In the hope of a black summer

On the Saturday before my departure to the states, Red Devil and Twisted Jean dropped in for lunch and also dropped off one of the best gifts I've received in a long while. To my surprise, the two had paid more than a cursory visit to the BeigeBrigade website http://www.beigebrigade.co.nz/gallery/ which I had talked about in some memoirs long ago, actually written to Paul Ford and Mike Lane and ordered the goshawful brown and tan shirt which was the original uniform of the Kiwi oneday side in the early 80s. So finally, I'm the proud owner of one of those disgustingly brilliant figure hugging, nipple gripping shirts and a memeber of the Beige Brigade! With it, however, comes the knowledge that I won't be able to catch up with most New Zealand games over the next couple of seasons. That is, unless the ICAs here in Austindecide to screen a few token games. This post is basically to wish the Kiwis all the best for the coming season, for which I, their biggest fan, won't be around. I'm also trying to grab some perspective from the previous season. Some musings, more from a one-day point of view:

OVERALL:From a fans' prerspective, last season was disappointing because it seemed to suggest the same problems which have plagued Kiwi cricket repeatedly are here to stay. By this I also mean a refusal to learn from experience and past mistakes (especially on the part of the batsmen). As always, the main batsmen seem to freeze in a crisis, the attack depends too heavily on Shane Bond's fitness for penetration, and bowling at the death remains a nightmare or an issue. The bowling problems of course haven't been helped by the injuries to key players. In this regard, it's worth pondering Adam Parore's view that Bond is perhaps better off saving himself for one dayers alone, just as Geoff Allott did in the last year of his short career. It's all very well for a fan like me to say "If only we had Shane Bond", but Bond's absence has become the norm, rather than the exception, so the team and John Bracewell should have figured out a way to deal with it. I've never been a great admirer of Bracewell's center-stage methods, and would prefer Stephen Fleming to have a greater say in selection and strategy. How Bracwell shapes the team for the World Cup will surely be interesting, whatever he comes up with.

THE BATTING:One thing that emerged from the roller coaster ride last season is the realisation that the guard is changing. Most of the players who were regulars in the side at the turn of the century are finding that time is not on their side any more. Despite being a reasonably successful outfit, the selectors have come to understand that the senior pros are just not tough enough or reliable in a crisis as they should be and thus the makeup of the side is evolving. The side did reach some spectacular highs over the last five years (such as the VB series in 2002), but another period of transition is here. Chris Cairns was surprisingly dropped, then brought back, and he finally decided to retire after the Sri Lanka series (though I felt he was still good for the World Cup). Chris Harris has been deemed surplus and looks unlikely to return, while Craig McMillan was shown the door after repeated failures. The form of Nathan Astle and Scott Styris is closely monitored to the extent that neither is assured of being a certainty in the lineup. The sheer competition for places in the middle order means that Harris and McMillan probably won't figure in the World Cup, while Styris will keep his place by virtue of being one of the better one day bowlers in the country (fitness permitting). Astle was dropped for a couple of games and it seemed to bring out the best in him. But, despite his past record, he will know that time isn't on his side anymore and he must reaffirm himself against strong bowling attacks before the World Cup. The suspicion that he's been found out by opposition bowlers still lingers.

On the other hand, the selectors introduced a number of new faces in the top and middle order. Peter Fulton, Jamie How, Ross Taylor, a reborn Lou Vincent and the hitherto uncapped Jesse Ryder provide the stiff competition for middle order spots in the coming season, which previous regulars like Matthew Sinclair and Hamish Marshall will also be eyeing. These guys acheived varying degrees of success last season. While the first three are untried abroad, they offer hope that some explosive quality may yet be brought to the side given the eternal inconsistency of the side's batting. In this respect, the coming season promises to be an exciting one. What the middle order does need is a rock, a firm stable player which New Zealand haven't found since the exit of Roger Twose. Hamish Marshall was on the way to cementing that spot when the horrors of the last season caught up with him. Despite his poor form, I was happy that Bracewell decided to stick with him. Marshall is potentially of great value to the side and has a decent record behind him. He needs to repay the selector's faith sooner rather than later. Perseverance is the key, but the crowded middle order means he won't be an automatic starter any more.

THE BOWLING: On the whole, the bowling remains a bigger worry. Unless Fleming, Bracewell and co come up with a well planned strategy and place enough confidence in the bowlers to execute it, we'll see New Zealand continuing to lose tight games. And of course there's the worry of finding a strike bowler to partner (or replace) Bond as the case may be. For now, Kyle Mills, Chris Martin, James Franklin, Michael Mason and Jacob Oram (plus a certain DL Vettori) make up the list. Not the most penetrative lineup, but Fleming is good at working his resources around. No doubt, like Martin Crowe earlier, he has some plan in mind which will be unfolded at the World Cup. What about Daryl Tuffey, who was the premier strike bowler a while ago, before the Aussies and injuries laid him low? Not to forget Ian Butler, the one bowler who seemed to be nearly as quick as Bond but generally ignored by the selectors who seem to prefer a wholly medium pace attack. The inclusion of another spinner, Jeetan Patel may yet give Fleming more options to work with. The hope is for a largely injury-free season, come what may.

THE MEN IN CHARGE: His batting heroics in South Africa apart, Fleming was largely off the spotlight, a sea change from the Dennis Aberhart era where he was in complete control. Here, John Bracwell made it clear who the boss really is and he continues in his bizzare vein, infuriating us supporters at times. If Bracewell's man management skills shone in the case of Marshall, then they positively fizzled out in the case of McMillan. While Macca was largely responsible for his own downfall, he was shunted up and down the order, and labelled a "floating hitter" by the coach. That's a pretty damning indictment of a batsman with more than 170 games under his belt. If, after nine years of international cricket, Macca isn't sure of what his role in the side is, there is something seriously wrong. I personally believe he is best suited to number six, where class bowlers don't have an early go at his shaky technique. The smaller grounds of the Caribbean are ideal for a destructive boundary hitter like him. The reality is, however, he has fallen down the list and his experience counts for squat in the current setup. The latest story in this episode sees Macca left out of the champion's trophy probables squad, with Bracewell citing "poor fitness". Jesse Ryder also comes in for criticism but keeps his place in the list. Bracewell, like most eccentric coaches, probably has his own squad in mind well before the World Cup. He certainly doesn't give in to public pressure, and at times, logic. Perhaps it's time for Flem to re-assert himself as the real leader and put the team back on track as we know he can. Seeing Dan Vettori captain a few games was pretty interesting for the fans, and there's no doubt he's being groomed as the future captain.

I won't be able to catch most of the Kiwis' games unless there's some coverage of the Champions Trophy here in Austin. As always, my wishes are with the Black Caps and for a change of fortunes. Sad not to be where the action is, but I sure hope the caps will give me a black season to remember.