Fresh faces can help tourists spring surprise (15 June 1999)

15 June 1999

Fresh faces can help tourists spring surprise

Martin Crowe

Despite their successful progress in the World Cup, the New Zealand selectors are treating their subsequent Test tour in entirely separate mode. Hence the departure of Gavin Larsen, Carl Bulfin and Matt Hart and a call-up for Matthew Bell, Shayne O'Connor, Brooke Walker and Martyn Croy.

These changes will increase the playing strength to 16 and the newcomers will presumably get an opportunity to play in either the match against British Universities or against Somerset. This is a brief rehearsal, for, if New Zealand make the World Cup final - as I fully expect - the first game will be limited to just one day.

This is a first time in the black cap for Walker and Croy. The former is a 22-year-old leg-spinner who took eight wickets in an innings against a fullstrength Canterbury side on his first-class debut. Adam Parore, who captained Auckland that day, said it was a privilege to keep wicket to such a promising spin bowler.

Another investment is Bell, but he has the endorsement of the selectors, who have said he is likely to open the batting with Matt Horne. He has already been tried against India but he suffered then from nerves and subsequent technical deficiencies that deprived him of a start.

Roger Twose, the star of the World Cup, was recalled last season and immediately batted all day against India to provide welcome solidity. He should open with Horne so the batting order can retain Stephen Fleming, Nathan Astle, Craig McMillan and Chris Cairns.

O'Connor is a left arm swing bowler scarcely inferior to Geoff Allott, a genuine swinger of the ball at around medium pace who moves the ball both ways in the air and possesses a surprise yorker. Croy is the back-up to Parore.

The great weakness still lies in the batting, but Fleming will blossom in the longer Test game and Astle will benefit from less exposure to the new ball. McMillan needs to bat at four or five so his naturally explosive style is revealed. If the selectors decide to play Bell at the top then either Astle or McMillan will have to drop out, with Twose coming in first wicket down.

The prospect of Simon Doull, one of the world's highest-rated Test bowlers, at last being utilised is one of the more intriguing prospects for the tour. He devastated India with a morning spell of seven wickets at the Basin Reserve and by now must be pent up with desire to strut his stuff. Daniel Vettori is another who is on his first England tour and is a classical left-arm spinner in the mould of Hedley Howarth. He has reached 50 Test wickets quicker than any New Zealand bowler.

The balance of the touring party is improved by the changes and the confidence gathered from the World Cup will engender a strong belief in our chances for a series victory. We may be the most boring side in England right now, as proclaimed by some in the media, but we are certainly a winning one. It will be delightful to see the critics eat their words.

Source :: The Electronic Telegraph