Five lessons from Napier
One down, four to go in this much-awaited ODI series between the world’s second and third-ranked sides. Stuff cricket writer Mark Geenty looks at the talking points from the one-sided opener in Napier.
WORLD CUP FAVOURITES We knew India were good, but Wednesday reinforced just how good. Yes, the Black Caps contributed to their own demise with the bat, but India’s persistent, well balanced attack and sharp fielding added up to a hugely impressive opening statement.
England may be world No 1 and bookmakers’ favourites for the Cricket World Cup on home soil but they will face immense pressure. India deserve to be clear top pick, winners of the 2013 Champions Trophy in the UK and runnersup to Pakistan four years later.
They confidently closed out a series win in Australia, are proven winners away from home now, and still have two of their best players Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya to return.
With the peerless Virat Kohli leading the way and the veteran MS Dhoni still a master finisher as he showed in Australia, India also have the batting to post big totals and, as it stands, very few weaknesses.
PANIC STATIONS? Nowhere near yet for the Black Caps, but game one and last summer’s home series against England showed they must play out of their skins to beat the toptwo sides. And they need a confidence-boosting performance this weekend to reaffirm their standing as the world’s thirdranked team and genuine World Cup contenders.
Their top XI looks very close, and if you substitute Colin de Grandhomme or Jimmy Neesham for Doug Bracewell that’s probably it, from the team they picked in game one.
Two spinners will combine at some stage too with Ish Sodhi coming in, which puts the pressure on Tim Southee with Trent Boult and Lockie Ferguson looking the two automatic pace selections.
CUP SPOTS ON LINE
There appear to be 12 lock-ins for New Zealand in their World Cup 15, including de Grandhomme whose recent break and positive comments from coach Gary Stead mark him down as assured.
That leaves Neesham, Bracewell and a late charging Corey Anderson fighting for the other pace allrounder spot, probably in that order of preference. Bracewell was good with the ball in Napier, but needs to really show he can dominate with the bat at seven in an ODI to be any chance of unseating Neesham.
Then it’s a toss up: whether they pick three spinners in the squad which brings Todd Astle into the frame.
If they choose Sodhi, Astle and certainty Mitchell Santner, then they must gamble on six specialist batsmen and Henry Nicholls as backup wicketkeeper. That seems thin, and Tim Seifert and BJ Watling still remain in the frame for that backup batsman/ gloveman role.
Matt Henry still looks at the head of the queue for the fourth pace bowling spot.
KEEP LATHAM AT FIVE Whenever Colin Munro misses out the howls are almost audible. But he’s a cup certainty and there to stay at the top alongside Martin Guptill, barring a horror run in these next seven home ODIs.
Munro provides the attacking option they desperately want for early momentum, but needs to keep working on his option taking. He also, crucially, provides a sixth bowling option.
Tom Latham should remain at five, completing the solid core after Kane Williamson and Ross Taylor. His brief stay on Wednesday showed promise, particularly when they’re three down for not much. He can work the ball around and is good against spin, a poor shot against Yuzvendra Chahal aside.
The batting order looks set in stone, with the allrounders to provide the hitting power at seven and eight, and Latham will only shuffle up to the top if Munro looks completely bereft. Keeping wicket and opening in ODI cricket is also a tough ask. SPARE A THOUGHT
The good people of Hawke’s Bay, and Central Districts cricket, deserve better. If it’s not a poor draining ground which ruined two ODIs against Pakistan and Australia, and cost $5m to fix, it’s a low setting sun.
Thankfully the sunstrike didn’t affect the outcome, it just prolonged the inevitable India win with a 40-minute delay. There’s no obvious solution apart from scheduling the dinner break a bit later, or hoping for cloud cover.
It shouldn’t cost Napier any matches. They’ve been starved enough. Maybe some creative scheduling, later in the summer when the sun is in a different position, or a return to day games would do the trick.