The BLACKCAPS attack’s knack for wicket taking has gone to a new level this Cricket World Cup, restricting Scotland, England and Australia to sub-150 totals. Spearhead Tim Southee, partner in crime Trent Boult and the wiliest left armer around Dan Vettori have been extremely impressive in putting opposition line ups to the sword.
“We’ve been bowling well as a group for a long time now, and in our conditions we know what to expect. Luckily we’ve been able to get the ball to swing for long periods of time in one day cricket, which has been unusual, it hasn’t really swung like that for a long time in ODIs,” said Tim Southee.
Southee and Boult’s ability to swing the white ball has been key, and they’ve reaped the rewards with seven and five wicket bags respectively.
“Whether it’s the overhead conditions or whether the ball is staying in reasonable nick, I can’t put my finger on it. The white ball hasn’t swung for long periods of time for a while now, but in the last few games we’ve managed to get it swinging still at fifteen overs old, but there’s going to be times where it won’t swing, so we need to find other ways to take wickets.
“We’re a skillful enough attack to come up with different ways, whether it’s through attacking fields, our mentality doesn’t change and we’re still trying to take wickets whether it’s swinging or not,” said Southee.
The willingness to attack the stumps and give the ball air to swing has been supported by Brendon McCullum’s field placings (four slips at Westpac Stadium, short catchers at Eden Park), making the BLACKCAPS attack one of the most effective in the comptition.
“If you look at the way we’ve played over the last couple of years it’s been attack, that’s the way we like to play and I think if you keep taking the wickets it minimises that death period. We’re all aggressive bowlers and like to take wickets, and if you keep taking wickets that stems the flow of runs later on in the innings.
“Every batsman is vulnerable early in the innings, in the first 8-10 balls, so if you’re on song and can expose any weaknesses early on, that goes a long way towards getting them early in their innings,” said Southee.
While Southee, Boult and Vettori, who bowled almost all the overs between them at Eden Park have been hogging the headlines, Kyle Mills, Mitchell McClenaghan and Nathan McCullum have been working extremely hard to step in, if they’re needed.
They’ve been brilliant, they’re training the house down, they’re bowling exceptionally well in the nets and offering a lot as dirties. Their heads are still up and they’re wanting what’s best for the team, and their attitude and work ethic away from the game has been outstanding. I’m sure when they get their chance they’ll take it with both hands, if it comes in a quarter or semi final then we know that they’re ready to go. They’re working really hard behind the scenes and banging the door down to get their chance.
