Aussie quick ‘horrible to face’
It’s not just the New Zealand batsmen who are wary of Riley Meredith, the Australian speedster and key man in Wednesday’s dramatic form reversal in this Twenty20 series.
Just ask his team-mates how frightening the 150kmh fast bowler from Tasmania is, as he takes aim at the Black Caps once more in Wellington tonight.
‘‘He’s no fun. He hit me a couple of times during the practice game we played, and I had to give him a little word on the side, ‘just keep it away from me please’. He’s horrible to face: game, nets, practice game, doesn’t matter,’’ said gun allrounder Glenn Maxwell.
‘‘When you’ve got a weapon like that in your team, and the way Finchy [captain Aaron Finch] used him was brilliant, as an impact player. His biggest strength is he’s able to swing the ball at high speeds so once he gets that new ball in his hand and he’s able to shape it away it’s pretty scary.’’
Black Caps skipper Kane Williamson can attest to that now after facing Meredith for the first time.
One of the world’s premier batsmen shuffled across to hit to leg in his effortless fashion, and it was just too quick as Williamson was trapped in front, lbw for nine and a huge dent in New Zealand’s chase for a lofty 209. They lost by 64 runs, but still lead the series 2-1 with two to play.
‘‘I was really nervous and most of the day I was playing it all out in my mind and thought about that first ball a thousand times,’’ said the 24-year-old Meredith. ‘‘. . . That [wicket of Williamson] was the cherry on the top, really.’’
Meredith also snared Tim Seifert to a skied catch and ended with 2-24, hitting a top speed of 152kmh on Spark Sport’s speed radar.
Relatively unknown to New Zealand viewers who didn’t tune in to the Big Bash League where was rapid for the Hobart Hurricanes, it was clear why Indian Premier League franchises were after him.
Punjab Kings snared the thenuncapped quick for $1.52 million at the recent auction, showing how much express pace is valued. Another speedster Adam Milne, who joined the Black Caps squad as cover for an ill Mitchell Santner in Wellington, fetched a tick over $600,000 to Mumbai Indians at auction after making a solid return from surgery in the BBL.
How much quicker can
Meredith get?
‘‘I don’t know, I always try to hover around 150 in the Big Bash so hopefully I’ve still got a couple of kilometres to bump it up.’’
His impact, which set up spinner Ashton Agar to plunder the middle order in his haul of 6-30, highlighted what the Black Caps weremissing.
With Milne only there as cover, and Lockie Ferguson still sidelined with a back injury, they lacked that top-end pace all teams covet. Ferguson, who was frightening against West Indies in November before suffering a partial stress fracture, is on track to return for
Twenty20 international doubleheader at Sky Stadium, Wellington
White Ferns v England, game two, 3pm today
TAB odds: NZ $3.15, Eng $1.34
Black Caps v Australia, game four, 7pm today
TAB odds: NZ $1.87, Aust $1.87
the Bangladesh T20s starting on March 28, coach Gary Stead said this week.
Santner’s absence due to a cold was felt, too, leaving Ish Sodhi to shoulder the spin bowling load which he did well in his 2-32 while the pacemen all took some punishment. Mark Chapman, who replaced Santner, was a regular left-arm spinner but has bowled minimal overs after shoulder surgery.
Black Caps batting coach Luke Ronchi said it highlighted the importance of the world’s seventhranked T20 bowler (Agar is ranked eighth).
‘‘When you miss a Mitchell Santner it shows how much of an impact he has for us in games. And when their left-arm spinner takes six wickets and bowls well it shows what he brings to our team in terms of bowling, batting, energy in the field . . . he’s an integral part of the Black Caps and hopefully he’ll be fit and healthy for the next game.
‘‘We were chasing 210 and got off to a really good start then there were a few tight overs from Riley Meredith. He was the difference there with his energy.’’
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