Blackcaps to stick with same mindset in Hamilton
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By Michael Pulman
The Blackcaps are under all sorts of pressure, but training today at lovely Seddon presented a typically composed side that’s blocking out the noise.
Tim Southee was on hand for a chat to talk about the mood in the camp heading into the must-win clash. The leading paceman bowled reasonably well in the 2nd T20, but defending just 133 runs meant that nothing short of a masterclass would suffice.
India made it home with ease, continuing a sorry run of recent results for New Zealand. Now an hour and a half down the Waikato Expressway in Hamilton, the city of the future, Southee knows his side is under immense pressure and must find a way to respond.
“I think it goes back to what we need to do as a group, if we play the way we know we can then I’m sure the result will take care of itself”, Southee said.
The Blackcaps aren’t looking too much at any radical change and won’t stretch themselves to find a new formula that many say is needed.
“I don’t think that a win is something we need to go out too far to search for, one of the traits of this side is that we don’t think too far ahead”, Southee said.
Believe what Southee says, because nothing about the vibe in the camp today spoke of urgency, in fact you could argue the direct opposite. The same drills, with a bit less chatter to be fair.
Is that a good or a bad sign? What way do Kane and his men believe is best suited to success out of this current slump?
Furthermore, the casual sticking to system and having faith approach may not go down so well with fans because criticism of this team has come sharply in recent weeks. First there was the disaster tour to Australia, injuries to key players and then the seemingly bizarre instance on sticking to the same formula on a number of fronts.
Colin de Grandhomme is clearly a specialist batsman in the shortest format, but there is also the question of whether the Blackcaps bring in both Scott Kuggeleijn and Daryl Mitchell for the 3rd T20. Mitchell, you’d assume, must be a big consideration but there is every chance that Hamish Bennett, not Blair Tickner, could make way quicker than expected.
Southee remained tight lipped on what, if any, changes were in the works for Hamilton.
“We will just have to wait and see what the surface looks like, decisions are based around that, it’s about doing whatever you do well”, Southee said.
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