McClenaghan wants to do it for Dad
MITCHELL McCLENAGHAN sits on the cusp of his first Cricket World Cup with a heavy heart and misty eyes.
The New Zealand fast bowler is still coming to terms with the death of his father, Dennis, in September, aged 61, while McClenaghan Jr was playing in an English county match for Worcestershire.
The emotions are still raw, five months on, but McClenaghan wants to speak of his father’s influence on his career. He was his biggest supporter and mentor, and encouraged his son to transform from medium pacer to fiery fast bowler, who became second-fastest in world cricket to reach 50 oneday international wickets – in 23 matches.
McClenaghan
Sr
desperately wanted to watch his son play a World Cup final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on March 29, which has made the left-armer all the more determined to get there.
‘‘A lot of people say when they go into World Cups that they’re playing for someone who means something – the Aussies have got Phil Hughes – but for me, personally, the only thing Dad wanted to do when he got sick was to try and make it through to the World Cup final,’’ McClenaghan said.
‘‘They [parents Dennis and Jill] lived in Melbourne for a while and the one thing Dad wanted to tick off before he passed away was to see me play at the MCG.
‘‘Hopefully we can get there, and if we can then that’ll be the main thing I’ll be thinking about – trying to win a World Cup for my country and the guys I’m going to war with, but also for the person who supported me my whole life in my cricketing career at the place he wanted to watch me play cricket more than anything.’’
McClenaghan grew up in Hastings so any return to his home province, for today’s second ODI against Pakistan at McLean Park, carries some memories.
He recalls his father taking him aside after watching him trundle down left-arm medium pacers.
‘‘He was a very intelligent man, a brilliant businessman and a brilliant father. He just knew the right things to say and he would always look outside the box.
‘‘He looked at New Zealand cricket at the time and said ‘there’s no point being a medium pace bowler, they’re a dime a dozen. You’ve got to go out and do something that no-one else can do’.
‘‘I don’t possess the ability to bowl 150kmh like Adam Milne, but that aggression and extra bounce and presence and attitude that I can bring from what he said to me has obviously helped a lot in my career so far. I have a lot of thanks to give him.’’
McClenaghan’s wicket-taking knack continued in the sevenmatch series against Sri Lanka. He has 66 from 34 ODIs, at an average of 24.8 and economy rate of 5.8.
Against Sri Lanka he was New Zealand’s leading wicket-taker with 10 at an average of 22.6, while fellow leftie Trent Boult finished strongly as the pair look to be jostling for one spot in the tournament opener against Sri Lanka .
McClenaghan, 28, felt he couldn’t have done much more, with the best strike rate in the Sri Lanka series and second to Tim Southee on the averages.
‘‘In terms of putting numbers on the board I’m doing my job. The series really beneficial for me, the still was just playing a lot of games in a row.
‘‘I’ve got my bowling fitness back. I’m one of those bowlers who needs to keep playing and I don’t like sitting on the sideline; it’s not overly beneficial for me to find my rhythm.
‘‘Things are back on track and the pressure from the other guys has helped that as well.’’
The competition for spots wasn’t fazing him. ‘‘Whatever team gets selected will do a job and that’s the best thing about where we’re at as a team and a bowling unit. We’re all pushing each other and we’re all helping each other learn and get better.
‘‘We know it could be a case of horses for courses and who’s going to be most effective against a certain lineup.
‘‘We’re all working towards the same goal to be playing and winning the World Cup final at the MCG.’’