Hosts need to provide New Year fireworks

At least New Zealand have given us some entertainment.

If Kiwi cricket fans had relied on the West Indies to thrill us this summer, we might have snoozed through Christmas and failed to see in the New Year.

As the West Indies seek their first tour win at Mt Maunganui today – following seven losses from as many outings – we’ve been forced to rely on the hosts to provide the fireworks.

Now, in the format that most seeks pyrotechnics to garner the oohs and aahs, the Black Caps should again hold the attention in the second match of the three-game Twenty20 series.

Most of the excited chatter after the opening Twenty20 in Nelson, won by the hosts by 47 runs, centred around rookie batsman/wicketkeeper Glenn Phillips – and rightly so.

The 21-year-old’s starring role of 55 off 40 balls, three catches and a stumping served to further illustrate his a prodigious talent and glittering international potential. Keen cricket followers knew this already, now the casual fans are getting to see more examples of what he’s already delivering.

Dare the name Brendon McCullum now be mentioned?

It’s not a wild comparison – Phillips was a star for the New Zealand under-19 team with some blistering innings (he made 105 off 84 balls, featuring 13 fours and six sixes against Australia).

The right-hander loves to hit the new ball to and over the boundary and is also a competent performer with the big gloves.

So big expectations are natural, even though Phillips has played just four T20 internationals, whereas the former national skipper earned his stripes on the back of 101 tests, 260 ODIs and 71 T20s.

Remarkably, Phillips can’t take his elevation for granted – even in the short format that may be his current forte.

Tim Seifert, aged 23, has been a standout in this season’s domestic Super Smash competition, batting at the top of the Knights’ order and keeping with aplomb.

We also know what Tom Latham can do in white-ball matches, while Tom Blundell acquitted himself with note in his first test series.

Should BJ Watling finally overcome his injury, the batsman/keeper position won’t be worrying selector Gavin Larsen. It’s quite possible some of the aforementioned will play throughout early 2018 as specialist batsmen.

Seam and swing bowling stocks look good, too, after Seth Rance transferred his domestic T20 dominance into the international arena in Nelson.

We’ll get another chance to see if the other Nelson debutant, Anaru Kitchen, sinks or swim at Bay Oval.

And who knows – maybe the soporific Windies will spark up enough to give us a contest to enjoy?