The Black Caps coach, Mike Hesson, knows his All Black counterpart Steve Hansen well. They are said to communicate regularly, exchanging ideas, chewing the fat. Recently, Hesson has noticed a new angle creeping into the perception of his team: the more they win, the more some people are starting to pick holes in the manner of their doing so. In other words, it is not good enough simply to win, you have to be seen to do so overwhelmingly and with style. Welcome to my world, was Hansen’s comment.
It serves to illustrate the level of national expectation being heaped on the New Zealand team. For years, when it comes to World Cups, they have been the each-way banker, punching above their weight and all that, reaching the semi-finals five times, including the past two tournaments, but never progressing further. Plucky, is the cliched term habitually applied. Now the perception has changed.
Since the days when Martin Crowe was captain, and later when John Bracewell was in charge, they have shown an aptitude for limited-overs cricket beyond that of Test matches. They have always fielded brilliantly, bowled appropriately, from the nagging slow medium from the likes of Chris Harris and Gavin Larsen, to the pace and swing of Shane Bond, and the subtleties of Daniel Vettori. There have been innovations, with Crowe’s introduction in 1992 of a whirlwind opening batsman in Mark Greatbatch and the use of Dipak Patel to open the bowling with his offspin. Each time they have reached the semi-finals they have come unstuck, first in 1979 against England; then in 1992 at Eden Park when Inzamam-ul-Haq announced himself to the world with 60 from 37 balls to win for Pakistan a game that had seemed lost; and then twice, heavily, to Sri Lanka. Few expected them to go further than they managed.
This time it is different. Impelled by the inspirational leadership of Brendon McCullum and underpinned by the wise counsel of Vettori, New Zealand remain the only unbeaten side in the competition. This is something to live up to. Now, however, comes the crunch, appropriately enough in the Cake Tin in Wellington, where they meet West Indies in the last of the quarter-finals on Saturday. Win and it is on to face South Africa at Eden Park next Tuesday, another semi-final in the place where memories of Inzi lurk still.
Form suggests West Indies should be beaten. They are a team and organisation in constant turmoil. There is infighting between players and board, and an effort to get the president of Barbados cricket, Joel Garner, elected to the position of board president instead of the Jamaican Dave Cameron, a divisive figure, came to nothing, something they may live to regret. There is only an interim coach, although Phil Simmons, who has been coaching the Ireland team, is set to take over in time for England’s tour next month.
For all that, West Indies can be dangerous in a knockout match where one individual’s brilliance can take a team over the line. “We don’t want to peak too early” was the wry tongue-in-cheek comment from the team manager, Richie Richardson, after England beat them with embarrassing ease in their first warm-up match in Sydney and we know who is laughing at that now. They are an erratic outfit, mavericks, in much the same way as Pakistan can be.
Thus far they have been defeated by Ireland (and Simmons), lost to South Africa and India, but beaten Pakistan comfortably along with UAE and Zimbabwe. They have some excellent pacemen in the captain, Jason Holder, Kemar Roach and Jerome Taylor, and a tall, left-arm spin option in Sulieman Benn, which Holder may usefully employ, perhaps at the start, to nullify McCullum, who is noticeably less effective against spin.
Hovering over proceedings is the incredible hulk. Chris Gayle, a professional peripatetic hitter of sixes, and never knowingly one to overexert, has a back problem, for which he has been receiving cortisone. He, above all, holds the key for West Indies, for he can take a game away from any opposition. While this has been an erratic tournament for him – four innings against Ireland, Pakistan, India and UAE have brought 68 runs – there was the match in Canberra against Zimbabwe. There he made an astounding 215 from 147 balls, with no fewer than 16 sixes.
New Zealand may just have his measure. A cold southerly wind has been blowing through Wellington for several days but matchday will see it switch round to the north and become warmer. Tim Southee and Trent Boult have swung the ball better than anyone else. Gayle is less comfortable against the short ball, particularly if his movement is restricted, so expect some of this, but also the full ball to suck him into the drive and, possibly, an edge.
The great Curtly Ambrose has been drumming into West Indies the unpredictable nature of knockout matches but it may not be enough this time. Get Gayle and New Zealand, on top of their game, should win. And it matters not how they do it.
