‘A lot of guys with out-and-out raw pace don’t have control; Mayank Yadav looks to have both’
challenging at times.
New Zealand is placed third on the ICC World Test Championship table at the moment. How do you assess your team’s chances of making the final?
We are obviously sitting in a pretty good position. We have got some tough matches coming up in the subcontinent. This is a big year with a lot of Test cricket, it is going to be tough.
You have with Trent Boult formed one of cricket’s finest newball partnerships of all time.
We have played a lot of cricket together. We played agegroup cricket, domestic cricket, and played all three formats for New Zealand for over 10 years together. We have a pretty good friendship. We knew each other very well. We know each other’s game pretty well, so I think we complement each other extremely well.
What are the factors that you think make Boult one of the most lethal bowlers in the shortest format, especially in the PowerPlay?
His ability to swing the ball obviously has reflected in the amount of wickets he takes in that first over. Sometimes the white ball doesn’t swing for too
So have you had a look at that 150 kmph bowler, Mayank Yadav?
Yes. But I think the thing that is very pleasing that comes with his pace is his control. A lot of guys that have that outandout raw pace don’t always have the control. He looks to have control as well as pace. I am looking forward to following his progress not just at the IPL, but after it as well.
The toughest batters you have bowled to over the years?
That varies from format to format, but I think one player that was tough in all three formats was someone like A.B. de Villiers. Early on in my career, having to play against the likes of Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag as a 19 or 20yearold was pretty daunting and challenging at times. But it is also a great challenge to test yourself against the best players in the world.
The bowlers you have admired?
I think growing up, Glenn McGrath was a bowler I admired. Jacques Kallis was a cricketer I admired, for his allround ability. Growing up, the West Indian bowlers Courtney Walsh and Curtly Ambrose were always nice to watch.
New Zealand will be touring India later this year. How do you look back to your tour in 2012 when you registered what remains your best figures in an innings (seven for 64 at Bengaluru in the second Test)?
I have had a couple of nice performances in India over the years. And it would be nice to do that again. But I think the conditions have changed a little bit. Thinking back to that spell, I was left out for the first Test and then came in for the second. To have an impact in that first innings was very pleasing. But it was disappointing [that we lost]. We probably had opportunities to push on for a win in that match in Bengaluru.
Your thoughts on Rachin Ravindra, probably the most exciting young talent to emerge from New Zealand for some time.
Rachin has had a great 12 months, and he is a tremendous cricketer. He is a great, great team man. And I look forward to seeing what he has. He has got a bright future and hopefully he can continue the highs of the last 12 months for many more years.