Colin Croft's Preview - West Indies v New Zealand (23 May 1999)

23 May 1999

Colin Croft's Preview - West Indies v New Zealand

Colin Croft

The first thing that anyone notices with the New Zealand cricket team here at the 1999 Cricket World Cup is that they are extremely affable. It could be that they are somewhat relaxed at this time of the competition, having won both of their previous games, and now, presumably, almost certain to qualify for the Super Sixes.

However, I prefer to believe that they are so very friendly because they are really enjoying themselves and have no real added pressures on themselves. It could simply be that they are just very friendly!! Of all of the teams I have had to have any contact with so far in the 1999 Cricket World Cup, the New Zealanders are easily the most approachable.

The captain, Steven Flemming, who is always pleasant, sounded relieved when he suggested on Sunday that he would be selecting from the same 12 which were included for the winning effort against Australia at Cardiff four days ago. Indeed, that selection has become so very easy that the reserves in his team, including leg-spinner Daniel Vettori and quickie Simon Doull, were allowed to play with league teams on Sunday so that they could keep their match fitness and readiness up to scratch.

This is probably the most sensible thing I have heard of during this competition. Despite the success so far, New Zealand are not taking any chances and are not complacent at all. They are making sure that everything, and everyone, are in place when the time comes.

Despite the wins, though, Flemming is cautious. "We are not overly concerned that Brian Lara has not yet made many runs and could be gunning for us. We take each player as he come and try to assess him and to try to find his weaknesses for our bowlers. This is a big game for us, as all of these games are, so there is no complacency. We are positive and confident, but we plan to be on our guard."

New Zealand romped home easy winners against Australia. Not only did the Kiwis restrict the Aussies to only 213 in all of 50 overs, but New Zealand managed to get those runs from only 45.2 overs and with only five wickets down. In one day cricket, that is rather comfortable indeed.

New Zealand bowling is based around left handed fast bowler Geoff Allott. His 10 overs against Australia only cost 37 runs and he also got 4 wickets. While Malcolm Nash did not get any wickets, his 8 overs cost only 30 runs. Chris Cairns was the most expensive bowler for NZ, giving away 44 runs from only 7 overs, but being an all-rounder, he was able to make up for that with a belligerent 60 in only 77 balls, with 5 fours and 3 sixes. Gavin Larsen was tremendously stingy, giving away only 26 runs from his 10 overs. Chris Harris might have been a trifle expensive against Australia, giving away 50 runs from his 10 overs, but at least he got two wickets. Nathan Astle, slowly developing into an all-rounder, also strangled the Australians with 5 overs for 16 runs.

One of the very noticeable things about New Zealand's attack is that it is really a bowling attack with medium pacers and slower medium pacers. It is probably the only major team without a really quick bowler. Somehow, with these pitches in May in England so spongy, the bowling of teams with slower medium pacers make more progress. The New Zealand attack is ideally suited for these conditions.

Yet, I would think that New Zealand's major strength is their batting. In Matthew Horne and Nathan Astle, they have two seasoned openers, even though Astle has not yet come off in this tournament. Perhaps like Pakistan's Inzamam-ul-Haq, Astle will come off in his third game too.

In Craig McMillan, Steven Flemming, Roger Twose and Chris Cairns, New Zealand has as balanced a middle order as any team in this competition. The left-handedness of Flemming and Twose would complement the rest of the right-handers well to confuse the bowlers, normally the opposition's lesser bowlers, who would be supplying the middle overs, 15 to 35. This middle order has done well so far in the competition. It is also augmented by the helpful addition of runs from the competent wicket-keeper, Adam Parore.

Without being spectacular, New Zealand has been very competent and this team has the personnel who play exactly to their limitations and strengths. It will not be easy to beat them.

However, the West Indies must beat New Zealand to start week number two of this competition properly. Pakistan have thrown a life-line to the West Indies by beating Australia. If the West Indies beat New Zealand and Scotland, then Australia would have to scramble, scrape and come out with cannons firing next Sunday to beat the West Indies well to qualify. The way things are shaping up, that promises to be something of a scrap. Before that though, the West Indies must beat New Zealand to be in the race.

Courtney Walsh has easily been the best bowler that the West Indies have had. Not only has he gotten 7 wickets so far from the two game played, but he has bowled the fewest wides and no-balls in the team. He is a perfect example for the others to follow.

Curtly Ambrose will have to return for this important game, despite his bowling shoulder giving some problems. Clive Lloyd suggests that he could bowl, but his throwing from the boundary could be affected. I would suggest that if Ambrose could bowl 10 overs for as much as 40 runs, something he seldom does, since he is much more frugal than that, and get at least two wickets, then he will have done his job well.

There is one requirement of bowlers opening the bowling in a one day game: Remove the openers at least, and as many others as possible. Ambrose and Walsh must comply with that.

The West Indies will probably not go in with only three proper bowlers, as they did against Pakistan. Reon King and Merve Dillon, while not the best batsmen when their turn comes to bat, must be the best bet as the back-up bowlers. I might even be tempted to suggest that King should be given the new ball, since he is bowling faster that any of the West Indians and is likely to pick up wickets.

The rest of the team selects itself, more or less.

Sherwin Campbell and Ridley Jacobs should try their best to get to 50-0 before trying to launch any real attacks. Nudges and manipulation could allow this without slogging.

Jimmy Adams and Shiv Chanderpaul are perfect foils for the occasion. Adams in particular has become the star in this batting line-up because of his style. He is truly "the Great Manipulator", literally squeezing runs through spaces.

Like Inzamam, Brian Lara has to come good sometime soon with the bat. This all-important game against New Zealand is as good a time as any; perhaps the best time to start making runs.

Stewart Williams, back from injury, and the one "real" all-rounder in the West Indies team, Phil Simmons, have got to make some contribution with the bat. Williams has not yet batted in the tournament. Simmons looked out of place against Pakistan. This is a chance for redemption. Simmons bowling has been average, just, so far; 10 overs for 40 against Pakistan and 10 overs for 46 against Bangladesh.

The West Indies will have to be terribly disciplined against New Zealand. Because of the slowness of New Zealand bowlers, the batsmen would have to temper their aggression and play every ball to its merit.

The bowlers, though, present one of Lara's problems: "The extras in the game against Pakistan cost us the game. We suffered the same amount of extras against Bangladesh, but they were a lesser team, so we coped with it. We have to improve in that area when we play the better teams and give our. I believe, though, that our bowlers will eventually always come up with the goods, even though the bowlers of the middle overs have not been getting the wickets we really need."

Speaking about himself, Lara said; "I feel okay. I would like to have spent some more time in the middle and the batting team is starting to gel together. If we are going to do well in this tournament, our batsmen will have to do well We have a few things to improve on. We have made mistakes, but we recognise them, so we feel that we con eradicate them."

The time is now. There is nowhere to hide, nowhere to run to. This is a tough game for the West Indies. Whatever happens, no quarter is expected.

Source :: Colin Croft