Kiwis hope to stump Proteas with spin
CRICKET
Mark Geenty Spin is in for the Black Caps as they look to counter South Africa’s irresistible force with a slow moving object.
While the tourists look to their imposing pace attack as their not-so-secret weapon for their six-week tour, which starts tonight with the first Twenty20 international at Westpac Stadium, an array of tweakers could provide the Black Caps’ trump cards in the limited overs formats.
Events in Christchurch on Wednesday night only reinforced that view. Unheralded Canterbury spinners George Worker and Tim Johnston slammed the brakes on South Africa’s innings after Richard Levi’s flying start.
Home skipper Brendon Mccullum, who confirmed Michael Bates and the injury-hampered Jacob Oram (calf) would miss the 12 tonight, said promising Auckland left-armer Ronnie Hira would play, unless the drop-in pitch displays a green tinge.
‘‘We have got four legitimate spin options which is great. It’s something New Zealand teams haven’t often had in the past,’’ Mccullum said.
‘‘That’s one area where we think we’re reasonably strong and hopefully if we can give our spinners the opportunity to get into the game early they will be able to settle into their work and put them under some pressure.’’
Hira, who took one for 22 on debut against Zimbabwe then one for 31 off three overs amid the carnage in Hamilton, will join Nathan Mccullum, Rob Nicol and Kane Williamson as spin options. The Westpac Stadium pitch is usually slow, although New Zealand pacemen Tim Southee and Hamish Bennett destroyed Pakistan for 124 in a one-dayer there a year ago.
After Levi was removed for 63 off 32 balls in Christchurch, South Africa lost four for 26 in the middle stages as they posted 150, still enough to win by 20 runs.
Visiting captain AB de Villiers, removed by Worker for four on Wednesday, was unperturbed.
‘‘We didn’t play it well [in Christchurch] but I believe we play spin exceptionally well. We’ve proved that over a long period of time now. The boundaries are quite short here so if a spinner gets it wrong he’s going to go.’’
Andrew Ellis appears the most likely New Zealand drinks carrier, with Doug Bracewell likely to return and Kyle Mills and Southee looking to make amends for an off-night in Hamilton where Zimbabwe slayed 200 for two.
After New Zealand chased down the target with two balls to spare, Mccullum said confidence was high but they would be judged on what happened in the next six weeks. They backed them- selves to expose some weaknesses in South Africa’s game and insisted there would be no premeditated aggression. The last clash between the sides was feisty New Zealand won by 49 runs in the World Cup quarterfinal in March.
‘‘That was a great result in Dhaka and it was probably the catalyst for where we are now, a turning point in NZ cricket’s recent history. We took a lot out of that but that’s gone now.’’
De Villiers said Christchurch was an ideal pipe-opener where they were tested in all three departments.
Adjusting to the foreign New Zealand conditions was a challenge for touring South African sides but de Villiers said that was no excuse.
A young side, they ooze class batsmen with the skipper, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy and the hitting power of Levi, while towering fast bowler Morne Morkel showed he will be a handful.
‘‘At this level you’ve got to have the skills to adapt to different conditions. We’ve all played in similar conditions in England . . . there’s no demons in the wickets over here,’’ de Villiers said.
On a big night at the stadium, the Suzie Bates-led White Ferns women’s team play the curtainraiser at 2.45pm against England.