There’s not a great deal of pace in the Jamtha wicket and with spin looming as the hot-button issue of this World Cup, the New Zealand skipper is hoping to get their opponents in a tangle of inspired line and length bowling. “We will try to bowl straight at the wickets. The key is to be consistent against the big teams and the big players who have the talent to improvise,” the New Zealand skipper said ahead of Friday’s contest.
Australia struggled against spinners in a warm-up game that they lost to India on a wearing Bangalore pitch and was stymied by Zimbabwe slow bowlers at Ahmedabad on Monday.
So don’t be surprised if Nathan McCullum bounds in to open the New Zealand bowling or Vettori himself takes the new ball like Ray Price of Zimbabwe or Johan Botha of South Africa.
After Monday, Ricky Ponting will be acutely aware that better execution to spinners is required if this is to be a Cup of triumph.
Ponting admitted they failed to respond collectively against Zimbabwe’s spinners. He said the same after their drubbing against India in the practice match. Australia, therefore, have to do a lot better as a batting unit rather than resorting to their skipper’s candid admissions, “If you say we should have played better against the spinners, I will agree. But at the same time, we do know the right way to handle spinners…”
Australia’s bowling attack will be predominantly based on pace with three fast bowlers, a spinner (Jason Krejza) and some part-time contribution from Michael Clarke, David Hussey, and all-rounders Steven Smith and Shane Watson.
While Watson’s will be more about medium-pace, the kind of stuff suited to the sluggish Jamtha strip, Clarke, Hussey and Smith will make up for the absence of the second specialist spinner in the side.
Clarke, of course, will play a pivotal role in anchoring Australia’s hopes as he is also the best player of spin in the side. It was the vice-captain’s late heroics (58 not out from 55 balls) that propelled the Aussies to a defendable total against Zimbabwe.
Unlike New Zealand, the Aussies are in better mental shape. The devastating Christchurch earthquake has dented the Black Caps’ morale. The team’s physiotherapist (Dayle Shackel) and trainer (Bryan Stronach) had to rush home to attend to their loved ones. Even some of the players have been laid low by the incident. “It has been an incredibly tough build up considering what’s been going on… ,” Vettori said on Thursday.
New Zealand thrashed Kenya by 10 wickets in their first game. Barring openers, Brendon McCullum and Martin Guptill, none of the other batsmen got a chance to play. That doesn’t leave much scope for a change in the line up and Hamish Bennett will keep his place as Kylie Mills isn’t feeling hundred percent yet.
Unless the dew plays havoc on Friday morning, the Jamtha wicket will assist batsmen. Both sides have some big hitters, but it will ultimately boil down to application on match day. For Australia, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait or Doug Bollinger can bowl quick as Hamish Bennett and Tim Southee can turn the screws on the Aussie batting with their pace.
Australia survived resistance against Zimbabwe unlike the Black Caps’ cakewalk against Kenya. Both teams have the momentum, but the one who remains sensible in a crunch game will have a better chance Friday.
Teams
Australia (likely): Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Ricky Ponting (capt), Michael Clarke, Cameron White, David Hussey, Steven Smith, Mitchell Johnson, Shaun Tait/ Doug Bollinger, Jason Krejza, Brett Lee.
New Zealand (likely): Martin Guptill, Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, James Franklin, Scott Styris, Daniel Vettori (capt), Nathan McCullum, Jacob Oram, Tim Southee, Hamish Bennett.
Umpires: Billy Doctrove, Asad Rauf
Match Referee: Ranjan Madugalle
Match starts 9.30 a.m.
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