi is a big chance to play tomorrow.
So he should. He can draw on dismissing Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell in three balls, finishing with two for 31, in that match last February, being a big part of New Zealand’s world T20 campaign in India earlier last year and showing his wizard- like abilities for the Adelaide Strikers in taking six for 11 against the Melbourne Renegades last month.
The test game remains a work in progress but put him in the right situation and he is a valued member of the bowling group.
“We’ve seen the pitch take a bit of turn at Seddon Park in the past,” Larsen said.
“He’s bowling really well for Northern Districts and we’ve seen what he did with the Adelaide team. He’s on top of his game.”
Larsen added that Sodhi is “definitely not a ‘ just- in- case’ selection. He’s a very strong option to play a part.”
New Zealand rarely play two specialist spinners at home. As a rule the conditions don’t call for it. Seddon Park tomorrow, however, may be an exception.
Left-armer Mitchell Santner is clearly first choice but Sodhi is a crowd favourite, is aggressive and, with the trophy still on the line despite the Napier farce, this is a game New Zealand need to win to wrest the trophy away from Australia.
“It’s very hard to squeeze Ish in alongside Mitch. We know he’s a really classy bowler. He remains a massive part of our plans,” Larsen added.
Wicketkeeper Tom Blundell drops out of the New Zealand squad, with Sodhi coming in, not exactly a like- for- like swap, while Dean Brownlie’s chance of a return to the playing XI may have gone for now, with Martin Guptill rated a 50- 50 proposition after picking up hamstring soreness during the Eden Park thriller which opened the series last Sunday.
Guptill will play if physically able, given the significance of the match. New Zealand’s next engagement after tomorrow i s the sole T20 against South Africa at Eden Park on February 17.
Tom Latham’s five dismissals at Eden Park — just the fourth New Zealand keeper to achieve that in an ODI innings — have done his standing no harm. The test will be how it affects his batting at the top. Larsen is confident that his fitness and enthusiasm will get him through the dual responsibilities.
What to do at the toss? It’s worth remembering that the last seven ODIs at Seddon Park have produced 1952 runs from the teams batting first, at an average of 278. Getting in and getting runs on the board might be a worthwhile route.
That said, the outfield is not huge. Good chasing teams will fancy their chances too, but run the risk of the pitch slowing up — hence the prospect of a Sodhi- Santner double act.
Wellington wicketkeepers Luke Ronchi and Blundell return to the domestic stage for the penultimate round of the Ford Trophy against Otago at the Basin Reserve today. Wellington lead the table by one point from Northern Districts, Auckland and Canterbury, all on 15, with Otago a chance to make the top four playoffs on 10 and CD no chance on six.
Auckland host Canterbury at Colin Maiden Park while CD face ND in New Plymouth.