NO SHORT BALLS CALL

KIWI SKIPPER’S WICKET CRUCIAL

MITCHELL Starc and Pat Cummins have been told to nail a “really disciplined” length when they look to knock over New Zealand superstar Kane Williamson at Lord’s tonight.

But they must avoid bowling short after an analysis revealed Williamson averages a monster 69.3 runs against those deliveries, compared with 40.7 runs (good length) and 44.3 (full balls).

Australian coach Justin Langer said Williamson (pictured) was New Zealand’s version of Joe Root, Steve Smith and Virat Kohli.

“They’re the guys in the middle you want to get out,” Langer said.

“One of the trends of world cricket is if you go deep you win most games. And he can take the game deep because he is such a technically good player.

“He’s obviously got a great mentality for the game, he will be a very important wicket for us. We will be studying him im closely.”

Captain Aaron Finch said d the Aussies had done their homework, though there was no standout match-up.

“He’s so damaging if you bowl wide, and he’s so good off his pads that your length h has to be really, really disci- plined,” Finch said.

“You have to try and dry him up. It’s like all great players, they don’t have a huge amount of weaknesses, and on pitches that don’t bounce a huge amount it’s tougher to get that nick.

“So you just have to be patient and disciplined.”

The rival skippers are enjoying brilliant years, with Williamson’s average of 65.3 ranking third in the world and Finch’s 62.8 ranking fourth. Williamson, 28, peeled off consecutive scores of 79 not out, 106 not out and 148 in a twoweek masterclass that drove New Zealand towards the top of the table.

Finch joined Williamson at