Evaluating NZ players against India
The Black Caps have bounced back in emphatic fashion from their Twenty20 series thrashing with a superb 3-0 ODI series win over India. Niall Anderson analyses how all of the players performed during the series sweep
Martin Guptill — 8
177 runs — Average 59, Strike Rate 106.7
It’s hard to reconcile Guptill’s dismal World Cup stretch with how smooth he looked on his ODI return. Scores of 32, 79 and 66 delivered on the promise he had shown in the Twenty20 series, and he looked set for centuries if not for Ross Taylor running him out in Auckland, and the peach of a delivery he received from Yuzvendra Chahal at the Mount. The return to form of New Zealand’s greatest one-day opener is a huge boost which changes the entire complexion of the Black Caps ODI side.
Henry Nicholls — 8 199 runs — Ave 66.3, SR 81.6
Made an excellent fist of his first real chance to nail down a long-term opening spot. His consistency — 78, 41 and 80 — helped set the platform for the Black Caps, and Nicholls and Guptill produced a New Zealand ODI first, with three consecutive opening partnerships of more than 85 runs. Keep this up, and Devon Conway might have to find another spot in the side come September.
Tom Blundell — 3
31 runs — Ave 15.5, SR 88.6
After taking his chance with aplomb in the test series, Blundell didn’t make the most of a brilliant opportunity in the ODI arena. Filling in at three for Kane Williamson, Blundell made just nine and 22, and with Will Young coming back from injury, and Conway looming on the horizon, Blundell may be pushed down the specialist batsman pecking order.
Kane Williamson — 4 22 runs — Ave 22, SR 71
Missed the first two games with an injured shoulder suffered in the Twenty20 series, but played in the last, where he looked good before wastefully punching a Chahal halftracker straight to short mid-wicket. Getting through the match and proving his fitness for the test series was the most important thing, anyway.
Ross Taylor — 9
194 runs — Ave 194, SR 110.2
Won the match for the Black Caps in Hamilton with a stunning unbeaten 109 from 84 balls, and played a similarly pivotal hand with his 73 not out from 74 balls at Eden Park. He was finally dismissed in his third turn at-bat, making 12 in the series finale, but Taylor had already damaged India’s hopes enough. He remains one of the best ODI batsmen in the world, and should carry confidence into his 100th test come next Friday.
Tom Latham — 8
108 runs — Ave 54, SR 112.5
Another player who went through some World Cup struggles but came out stronger on the other side, Latham was credited by Taylor as being just as important to the Black Caps’ famous chase in Hamilton, with his 69 off 48 balls giving the hosts the impetus needed to pull off the win. While he missed out in Auckland, he showed power and maturity in game three to play another key role in seeing through another run chase. The stand-in skipper for the first two games, Latham made some curious bowling decisions in Hamilton but nailed his tactics in Auckland, and was competent as ever behind the stumps as well.
Jimmy Neesham — 4
31 runs — Ave 10.3, SR 70.4 Two wickets — Ave 77, RPO 6
A tricky series for Neesham, who twice couldn’t hang around to see New Zealand over the line in run chases, and was run out by Taylor in the other match. His bowling had some moments, without much luck, though when not taking wickets he remains an expensive option. Despite the so-so series, there are few concerns over his role in the team.
Colin de Grandhomme — 6 64 runs — Ave 32, SR 168.4 Three wickets — Ave 35, RPO 5
De Grandhomme’s bowling was consistent and miserly as ever, and he remains an excellent option, but his batting was wildly inconsistent. He’ll always frustrate fans with his aggressive approach, but after two failures it paid off big-time at Bay Oval, smoking a 21-ball 50 to ease New Zealand home in what had turned into a close chase. Of course, he could have been out caught on the second ball, but those are the fine margins by which de Grandhomme chooses to make his living.
Mark Chapman — 3 One run — Ave 1, SR 50
Gets some compassion points for the harsh nature of his call-up, coming into the team at the last minute in Auckland after Mitchell Santner went down ill on game day. He then played out of position at No 8, and lasted just two balls, before not being trusted to bowl. He hasn’t reached double figures in his four ODI innings for New Zealand now, and will probably find his chances this year limited as players return from injury.
Mitchell Santner — 4
12 runs — Ave N/A, SR 133.3 No wickets — Ave N/A, RPO 5.8
Chipped in with a cameo to help clinch the Hamilton win when things looked slightly dicey, before coming down ill and missing the Auckland clash. Santner didn’t take a wicket in his two matches, but was unlucky at times, and kept things tight enough, even when bowling some death overs. He’s still the first-choice ODI spinner, and provides excellent balance to the line-up.
Kyle Jamieson — 8
25 runs — Ave N/A, SR 104 Three wickets — Ave 31.7, RPO 4.7
Looked perfectly at home on the international scene, producing a stunning debut in Auckland with a 25 not out to help attain a defendable total, then two wickets to actually defend it, and he was solid in his follow-up performance as well, cleaning up Mayank Agarwal and being generally tidy with figures of 1-53. Assuming perfect health for the other seam options, Jamieson will push Tim Southee close for the fourth seamer spot for the Australian ODI series. He’ll probably miss out, but is definitely one for the future, and a great option to send on trips to Scotland, Ireland and the West Indies later this year.
Tim Southee — 5
Four wickets — Ave 46.2, RPO 6.4
Produced a performance to savour when battling through illness to claim 2-41 at Eden Park, a match which accidentally proved that he should bowl more in middle overs as opposed to the death, where India managed to get hold of him in Hamilton (2-85) and to a lesser extent at the Mount (0-59 off nine). A borderline squad selection if everyone is healthy however, and at best should be the fourth-choice seamer and quality sub fielder in Australia.
Ish Sodhi — 5
One wicket — Ave 27, RPO 6.7
Bowled four overs in the series, which included ball of the series, bowling Virat Kohli with a beautiful googly. But, when KL Rahul hit him for back-to-back sixes, that was it, and Sodhi went off to the New Zealand A four-day side, before receiving a belated call-up as illness cover for third ODI. He’s still the second spinning cab off the rank, and should be in the squad for Australia, especially with two games at the spin-friendly SCG.
Hamish Bennett — 5
Six wickets — Ave 33.1, RPO 6.9
The veteran was loose in first game of his ODI return (0-77), better in his second (2-58), and saved the best for the third (4-64). He was more expensive than he would have liked, and has likely been overtaken in the seam bowling stakes by Jamieson, but Bennett certainly did his chances no harm, and should remain in the mix as a solid second-tier option if injuries hit or rest is required on later tours.