Nicholls emerges as solution to opening dilemma
Trent Boult’s performance ensured it wasn’t the biggest transformation undergone by the Black Caps on Thursday but their major opening change could be significant for their World Cup chances.
Henry Nicholls’ promotion to the top of the order came as a surprise, with the Canterbury left-hander replacing Colin Munro to open alongside Martin Guptill.
However, after Boult and the bowlers routed India for 92, it was hard to read too much into what followed from the batsmen, leaving plenty still to figure out before the World Cup begins in June.
What Nicholls did show was promising, however. While most of the Black Caps’ other opening options were too slow, too risky, or simply unproven at international level, Nicholls — in theory — ticks most of the boxes desired by the Black Caps selectors. Able to be aggressive and get the side off to a quick start, Nicholls also has more caution to his game than Munro, and can accumulate if required.
In his opening debut, he looked unflustered in an unbeaten 30 off 42 balls, showing his power with four fours and a six, but also playing smartly after the early losses of Guptill and Kane Williamson.
It’s not a completely new experience for Nicholls — he has opened briefly before at domestic level, and has batted everywhere from No 3 to No 7 for the Black Caps in ODIs. And, considering his breakout summer and the fact his talents are not always maximised at No 6, his new role provides an excellent opportunity — one Black Caps coach Gary Stead wasn’t surprised he took well.
“Part of our campaign plan for this Indian series was to look at options at the top of the order, and Henry Nicholls has been a bit of a fix-it man across a number of areas. I know from my time when I was coaching Henry at Canterbury that he had opened before — so it wasn’t a real surprise to me that he could do this,” Stead told Radio Sport Breakfast.
Now, with four games until the World Cup, the Black Caps have a small window to ensure they’ve found the right combination. While Guptill’s whimsical 14 from four balls was his sixth consecutive ODI without passing 15, he has pedigree worth backing — something Munro, with just one 50 in his past 15 innings and an average of 25, doesn’t have in ODIs.
It seems unlikely the Black Caps would have promoted Nicholls if he wasn’t going to keep the role for the Bangladesh series but Stead is playing his cards close to his chest.
“Colin Munro is certainly in our plans. It’s likely Henry will get another go in the short-term, though. After that, who knows? There’s selection [discussions] we still need to go through. Colin Munro, it certainly isn’t the end of him, but we’ve talked about things and we’ve worked out some areas of the game we want to keep seeing Colin improve in.”
Munro could still have great value to the Black Caps as a big-hitting finisher in the middle order, but for now, it looks like the World Cup opening spot is Nicholls’ to lose.