by Shreyas S. Bhide
New Zealand cricket is in a state of utmost disarray(its a well known fact by now). The only advantage the Kiwis have over their struggling contemporaries (West Indies, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh) is that it has a sound administration in place and have a plethora of players to commit to the cause of the betterment of cricket of the nation.
In the current setup, there are atleast five players who can restore The Black Caps to their peak glory (as in the early nineties). Her’s a look at their profiles and the reasons why they can make a difference to the Kiwi Cricket :
1. DANIEL VETTORI
Vettori has been on the international scene so long it is sometimes hard to believe he is still in his twenties. The youngest player to play Test cricket for New Zealand, at the age of 18, he sits beside Richard Hadlee and Chris Cairns as Kiwis to take 200 Test wickets and score 2000 runs. On many occasions his lower-order batting, at No. 8, has come to the rescue , case in point was the first test match against Bangladesh. He now has the responsibility of leading a team that is low on resources and confidence. Retirements and the ICL have seen New Zealand slip in the world rankings and Vettori is obviously saddled with more responsibilities than he could have imagined. But, the spin veteran’s past records and display of shouldering the team’s responsibility i n the most difficult times (even when he wasn’t leading the team) is enough testimony that the man had it to take the Kiwi cricket up and then forward. He has some talented players at hand and his shouldn’t be a difficult task to manage them.
2. BRENDON MCCULLUM
You could see the impact that this man had when he outplayed every on present (including himself) during the first IPL season’s inaugural match where he played for Kolkata against Bangalore. After McCullum left, the Knightriders looked out of touch and out of favour. Recently he was picked up by New South Wales and he is surely an advantageous prospect for the Blues. After an outstanding career in international youth cricket, where he proved capable of dominating opposition attacks. He found it hard to replicate that at the highest level at first, although there were occasional fireworks at domestic level. But he finally made his mark in England in 2004, with 200 runs in the Test series. The fact that Vettori has showed confidence in relying on him calling him a senior player is enough to boost McCullum’s confidence.
3. KYLE MILLS
He has been riddled more with injuries instead of records and appreciation. In and out of the team after the 2003 World Cup, Mills did enough to earn a call-up for the tour of England in 2004, and made his Test debut in the third match at Trent Bridge. But he picked up a side strain during the game, and was forced to fly home and miss the NatWest Series. He played in the 2006 Champions Trophy, but his injury jinx struck again and he was ruled out of the 2007 World Cup with a serious knee problem. Though he has been a regular since then, Mills has also been effective with the ball. His once promoising batting talent seems to have gone, but that’s not a matter of concern as long as as he performs the role of the main bowler efficiently. His survival as a cricketer is of utmost concern for the Black Caps’ future and his seniors should take care of this fact.
4. JAMIE HOW
Jamie How was included into the New Zealand side in 2004-05 after some solid performances for Central Districts. How is a well organnised opener and that is very important for New Zealand for whom opening stands need to be strong and precise for big scores and succesful chases. An average of just above 23 and 34 in tests and ODi’s respectively don’t do justice to his talent, but the opener surely is an important part of Vettori’s future schemes and strategies.
5. ROSS TAYLOR
An aggressive top-order batsman capable of taking up the challenge to world-class attacks - Taylor (alongwith Brendon McCullum) is the kind of player who can change the New Zealand team’s fortunes through their depleting batting line-up. His maiden test ton(120) against England at Hamilton was testimony to his talent. He soon followed it up with amemorable 154 at Old Trafford, confirming he now carries New Zealand’s batting hopes. He can be to Vettori’s team, what Nathan Astle was to the Fleming led Kiwi side throughout the mid and late nineties, given the fact that he does justice to his talent.
Men in Blue Who Should Make it to the New Zealand Tour
Sehwag, Harbhajan Express Optimism for NZ Tour
Wright Warns NZ against Fast Track Attack
Smaller Grounds a Concern, says Home Skipper
Chappell Hadlee ODI 5: Dramatic Match Ends in Dismay
India Promise Full Strength for NZ as Srikkanth Lays Down No.1 Goals
NZ Agree to Third Test; Vettori Ecstatic
Personnel Changes: Moles Replaces Bracewell
Reason why New Zealand cricket lies low in the test rankings
India Ships Odd Names to New Zealand
Looking at the World’s New No.1 ODI Team
IND- SL ODI Series: Another Feather in Dhoni’s Cap
Does India Recognize Only Cricketers?
