Levi: Proteas’ hitman
New Zealand look to analyst Rupert Lewis to help them find chinks in the Proteas’ armour
When he hit you, you stayed hit! These were the words of Ernie Accorsi, general manager of the New York Giants.
RUPERT Lewis is proving to be the most important member of the New Zealand squad leading up to tomorrow evening’s Twenty20 international decider against South Africa here at Eden Park.
If the Proteas haven’t planned for Lewis’s contribution, he surely has done his homework on AB de Villiers’s men.
Lewis is not a batsman, bowler or all-rounder for that matter, but in fact the Black Caps’ video analyst who has been tasked with finding any faults with the Proteas, especially explosive opener Richard Levi.
The Kiwis are trying their best to put, what is being termed “the Levi massacre” in these parts, behind them.
Consigning it to a “bad night at the office” for the bowlers is one way, with left-arm spinner Ronnie Here even saying Levi basically “baseballed it at times.”
Here, who will be playing at his home ground, did, however, admit that “it’s time to go back to the drawing board” and that’s where Lewis comes into the fray.
Lewis is currently pouring over footage, which will hopefully give the Kiwis that little edge which they need to dislodge Twenty20’s latest sensation.
After conceding 8.5 runs to the over at Hamilton, Here is hoping Eden Park’s longer dimensions square of the wicket will aid their chances and “we will have a look at the tape and get some plans going.
The video analysts will be having a good look at it and give us some ideas and instructions.”
Black caps skipper Brendon Mccullum echoed these sentiments at the pre-match press conference yesterday, where he stressed the importance of removing Levi early.
“We definitely have gameplans for him. It was an incredible innings. We can’t sit back and just rock up at the ground. We will try and get him out before he gets into his groove,” Mccullum said.
Mccullum’s focus cannot be concentrated solely on Levi though, The Black Caps are struggling with injuries at this moment.
Besides regular captain Ross Taylor’s continued unavailability, all-rounder Jacob Oram’s fitness struggles have also not dissipated, while Andrew Ellis has returned to Christchurch to be with his family for the anniversary of the Canterbury earthquake.
The only blessing for the home side this week has been the return of powerful left-hander Jesse Ryder who, Mccullum hinted strongly, will go straight into the starting XI.
“I would like Jesse to play, but I still need to chat with Wrighty (New Zealand coach John Wright). Where will he bat? Probably between numbers four to six.
Martin (Guptill) and Rob (Nicol) have done really well up front, but that’s the beauty of having Jesse around. He can bat anywhere.” Mccullum added.