There is no better preparation for the ICC World Cup 2015 than winning and the BLACKCAPS are looking to continue their momentum today in the second and final ANZ ODI against Pakistan.
The home side leads the ANZ ODI series 1-0, after a comprehensive seven-wicket win in Wellington on Saturday night, and they are looking for more of the same at McLean Park in Napier.
Kyle Mills, one of the most experienced BLACKCAPS, said there is a good feeling in the group as they count down to the global cricket showpiece which begins on February 14 in Christchurch.
He said that excitement levels around the country are growing every day.
“You definitely sense it when you jump into a taxi, or getting some milk or bread down at the dairy, people are talking cricket,” said the 35-year-old from Auckland.
“It’s great because it is the game that I have loved for so long and I am very passionate about it. It's pleasing to see all the public and the media right behind it. It obviously helps that we are putting some good performances on the board. When you win, people like to follow winners.”
Mills was back to his economic best at Westpac Stadium when he opened the attack and bowled 10 straight overs for 2 for 29. He was pleased with the way he bowled.
“It was my third game in and I was starting to hit my straps. I was really rusty those first two games, especially down in Dunedin when I bowled too many four balls early on. I pride myself on not bowling too many of those. My control was there the other night.
Coach Mike Hesson is looking to adopt a horses-for-courses approach with his pace-attack for the World Cup and he said the idea to bowl Mills out was a tactic used for that innings.
“Kyle was bowling beautifully at the time,” said Hesson. “His length suited those conditions. One of the things we like to do is if we have got a guy going well, and we think we can put pressure on the opposition, we will continue to do that. If we have to spend resources up front to do that, so be it. We will deal with the back end when it comes around.”
Mills said there is fierce competition in his great mates in the bowling unit. He said that rotation is important as the BLACKCAPS will have played nine games in 21 days by tomorrow.
“We all want to play every game, but we all understand the need for rotation. It creates a healthy rivalry within the group. We are all quite different. We have a couple of left armers, a couple of quick bowlers and one old bugger as well.”
Mills showed there is plenty of life in the “old bugger” in Wellington and Hesson was impressed by his rhythm and consistency.
“Kyle is experienced enough to be able to perform in different conditions, but in Wellington on a slightly used wicket, he got into a great rhythm and bowled a really nice length.”
For all the talk of the bowling attack, Mills believes the side with the best batting line-up will be among the leading contenders to make the final in Melbourne on Sunday March 29.
“It’s a batter’s game I would have thought. Every World Cup they put up the stat of leading run scorers. More often than not the team with the leading run scorer tends to be the team that wins the tournament. It will be nice to have some batters in form leading into it and we have that.”
The BLACKCAPS will look to finish off the series in style tomorrow and win five of their last six ODI series leading into ICC World Cup 2015.
