Cricket: Grow thick skin says Bracewell

Doug Bracewell's itching to show what he can bring to the white-ball wicket. Photo / Duncan Brown

People deal with taunts in their own way but Doug Bracewell's advice to cricketers is to grow a thick skin.

"Oh, you try to block it out as much as you can but you've got to expect that you're going to get a bit of grief on the boundary at times, especially when you're touring, because you're going to cop it from the spectators," Bracewell told the media in Napier yesterday before today's second ODI against Pakistan at McLean Park, weather permitting.

The 25-year-old seldom ever found traction with boorish behaviour from the crowds.

"It's never really usually witty or smart but straight to the point ... "

His experience in Australia was often the odd fan "going too far" but generally "it wasn't too bad".

Finding himself back in the Black Caps' one-day matrix meant, weather permitting, should he make today's line up or the final ODI at Eden Park, Auckland, he would leave nothing in the park.

Coach Mike Hesson called him up after Auckland seamer Mitchell McClenaghan shattered his eye socket on Monday following a bouncer at the Basin Reserve.

"Yes, it was quite a nice surprise," Bracewell said.

"Obviously it was unfortunate for Mitch who took a bad one to his face but it's exciting to be back in the squad in Napier."

The old and new helmets offered a choice of protection and vision but Bracewell felt it was the players' choice to wear the helmet that suited them best.

"[The new one] has a bit more protection around it so hopefully you don't get sconed."

Bracewell brings a knuckle-duster approach to bowling, hitting the deck hard to give the batsmen a hurry up with a lot more discipline this summer.

"It's just part of the game. You're going to give some out and you're going to get a little bit back so, yeah, it's just part of the game and you've just got to expect it," he said of McClenaghan's misfortune but felt the Caps were using short balls wisely at home.

However, Bracewell ruled out any amendments to his bowling constitution to break the typecast of red-ball bowler.

"There are no secrets for me. I try to stay fit as a bowler in the test team as well ... to stay on the park and I've enjoyed my cricket this season."

Honing his batting skills, he said, was part of the bigger plan to establish himself as a genuine allrounder.

"I've put a lot of work into batting and I'm starting to get a few runs on the board so it's been working out all right," he said, mindful Hesson and co-selectors were rotating the squad quite well.

He felt the tourists had a mixture of seasoned campaigners as well as those who are wet around the ears but taking them lightly was an option.

"You have to keep your feet on their throats," he said as the Black Caps hold a 1-0 in the three-match series.

With the second-placed Devon Hotel Central Districts Stags earning a direct entry to the Ford Trophy grand final in New Plymouth this Saturday after a win over table-topping Canterbury Kings in Christchurch last Saturday, Bracewell relished the week-long break.

"It was nice to have a couple of days at home in my own bed," said the allrounder who lives in Napier.

The Kings have progressed to Pukekura Park for the televised domestic one-day final against defending champions CD when their match against the Otago Volts was abandoned at Hagley Oval, Christchurch, yesterday.

He also stayed in touch with his father, ex-international Brendon, in Perth via phone to "share some thoughts".