MCMILLAN TO QUIT AS NZ BATTING COACH AFTER CUP
WELLINGTON: Former international Craig Mcmillan announced Monday he will step down as New Zealand batting coach after this year’s World Cup in England and Wales. Mcmillan said the conclusion of the showpiece tournament was the right time to move on after five years in the job, including helping New Zealand reach the final of the 2015 World Cup. “It’s been a privilege to be able to work with the likes of Brendon Mccullum, Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor day-in and day-out and to see the records they’ve accomplished has been very satisfying,” he said. The 42-year-old said he would pursue other coaching opportunities after the World Cup but did not specify what they might be. AUCKLAND: New Zealand’s most experienced cricketer Ross Taylor, 34, speaks about the 2019 World Cup being his last, how an eye operation gave him a lease of life and missing the Indian Premier League.
Excerpts
New Zealand lost 4-1 in the ODI series to India. Is this a shock before the World Cup?
A better team beat us. When you are completely outplayed, there are positives but it came at the right time because now we know we have a few areas to address before the World Cup. Doing better against a team like India might have papered over them and now we feel if we can improve, we can be really competitive in England.
India play NZ in Nottingham on June 13. Will your county experience last year be of advantage?
It is definitely an advantage but you still have to play well. It was in my mind when I went to play County cricket, not just at Nottingham, but a lot of other grounds where we will be playing in the World Cup. There are a lot of little differences at English grounds and it gives you a bit of advantage having played there.
You have been in great form lately. Did the eye operation help you get a second wind?
I had a pterygium on my left eye because of exposure to sun and wind in New Zealand. I couldn’t see the ball in dark, didn’t like batting in day-night games and hated fielding under lights. I couldn’t see the ball in the 2015 Gabba Test. But I took some eye drops and got 290 in the next match (laughs). Specialists told me to get operated, and I had training session two weeks after (the operation). I could see the ball swinging from the hand, which I hadn’t seen in a long time. Also, over time I have gained a lot of experience and knowledge, which helps me sum up the situation better. I have been happy with my form. Sometimes the team doesn’t do well (against India), and it can affect your performance as well. I am sure it did in some respect, but it was nice to have a couple of contributions.
How tough is it to maintain form leading to a World Cup?
Well, there is a World Cup every four years, so you want to have a big push towards that. I have put emphasis on my game. It will probably be my last World Cup so I want to do as well as possible.
Your thoughts on the changed World Cup format?
I am very excited about this World Cup format. In bilateral ODIS, teams can figure you out but in a World Cup like this, you are playing a different team each day, so you can be on top of your game. There are no minnows really, so every game will be a good one. In the previous formats, sometimes you played a tough team and had 4-5 days off, then played a minnow and you might not even
COUNTRY FIRST Kiwi batsman says his IPL career is over & the forthcoming 50-over World Cup could be his last