Buoyant Black Caps set sights on tour sweep
The Black Caps’ broom is likely to need new bristles after the test series against Bangladesh.
The New Zealand cricket side head into the first of two tests against the tourists starting in Wellington on Thursday with six consecutive victories over their current foes, and two series cleansweeps.
A 27-run win in the final Twenty20 match of the series in Mount Maunganui on Sunday clinched a 3-0 series triumph – the same scoreline from the one-day series prior.
Only the most optimistic Bangladesh fan – or the most pessimistic New Zealand fan – there’s a few of each, would believe that the tourists could beat New Zealand over five days in Wellington or Christchurch.
Bangladesh have had the odd bright moment in every match on tour – but it’s been no more than that. And no sooner does their flame start to burn brightly, then it’s extinguished by an opposition side not firing on all on cylinders themselves.
A ‘‘pretty clinical series victory’’ is how man-of-the-match Corey Anderson described the T20 campaign following Sunday’s win, when Bangladesh’s chase of 195 fizzled out as expected.
Anderson won’t be part of the test series but he feels the New Zealand side will be buoyed by the upper hand they’ve established.
‘‘They’ll take a lot of confidence going into the test series – just to have that high over the last few days and various guys sticking their hands up at various times,’’ Anderson said.
‘‘That’s probably been the most pleasing thing.’’
As predictable as Bangladesh’s failures have become, Anderson wasn’t going to write them off publicly.
‘‘I think the outcome, the scores, haven’t been a great sign of how competitive it’s been,’’ he said of the six matches between the sides.
‘‘You look at years gone by, they tend to be a team that rolled over. But they’re really starting to fight for their games.
‘‘It’s probably just reassured the boys that they’ve got to stay on task, stick to the plans and make sure they don’t give them an inch during the test series.’’
The five-day games may see New Zealand’s seam and swing attack get a helping hand, too.
‘‘We tend to have a slightly greener tinge to our wickets over here for the first couple of days,’’ Anderson said when asked if the tourists would find the tests even tougher than the limited-overs matches.
‘‘They’ve been over here for a wee while now, they have to adjust to it and it’s the same conditions for us as well.
‘‘I’m not going to say they’ll struggle or anything like that – I think our boys are preparing to have a pretty good fight on their hands.’’
Anderson wasn’t selected for the test series as he’s still unable to fill all-round duties, but feels he’s not far off bowling again after another back injury setback earlier this home season.
‘‘It’s frustrating – hopefully sooner than later I can be back at the bowling crease.’’
Anderson described his pending bowling return as ‘‘shortly’’.
‘‘I think we’ll steer clear of timeframes – if you put timeframes and markers in place, you tend to rush when things aren’t going smoothly.
‘‘Wherever the finish point is I’m unsure, but I think we’ll get there slowly and steadily.’’
Black Caps coach Mike Hesson warned his side can’t take their foot off the gas during the test series or Bangladesh will make them pay.
‘‘They’re the kind of side that if they get their tail up they grow another leg and can put you under a lot of pressure. They love appealing, they love putting pressure on the batting side if they’re under the pump.
‘‘If they’re not and you’re able to put them under pressure early, then these conditions will be challenging for them.’’