Cricket: Neesham ready to make opening bid

Ava Stewart of Papamoa batting at the beach yesterday with Black Caps bowler Matt Henry watching on. Photo / George Novak

This week may end up being a turning point in the international career of James Neesham.

The talented Black Caps allrounder has longed for an opportunity to bat at the top of the order but players of the calibre of Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor and Jesse Ryder have blocked his opportunities.

But injuries and other factors have meant there is an opportunity for someone to grab an opening batting spot against South Africa at Mount Maunganui's Bay Oval tomorrow and Thursday, and Seddon Park next Monday.

Taylor is out of the series, Williamson will miss at least the first game tomorrow and Ryder is on the outer with selectors.

Neesham, 24, is ready to showcase his talent against the new ball.

"It is something I have been looking for for a little while now and the first couple of games of this series is a chance for me to throw my hat in the ring for the opening position for the one-dayers coming up," Neesham said after spending time bowling to enthusiastic kids on Mount Maunganui's Main Beach yesterday.

"It is obviously a massively daunting task coming up against probably the best opening combination in the world at the moment. There are only two ways you can go about it. You can worry about it and stress about it or you can take it as a challenge and if you are successful then obviously it is a huge achievement.

"If I can get through that first spell in the first game then hopefully it will flow from there. If I hold my ground in this series, then that bodes well for the future."

Neesham has played at the Bay Oval before and trained there over the winter months.

He is hoping for more pace and bounce in the wicket than he has found previously.

"It is a nice ground to play at. In the past it has been a little bit low and slow, and it is a good sized ground, so obviously the spinners have come into the game quite a lot.

"But having said that, it is quite early in the season to be playing cricket in New Zealand so the pitch may have a little bit of spice in it and more for the fast bowlers this time.

Series schedule
• ANZ International Series, Black Caps v South Africa
• Bay Oval, Mount Maunganui, 10.30am start
Tuesday October 21, Friday October 24
• Tickets: www.ticketek.co.nz, Baycourt ticket office or at the gate.
• Black Caps squad for opening ODI v South Africa on Tuesday: Page 26