In the six ANZ ODIs thus far, the BLACKCAPS have had the chance to put all their batsmen in different match situations, whether it’s chasing a total, building one themselves, or rebuilding after losing quick wickets early.
"The good thing for this series in terms of batting is that all of the batsmen have got a score to their name, and other people have picked up the slack, so we’re pretty happy with where everyone is sitting," said BLACKCAPS batting coach Craig McMillan, speaking ahead of the seventh ANZ ODI v Sri Lanka in Wellington tomorrow.
At the top of the order, McMillan sees the openers’ roles as simply getting the innings off to a flyer.
“I think a lot of sides will go with both openers blazing actually, if you look at Australia with Finch and Warner. I think we’re lucky here with Brendon and Martin that we have two players who can be very destructive and can put some real pressure on bowling attacks. We’ve got attacking aggressive batsmen, and that’s how we want them to play at the top of the order.”
McMillan is satisfied with Brendon McCullum’s aggressive approach, which yielded a half century and century in Christchurch and Hamilton, but mixed results since then.
“That’s his style, and it’s been very successful over a period of time. He will miss out occasionally, but , but Brendon is the X-factor player who on his day can take a game away from the opposition and that’s how we want him to play. You know with him a big score is never far away.”
All-rounder Corey Anderson has had opportunities to show the variety in his game – batting at number six he’s been able to consolidate an innings, as he did in Christchurch with a patient 81 to get the BLACKCAPS home, and cut loose, as he did in game six, with 40 runs from 28 deliveries.
“I probably showed myself more than anything in Christchurch that I can bat for long periods of time and not lose my head – and if I get to come out and free the arms it means we’re in a pretty good position,” said Anderson.
For game seven, ‘no let up’ is the BLACKCAPS focus as they prepare to face Sri Lanka in the final match of the ANZ ODIs with the series in the bag.
“It’s just foot on the throat, continuing to win, winning breeds confidence,” says McMillan. “The last game in Dunedin was our most complete performance across all three disciplines. There’s areas we want to get better in, so we’re not satisfied, and it would be nice to finish off a tour where we’ve been pretty dominant with the win.”
In team news, Adam Milne is back bowling in the nets but won’t be available for selection for the seventh ANZ ODI, but will be availble for the first match v Pakistan if he comes through the hit-outs OK.
