[ad_1]
OPINION: Quick judgments are dangerous, especially in such a fickle form of cricket as the Twenty20 internationals.
Still, after two Black Caps wins and a 14-ball wash to start the ‘summer’ against the West Indies, there is an obvious conclusion: Martin Guptill, and to a lesser extent Ross Taylor, Colin de Grandhomme and Tim Southee no longer they may demand places in the best T20 XI in the country, ahead of Pakistan’s three-game series that starts on December 18.
A serene debut by Devon Conway, the flashy batting pyrotechnics of Glenn Phillips and the imminent return of Captain Kane Williamson give coach Gary Stead a tremendous headache – one of the selectors insists they welcome him.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Martin Guptill is not out of shape, but he has not dominated an attack internationally in a long time.
New Zealand’s T20 team has gone nowhere in recent years and prior to back-to-back T20 World Cups a restart is required with some new personnel and distinctive team style, as demanded by Stephen Fleming in the commentary by Spark Sport. There were very promising signs in recent days, although West Indies bowling was terrible at times and provides an asterisk, with 11 more men’s T20s to play this season.
READ MORE:
* Ticket back to Lord’s: what the Black Caps require for a final docking test
* The rain causes the abandonment of NZ v Windies T20
* Glenn Phillips record brings Windies to their knees
Phillips brought in hitting power and youthful energy that he has shown in the Caribbean and for Auckland, prompting former coach Mike Hesson to comment that he seemed like a different player. Conway was the perfect match, confirming suspicions about his skill and temperament and seeking the role in international cricket with one game for all formats.
If those two are now mandatory picks in the top four of the Black Caps, Tim Seifert is guaranteed as a wicketkeeper and Williamson is back, either at No. 3 or No. 4 of a prolific IPL, then there is an odd hitter.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Against India in Hamilton last year, and at the IPL, Kane Williamson showed his class at the Twenty20 level.
For a decade, Guptill has been one of the first names on New Zealand’s white ball team and their best fielder. But it’s been some time since he demolished an opposition bowling attack internationally, just like regular opening partner Colin Munro, who needs to dominate at Big Bash to prevent the draft from hanging over his name in notebooks. the Black Caps selectors.
Now there are viable options at the top. Seifert deserves a long-term project, but he needs to live up to the high rating Brendon McCullum gave him and match his teammates’ fireworks against Pakistan after a couple of false starts.
Like Seifert, Phillips has had his greatest success in opening T20. With Black Caps available for much of the T20 Super Smash, the selectors also face an intriguing showdown between Guptill and Phillips, the Aces’ likely starters, to help make decisions.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Glenn Phillips swept through New Zealand’s fastest T20 century, against the West Indies on Sunday.
Taylor sold out in game one and was barely required in game two. He did the job he was asked to do last season as a finalist at No. 5, but Mark Chapman can play that role deftly too and is a brilliant outfielder.
If Taylor were to cut back on his gaming commitments to make it to the 2023 World Cup, then T20 is an obvious starting point. With Chapman, the question remains whether he can move up another notch, but more opportunities are required as he continues to shine in national cricket.
De Grandhomme, still injured, did not come out at No. 4 last summer and finished the season at home with five single-digit T20 scores. Daryl Mitchell and Jimmy Neesham are the most viable T20 off-road options right now, and they both hit the XI at a place like Eden Park when the Ish Sodhi spinner isn’t required.
Then there is the bowling alley, with Trent Boult returning after a starring role for the IPL champions in Mumbai. He, Kyle Jamieson and electric Lockie Ferguson now sport the best more balanced pacing trio now, leaving Southee in a similar spot to the ODI team, still around but fighting for their place in the top XI. Hamish Bennett, Scott Kuggeleijn and Doug Bracewell also loom over the periphery providing enviable bowling depth, the first far better than a night of terror at Eden Park.
Phil Walter / Getty Images
Devon Conway immediately looked at the Black Caps internationally.
Some tough decisions are ahead, and this team for Pakistan’s opener at Eden Park might be worth checking out: Seifert, Phillips, Conway, Williamson, Chapman, Mitchell, Neesham, Mitchell Santner, Jamieson, Ferguson and Boult.
It doesn’t mean the door is closed to anyone, especially Guptill, Taylor and company, but it does give worthy contenders a chance to claim earlier, hopefully, Stead and co-selector Gavin Larsen decide on their best XI by five. Australia T20 at the end of February.
