CRICKET: All or nothing approach, easy for Aussies

Not a pretty sight

There is some strange thinking going on with the Black Caps.  Like a disease, it seems to have spread at all levels, right throughout the entire camp.  Unfortunately, the severity and repercussions of this disease are crippling, as was witnessed by anyone who did so in our first real match of the World Cup today.

Examples/symptoms of such strange thinking is listed below.

1.  Dropping of Oram for How
This looked on every level like a huge tactical concession.  The opting for How as a No. 7 batsmen, instead of the experienced allrounder in Oram (who was fully fit), was more or less a statement proclaiming the lack of confidence in the top 6 to do their jobs.  Granted the top 6 were woeful (will get to that), and How contributed somewhat to avoid a complete embarrassment, but to sew the seed in the first place of this complete lack of faith, was an absolute failing in mental ploy.  Oram proved almost unplayable to the Kenyan tail, (I know its Kenya), but his record against Aussie with both bat and ball is proven, and this pitch was conducive to his type of bowling.  Sadly it was not to be.

2.  We would have batted first anyway.... really???
After losing the toss and being sent in, Vettori commented that he was quite happy and it would've been his preferred choice anyway.  Odd for several reasons.  First, it had been raining all night, beneficial to early pacemen in most situations.  Second, Aussie have 3 very fast and dangerous pacemen.  Third, Aussie only ever bowl first when the conditions are absolutely in favour to do so.  If its 50/50, or even 70/30 they would normally bat first to assert themselves.  Not so here.  Were we privy to something they weren't? Or was it just a bit of positive reinforcement/gamesmanship on Vettori's behalf.  Not really a biggie against other disasters, but still nevertheless, strange.

Ricky does us a favour, apparently...

3.  All or nothing
In the first 15 overs, this seemed to be the approach.  To slay bad balls, and keep out the rest.  Doesn't read to strange on screen actually.  Unluckily for Guptill, it took 19 balls before he received a bad one, not registering a run till then.  There seemed to be no ambition to play with soft hands, to drop the ball and run for singles, rotating the strike.  Even though the run-rate wasn't too bad, there was no rhythm at the start, which built incredible tension with each batter, so much so that a boundary was needed to release it.  In the 58 runs scored by the the top 6, 48 of those were in boundaries.  This created the stress which lead to dismissals.

4.  Shot selection
Just poor decision making, in nearly every instance.  McCullum insisted on skying a wide one, having already collected 2 boundaries in the over from Tait.  Guptill misjudged a full ball that kept low, seeing it sneak under.  Franklin and Styris wafted at wides early on, where both should've been ignored.  Taylor read the wrong line and got bowled.  How was to slow in his defensive prod against a spinner.  Only Ryder could say he got a good ball from Johnson, but even then his nothing push looked inept.  All were bad, and worse so, unnecessary.

5.  Taylor bowled
This was strange, in that I can't remember the last time he was dismissed in this fashion.  Typically a technique that gets him right behind the ball saw it fail, as his stumps were shattered.  It was a weird and very worrying sight, as our most like Sachin Tendulkar talent continues a slide and history of poor world cup performances.

The man that bowled Taylor

In the end Nathan McCullum and Vettori did well to resurrect an innings to give themselves something to bowl at, but it was never going to be enough.  We needed wickets quick, and were wayward, seeing instead an opening stand of over 100.  Hard to blame the bowling in such a game, but again there is much missing.  Discipline mainly.  Southee and Bennett looked good in their second spells, but it was the first ones that were important and they were swatted away with ease.  Australia clocked up the best start by a team so far this tournament.  A senior partner to tie up one end would've helped (i.e. Mills or Oram) but both were deemed surplus to requirements and Vettori had no one to turn too.

What's needed is a radical change.  The balance of the team seems completely miscalculated, constructed on a base of fear.  Tough choices will have to be made about why players are selected.  Franklin has not delivered as a top 5 batsmen, and is really a number 7 at best on current form.  Being the last bowling option used, it seems like there is no want to use his bowling, thus no point him taking this spot.  How, if he is to be included should be so in a position where he has credentials (top 4).  Since this is highly unlikely, Williamson in my mind is the better option at a more natural 5 or 6 and adds potential spin.  Room has to be made for Mills and Oram as well.  Too much experience sits between these 2 players, who have delivered consistently, time and time again.  Nathan McCullum should now be trusted to hold a number 7 batting allrounder spot, as his bowling (even in spin friendly conditions), against class opposition probably isn't enough to occupy the position of a bowler alone.  Then there is Taylor.  Probably my harshest call of all, is time out for the talented batsmen.  Bad timing I know, and his dismissal wasn't as irresponsible as others, but his form and mindset seem so lost, reflection with his own thoughts would probably do him good.  A young prospect like Williamson, with nothing to lose and everything to gain, could be allowed the opportunity to make a name for himself on the world stage.

Our best batsmen... at number 8

For the next game I would like to see this.

McCullum, Guptill, Ryder, Styris, Williamson, Oram, N McCullum, Vettori, Mills, Southee, Bennett

Dropping Taylor will be too radical for NZC, so it'll never happen, but How and Franklin for Mills and Oram I believe are vital if any success is to be achieved.  Two senior players, with far too much experience cannot be on the sidelines if we are to progress.  A clear message has to be sent to our top 6 also, that they are accountable for producing scores to setup the team.  McCullum and Vettori proved they can assist in this cause, but should not be the main contributors for the building of a total.  A Taylor in form would make for better balance, but unfortunately in a World Cup, we can't wait for him to find it.