Cricket Update: Can Kiwi survive Taylor-made change for Sri Lankan tour?
They may not have won a major tournament since the ICC Champions Trophy in 2000 but the Kiwis are the most talented side any captain could wish for. They have a barrage of all-rounder’s, hard hitting opening batsmen as well as players who do the unthinkable when the need arises. In such a situation, any captain would like to persist with the players and their world-beating antics. However, what could be done if the skipper decides to take a rest; nothing.
New Zealand Cricket Board has accepted skipper Daniel Vettori’s request for an extended holiday at home and have temporarily handed over the reigns of the squad to Ross Taylor, who is yet to prove his credentials in one dayers as a regular skipper. His only foray as the fearless leader was against the Aussies, when he was named the skipper in Vettori‘s absence in March this year and lead his side to a win against the world champions in Napier, with four balls to spare.
Also missing from the squad for next month's limited over series in Sri Lanka, against the host nation and India, is Brendon McCullum, who has been instrumental in Kiwi’s resurgence lately. While Vettori has been allowed to stay home as the tour coincides with the birth of his second child, wicket keeping McCullum, also stays back for the same reason. But the stay might not prove to be a vacation for New Zealand‘s hardest hitting batsman, who might undergo a reconditioning programme back home.
So who will be the pawns under Taylor’s captaincy, since he has no Brendon McCullum to call upon for either wicket keeping or opening the innings? He will have the comeback kid Jesse Ryder, on whom he can always depend on for an explosive start. Grant Elliott, who was the hero for the Kiwis in the ICC Champions Trophy last year, will also be making a comeback from injury, and their return will surely give confidence to the stand-in skipper.
Apart from Taylor, who is at ease in the middle-order, the batting will revolve around Martin Guptill, Grant Elliott, teenaged sensation Kane Williamson as well as B.J. Watling. Nathan McCullum is likely to provide the support in the lower order, something he did excellently during the Twenty20 World Cup. Although he will face stiff competition for the post of lone-spinner in the side with Jeetan Patel, his all-round abilities are likely to see him edge out the latter.
Gareth Hopkins will also try to impress the selectors in his first tour as the number 1 wicket keeper of the side, and his performance will determine whether he is the true successor of McCullum or not. The pace department will be headed by the experienced Kyle Mills who is the senior most bowler in the side after the retirement of Shane Bond from all forms of cricket. Mills has also been named Taylor’s deputy and will be supported by bowlers like the experienced Daryl Tuffey and newbie Andy McKay.
It is the all-rounder’s that make New Zealand the most fearless side in the world. No team besides Pakistan has so many genuine all-rounder’s in their side, who can bat, bowl and field brilliantly. While Jacob Oram is always a safe bet as a bowler in the final stages of the match, his batting can surprise the opposition. There is Tim Southee, who is a good batsman as well, and his exploits with the ball during New Zealand‘s Twenty20 series against Australia earlier this year make him qualify as a dangerous bowler. With players like Scott Styris in the squad, a captain has nothing to worry about even if there is a middle order collapse or if an attacking bowler is being dispatched for runs. Time and again, Styris has proved that he is a class act and he can win matches single handily.
The million dollar question is, will Ross Taylor perform as Tillekaratne Dilshan of Sri Lanka or perish as India’s Suresh Raina, both of whom recently took a side to Zimbabwe when senior cricketers were rested. Just like both the stand-in skippers, Taylor seems Taylor-made for the post yet he has to shrug off his lack of form and come out as a champion, the way Daniel Vettori does when he is leading the side. The tri-series, also featuring India and Sri Lanka is scheduled between August 10 and 28.
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