NEW Zealand coach John Wright has hinted at a possible change in the batting order in the ODI team with an eye on the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup.
Wright coaches New Zealand for the first time in a One-Day International when the hosts take on Pakistan in the first of six matches at Wellington tomorrow. New Zealand go into the series after losing 11 consecutive ODIs. “I think we need to try and settle things down during this Pakistan series and know exactly where we are at the end of it so … we might try a few things,” Wright was quoted as saying by NZPA.
The change in the batting order could mean that regular openers Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder may bat lower down, Ross Taylor at number three and Martin Guptill could open.
“They may not be at the top of the order,” Wright said of McCullum and Ryder. “There may be one at the top of the order. We really need to look at the way we have been playing and to consider where we have our firepower, particularly our impact batsmen.
Obviously there is the opportunity to start with the power play and then who plays where when we get to the next power play. We will have a look at that and make the decisions,” added Wright.
A former New Zealand captain, Wright, said skipper Daniel Vettori will have the final say on the subject.”It’s something we just have to consider carefully. Dan will have some strong views on it and you look at the batting line-up, and if we can get players in form, and get our order right, then we should be able to do the job,” said Wright.
Wright said the change is essential to factor in some power hitting lower down the order. “The one thing about New Zealand one-day sides is that they always appear to be at their strongest when you had great batting depth around Nos 5, 6, 7, 8.
When you played against New Zealand they were just a hard side to break down. We will be looking to bat as deep and with as much quality as we can around those areas.
Obviously the development of Martin Guptill has been a huge plus for us. He has played incredibly well in the Twenty20 series and he worked ever so hard in the Test series, and he looks ever so promising (in the role of opening).”
Wright also opined that the New Zealand selectors have picked a well-balanced side for ICC CWC 2011. “All the talking is over, we’ve got this series against Pakistan and we’ve got to get some momentum going into the World Cup,” concluded Wright.