NATURAL: Tom Bruce takes to the media scrum as he does to quality bowlers with his bat. PHOTO/Duncan Brown
TO STEAL an old adage Central Districts stalwart Scott Briasco isn't shy to use - "If you're good enough, you're old enough" - rings true when it comes to cricketer Tom Bruce.
An unassuming bloke, the 25-year-old from Strathford in New Zealand may have cropped up too soon for some but he is quite comfortable in the way he has forged a track to the international stage today when he makes his debut for the Black Caps in the opening T20 international against Bangladesh at McLean Park, Napier, from 7pm.
"I don't think it could come soon enough, actually," said Bruce yesterday, looking as calm and collected in his first media scrum as he does when keeping quality bowlers honest on the pitch.
"I think it's a pretty exciting time and I've only had a couple of good seasons in this circuit but I feel like I've been around for a while," said the CD Stag middle-order batsman who isn't shy to take the ball to roll a few offies if the ball is chucked his way.
"I've played enough cricket now and, hopefully, succeed and take my game plan to the next level and put it to the challenge ahead and, hopefully, get some game time for future honours," he said, showing this summer he can switch to the red-ball mode with a patient century.
Bruce said he was more confident in his game now and embraced his "natural" ball-striking ability.
"I've just been making the decisions along the way ... and it's been pretty successful so, you know, I'll keep watching that ball and keep hitting that ball."
He echoed similar sentiments on how he sees himself as a cog in the CD wheel when asked if he was comfortable to be a swiss knife for Hesson and Co.
"It's just a case of game by game and wherever the team sees me fit to bat I'll step up to the role and if they ask me to go and open then I'll open so it just depends on what the team wants and the team comes first.
"I'm happy to adapt my game to whatever role they want me to play in a spot on batting."
Mindful of the fickle nature of T20, Bruce said a couple of consistent domestic T20 seasons had propelled his prowess into the international arena.
"I had a good chat with Mahela [Jayawardene] and Roscoe [Ross Taylor] before I came into this environment and, you know, they both said go out and enjoy it and have fun [because] you've been picked for a reason," he revealed.
The Taranaki cricketer disclosed the batting maestros also impressed on him the need to remain faithful to a blueprint that had worked for him and not tinker with it.
"They said just go play your natural game and be yourself so I'm just going to soak up the environment and the atmosphere from the Black Caps and that's all I'm looking to do," he said.
Despite an abundance of talent in the middle order, he relishes having to vie for a berth in the belief that it can only enhance the case of sober selections.
No doubt it has been surreal for the past few days with the thought of slipping on the silver fern, perhaps best reflected in Bruce's past few knocks for the Stags where he seems to have tried to keep his feet on the ground, as it were.
Jangled nerves are a given but if his serene demeanour is anything to go by then Bangladesh may be the best grounds for his christening on the global stage.
"Nerves and excitement are always good things I'm just going to embrace them and play my natural game when 7 o'clock comes up."
Making his debut, hopefully with CD's Ben Wheeler, would be ideal in a familiar surroundings as Stags.
"Napier always puts on a good crowd for us so I'm hoping to see some fans and I know some friends and family are coming too so, hopefully, I can put on a good show for them, too."
No team liked losing and Bangladesh were a potent force now.
"In twenty20, a little bit of luck and that can change the game so I'm sure they'll come out swinging and fighting so, hopefully, we'll put on a good show."
It wasn't easy to walk away from the Stags' campaign but Bruce said making an international debut for one's country was a big occasion although his thoughts would be with the boys in Saturday's grand final.
CD coach Heinrich Malan is resigned to not seeing much of the man they call Bruiser.
"I'd like to think he'll make his debut tomorrow night and have a great game for the Black Caps and, unfortunately, we won't see him again," Malan said.
The mantra of CD, he said, was not just to grab an opportunity when it arises but also to stake a claim.
So what did he say to Bruce before he left for the Caps?
"It's really important that he doesn't change anything, you know, because he's done what he's done and that's why he got selected," said Malan, not expecting to shift too much from the role he plays for CD of No 4 or 5.
Bruce, he felt, had shown he could step up when the top order stutters or come in at the 12th over to boost the run rate in the blink of an eye.
"It's a simple message of just keeping to your strengths, really."
Wheeler, Malan said, also showed last winter on an ODI debut on tour in England that had he not got injured he would have chalked up more games for his country.
"It's exciting to see Benjamin back there ... it's all the sort of things you expect to see from a world-class player, which what he'll be one day," he said.
Ditto allrounder George Worker, who scored 65 runs in his last appearance for the Black Caps.
Wheeler is aggressive and has the propensity to swing the new ball, can change it up in the middle and hits the hole at the death overs to win games for the Stags to show his prowess.
"Those are world-class traits and star qualities so, again, just really happy for him."
New-ball accomplice Seth Rance, who has shot to the top of the T20 bowling order of merit, won similar accolades from Malan.
"Again, if he gets selected in the not-too-distant future he'll show that he can do a great job."
All that means is Heinrich and his coaching stable have their work cut out to ensure the talent flows from the Stags' reservoir.
Taylor, who is rested for CD today, also could be called back into the Caps' equation.
"I'd like to think so. He's obviously a legend of New Zealand cricket in terms of putting numbers on the board from a batting perspective and he's obviously shown that to us in the last two games as well," Malan said.
Corey Anderson also spoke after Bruce, pleased to be back after making appearances for ND Knights.
"I got a lot of sparks during the campaign to, I guess, finish off with 70-odd in that last game against Wellington was a nice little introduction to come back into the Black Caps squad," said Anderson who has been battling with injuries.
He acknowledged Bruce's lusty hitting and said he deserved his call up for toiling.
"Depending on what is in the line up hopefully he can add to that power."
Anderson also alluded to Taylor's presence in the Super Smash and suspected the 32-year-old would also return to the Caps' mix.
Black Caps (from): Kane Williamson (c), Neil Broom, Colin Munro, Corey Anderson, Tom Bruce, Jimmy Neesham, Colin de Grandhomme, Luke Ronchi, Mitchell Santner, Ben Wheeler, Matt Henry, Ish Sodhi, Lockie Ferguson.
Bangladesh (from): Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Soumya Sarkar, Sabbir Rahman, Mahmudullah, Shakib Al Hasan, Mosaddek Hossain, Mashrafe Mortaza (c), Rubel Hossain, Taskin Ahmed, Mustafizur Rahman, Shuvagata Hom, Subashis Roy, Taijul Islam, Nurul Hasan.