CLASS ACT: Tom Bruce is in his element after a match-winning knock yesterday for CD Stags in Nelson yesterday. PHOTO/FILE
HE isn't going to say it because the cult of collectiveness in the Central Districts Stags prevents Tom Bruce from publicly analysing his self-worth for fear of coming across as egotistical.
But let there be no ambiguity in endorsing the 25-year-old batsman's class as the William Young-skippered Stags yesterday beat Wellington Firebirds by nine runs at Saxton Oval, Nelson, after ex-Black Cap Jesse Ryder was again conspicuous by his absence with the recurring calf strain as the team left him behind in Wellington.
With Sri Lanka import Mahela Jayawardene going cheaply and George Worker, Young and Dane Cleaver not hanging around for long, Bruce shuffled up to No4 in Ryder's absence to revive and add muscle to CD's innings with 74 runs from 41 balls, including eight boundaries and three sixes, before Firebirds spinner Jeetan Patel had him caught and bowled.
"Obviously, it's pretty unfortunate that Jesse has hurt his calf again but it gives someone else the opportunity to push up the order to push their case so it was just nice that I came off today because any other day it could be anyone else as that's the nature of twenty20," Bruce said.
"We're pretty gutted for him because he was looking forward to being on the [trip] with us. His calf hasn't healed in time but we're looking to his return hopefully before the end of the competition."
That may well be the case but make no mistake: Bruce hasn't got there by fluke in a game of chance that masquerades as cricket.
There's a good reason why Young and the Stags see the Taranaki player as the X-factor in the McDonald's Super Smash T20 campaign.
"It's just a purple patch and I'm watching the ball a bit harder and it suits my game so I'm making a few technical adjustments and it's coming off all right.
"No, it'll be nice to score some runs and, hopefully, it just continues," said the man who is the total package - he isn't shy to heave balls out of the park but has also shown in first-class cricket this summer that he can tease and tick over if required for tons.
If anyone wants further endorsement of his worth at the batting crease, Bruce is among elite company in T20 batting statistics with 146 runs from four rounds, below leader Henry Nicholls on 192 runs, Neil Broom (162) but above Corey Anderson (144).
It doesn't seem to faze him where coach Heinrich Malan and his assistant, Ben Smith, of England, put him to ask for middle and leg.
"I'm happy to bat wherever the team wants me to bat. You know, it's different roles in different situations so it's about being adaptable whichever situation I come in at."
Facing the first ball also isn't an issue and that sort of versatility and mental fortitude should be the type of noise the Black Caps selectors must have an ear for to fix their batting woes.
"I don't want to bat at No 11 or anything like that but I will wherever they [CD] ask me to," he said with a laugh.
It seems a single-digit-run victory isn't close after all and simply the devalued currency of a profitable day out - although Bruce felt they were doing it tough.
"We seem to be winning the hard way and it's not good for the nerves but a win's a win so it doesn't matter by how many runs or wickets and we'll take it," he said.
In some respects, Bruce felt CD had been slow starters for a couple of seasons but their unbeaten run, with front runners Auckland Aces, laid bare their intentions this season.
"We are pleased with our start but we'd like to continue that into our next few games."
No6 Joshua Clarkson had a solid unbeaten 27.
"Josh is batting only because his back's not great with bowling so a kid at 19 can just come and play a game and not be out at the end to close the innings with Ben Wheeler [15 not out] to finish off the game well," he said.
That partnership gave the Stags momentum to carry into the bowling innings.
Bruce switched back into the collective mode on the bowlers but suffice it to say the left-arm spin of Worker was the best as the opening batsman claimed 2-25 from four overs while first-change seamer Blair Tickner, who was unlucky not to take a wicket in the win against the Otago Volts on Friday night in Napier due to dropped catches, was the next most frugal yesterday with 2-26.
"The nature of twenty20 is that batsmen will come hard at you when they're chasing a total of 181 so everyone has their day [bowlers did in Napier] and, obviously, the batsmen are about to have their day as well."
He said Wheeler and fellow opening seamer Seth Rance, both among top 10 wicket takers in T20, were doing a clinical job in death bowling.
"It's something we trust them with ... and we're able to do that at crucial stages throughout the innings so that it all comes together at the end with a big W."
The Stags again host the Volts at Pukekura Park on Wednesday from 4pm before travelling to Seddon Park, Hamilton, for a 7.10pm start against Northern Districts Knights this Friday in a televised match.
There's promise of a cloudy 19C day in New Plymouth on Wednesday after rain hampered the two opening matches there.