http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Kruger-van-Wyk-c1811 – Cricket News Update
New Zealand wicketkeeper Kruger van Wyk has revealed that his side are focusing on showing staying power the crease and batting consistently for four sessions prior to their two-match Test series, the first match of which is due to commence today on July
25 at the Sir Vivian Richards Stadium in North Sound, Antigua.
“[Batting four sessions] is something we always speak about doing and we're pretty determined to do,” said van Wyk.
“Our preparation is geared towards a game plan of looking to bat four sessions - how we're going to approach it and the different techniques against their quicks and their spin bowling.”
It has been a little over a decade since New Zealand won a Test series (against opposition other than http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747) away from home, and whether the drought can come to an end on the notoriously low and slow Caribbean pitches remains to be seen.
Out of the last 13 Tests the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/West-Indies-c760 have hosted, the average score from 51 innings has been 253, and a total of 400 by any team has only been achieved four times.
Only four out of those 13 games have ended in draws, with matches shortened due to low scores, indicating that just one significant effort in a single innings of application can completely change the outcome of the match, and enable a team to claim victory.
While the Kiwis performed dismally during the limited-overs leg of the tour, and barely managed to finish their warm-up match against the WICB President’s XI on a draw, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Graham-Robert-Cowdrey-c60631 Wyk is convinced that the key to a Test victory lies in a focused batting approach.
A veteran of 103 first-class matches, with 314 dismissals to his credit, van Wyk claimed that the Black Caps needed to be patient and accept that the scoring rates on Caribbean pitches were bound to be low. He stressed the need for batsmen to take the game
one delivery at a time, focus on sticking it out at the crease, and gradually get used to the conditions.
“You just need to keep batting, keep facing balls and accept that, with every delivery, things will get easier and you'll feel more comfortable with the conditions,” the Kiwi wicketkeeper said.
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