World Cup buildup gets tick from Hesson
ABOUT the only question to arise around these bullish Black Caps was: has it all been too easy?
Coach Mike Hesson insisted not; that their six wins from eight completed one-day internationals against Sri Lanka and Pakistan, and some stunning individual performances, rated their World Cup buildup as good as he could have wished for.
There might have been no Australia, England or South Africa in the past two months but you can only beat what’s put in front of you.
The Black Caps did that emphatically, icing their final official ODI with a 119-run win over Pakistan with their fifth-highest total of 369-5 in Napier, thanks to their kingpins Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor.
New Zealand’s in-form batsmen feasted on some at times ordinary pace bowling, on friendly surfaces, so did they need a tougher examination?
‘‘Not really,’’ said Hesson. ‘‘We’ve won key moments. Guys have had to bowl at the death under pressure and we’ve had to chase medium and high scores and we’ve had to bat first in challenging conditions at times.
‘‘It’s been great preparation but we need to refresh physically and mentally and then go again.’’
A brutal schedule of nine ODIs in 23 days, straight after a two-test series, tested the Black Caps’ squad depth.
They passed with flying colours and avoided serious injury.
Guarding against mental and physical fatigue was now a priority as they eye next Saturday’s opener against Sri Lanka in Christchurch which starts a potential campaign of nine more ODIs in 43 days if they can make the Melbourne Cricket Ground final on March 29.
The players were sent for a break yesterday and reassemble in Christchurch on Saturday, with warmup matches against Zimbabwe on Monday and South Africa on Wednesday.
‘‘We’ve had a pretty hectic month. Just to have three days at home and get in the gym and do strength work is important. We need to arrive back together nice and fresh,’’ Hesson said.
‘‘We had to make sure at the end of the nine games that everybody was firing and still fresh and we achieved that. We’ve also been able to create healthy competition for places. If we’ve got 15 blokes all scrapping they will all likely an opportunity over the next weeks.’’
The two warmups will be just that, with all 15 players likely to get a run in the unofficial get six matches. Hesson implied they were superfluous for his side, while Zimbabwe and South Africa will get more out of them.
‘‘We won’t give too much away. Often when you travel those war- mup games are critical in terms of adjusting to conditions, but not so much for us, it’s more about tapering off.’’
Attention turns to the 11 Hesson and captain Brendon McCul-
Mike Hesson lum will pick for Sri Lanka, at the scene of their three-wicket win chasing 219 on January 11.
They know the scene well at Hagley Oval and Hesson probably has 11 names inked on his clipboard, barring drastically different conditions when they arrive.
He dropped a hint in Napier by picking Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Adam Milne as a trio for the first time this summer. They finished the job reasonably well with runs to play with, and appeal as the frontline pace attack, all vastly different bowlers.
Daniel Vettori’s over to Shahid Afridi, which led to his dismissal, was vintage Vettori and while he took a solitary wicket in the ODIs he must be their first choice spinner on experience and guile.
His rejuvenated batting in Wellington where he hit to all parts was encouraging.
So for Hagley there may be just one change from the Napier lineup, with Corey Anderson returning for Nathan McCullum.
There was special mention for Grant Elliott, too. With Brendon McCullum moving up to open there was a hole at No 5 which may have been initially intended for Jesse Ryder, but was filled emphatically by Elliott, the genuine all-rounder.
‘‘He’s a clever cricketer. He’s experienced and he’s able to turn a game with bat and ball by showing a bit of craft, a bit of intellect and a bit of power. We saw all his tricks with the ball and he’s also a calm influence around the group,’’ Hesson said.