Cricket: George Worker will go with CD Stags' final flow

George Worker (left) and Jesse Ryder have built a great rapport as opening batsmen but they don't have any premeditated ideas on how to approach any games. Photo/Photosport

Given the opportunity to enter the realm of cricketing utopia, it's fair to say the Central Districts Stags will not require any goading to grab it before the Super Smash Twenty20 grand final starts in Hamilton today.

But the Green Army that William Young marshalls knows only too well that the boundaries which define the state of utopia tend to stray into la-la land so all that will matter from 4pm will be the prime real estate at Seddon Park.

"That's always the dream result, isn't it? I don't think cricket's ever really like that because not every player's going to perform on any given day," said Black Caps opening batsman George Worker before the televised Burger King-sponsored match against top qualifiers Northern Districts Knights.

Worker said what was imperative was for individuals to prepare well and perform their roles to their best ability, although the Stags have been on the often rocky road to T20 redemption since Boxing Day.

"We just need to keep doing what we've been doing well over the last couple of weeks. Just because it's the final doesn't mean we have to change anything," said the 28-year-old left-hand batsman from Palmerston North.

The Heinrich Malan-coached CD players have had a yo-yo summer in the shortest format of domestic men's cricket but what sticks out in their limited TV-covered encounters is that they have been enjoying themselves on a diet of aggressive, uncompromising cricket despite setbacks.

They looked all at sea coming into the business end of their campaign but back-to-back victories over defending champions Wellington Firebirds broke the win-loss habit to see them scrape into the elimination final against second qualifiers Auckland Aces on Wednesday.

"The boys have been travelling well for a wee while now and, obviously, it was looking a little dicey on whether we were going to make the semifinal, but then we had a couple of wins against Wellington and a good win against the Aces on Wednesday," he said.

The potent line-up of CD promises plenty but frustrated fans will have noted that everything hasn't clicked in any given game.

The what-if scenario often offers the licence to let the mind wander but what has been equally remarkable is the propensity for the Stags to eke out victories when certain parts of the machine have malfunctioned.

That was evident perhaps more in the 39-run victory over the Aces at Eden Park outer oval than any other T20 game this summer.

As fanciful as it may sound, CD defied the odds of inclement weather, park history, a temperamental wicket and a so-so batting display from their own troops to make the grand final today.

"The boys are getting on very well and we're enjoying our cricket so I think the good thing about it is everyone is contributing at some point of the campaign with different people putting their hands up at each game," said Worker.

"It's a good environment so, hopefully, we can go one better on Saturday than we did last season."

The hapless Aucklanders must have fancied their chances but a ruthless bowling effort from CD ended their campaign in the knockout semifinal.

Seamers Ben Wheeler, Seth Rance and Blair Tickner adopted a take-no-prisoners approach with deadly impact.

Spinner Ajaz Patel and seamer Bevan Small followed, mindful they were going to bear the brunt of the desperate batsmen wanting to lift their run rate as rain threatened and the Duckworth Lewis Method started rearing its ugly head.

Small did take some stick but Patel kept the noose tight enough to slowly squeeze the life out of the Aces.

Whether another fairy-tale performance is in store today against the Knights remains to be seen.

So some butterflies in the Stags' tummies before today's grand final?

"There's always some pressure in the final and the boys will be feeling a little nervous but I'd like to think it'll be more excitement than anything," said Worker.

"We'll just keep doing what we've been doing well and look after what we can control."

He rates the Knights, accepting there's a reason why they were the top qualifiers and they would have done their homework watching CD do the unthinkable in the elimination final.

The Stags are expecting a used wicket so they believe good spinners will come into play.

"They're a good side and, historically, they've played well at Seddon Park so we'll just have to be on our game and, I guess, learn from the way we've played there."

It's CD's first appearance at the international arena this season.

"It might be a little bit slow so the key is in adapting on the day."

With left-armer Patel humming there's always a slim chance Young may look outside the equation to chuck the ball at part-timers to roll their arms if ND partnerships start flourishing.

"If that happens then great, I'll put my hand up to bowl but then we have Tom Bruce who can bowl some offspin as well," he said of the fellow Black Caps batsman who can be very destructive in the middle order.

However, he suspected the class of Patel would be ample cover and should that used strip come to pass then the red-ball spin king would profit even more.

But the CD batting department is equally impressive with opener Worker and former Kiwi international Jesse Ryder capable of providing decent platforms for bowlers to work from.

"Jesse and I have been starting reasonably well in most of our campaign, usually around 50 or 60 in the first six overs but it's not always going to happen in T20 cricket because that's the nature of the game."

Worker was mindful the pair could have assessed their situation at Eden Park better on an uncharacteristic oval wicket but don't expect them to change that bolshie mindset today on a beaten track.

While different in the way they bat - Worker takes an educated bat with controlled aggression and the poker-faced Ryder instinctively sniffs out a whiff of leather before freeing up his arms with murderous intent - the openers like to think they complement each other well.

"I guess it's the nature of T20 that some days it's your day and other days it might be Jesse's day so I think just about who might get in nice and early and they might not bowl as well to me or Jesse.

"If things look well I try to get him on strike and it's vice-versa. Jesse ... we all know how gifted he is as a stroke player."

While the gut-wrenching loss to the Firebirds in the T20 grand final last summer will still be gnawing away in the recesses of the CD players' minds Worker said the lottery nature of the format suggested it would be foolish to dwell on accomplishing unfinished business.

Worker said he had been in a pretty good place this summer, finding some crease time against the touring West Indies here as he negotiated the revolving door of Black Caps selection with other fellow Stags such as Rance, Bruce and Wheeler.

"Going in and out of the Black Caps I've really enjoyed the opportunities that I've had against the Windies during Christmas in the one-dayers but with [Martin] Guptill coming back I've, unfortunately, been pushed out.

"On reflection I've just got to keep going out there to knock the door down and do what I can, whether it's playing for CD or New Zealand.

"So nothing changes because I have to enjoy myself and score runs."

While it's becoming a cut-throat position, Worker is doing his utmost to lock down that New Zealand opening batsman's role.

"Obviously the Black Caps have been going really well with 11 straight wins over summer [now 12] and they're travelling really well.

"So I've just got to bide my time and wait for my opportunities and when they come along I'll have to make sure I take them."

Carrying the drinks against the touring Pakistanis now can have a disruptive effect on the continuity of his game with lack of crease time but he's grateful to be in the squad.

T20 DETAILS

■ ND KNIGHTS: Dean Brownlie (c, Bay of Plenty), Brent Arnel (Hamilton), Anton Devcich (Hamilton), Daniel Flynn (Bay of Plenty), Brett Hampton (Bay of Plenty), Chris Jordan (import), Scott Kuggeleijn (Hamilton), Nick Kelly (Counties Manukau), Daryl Mitchell (Hamilton), Brett Randell (Northland), Tim Seifert (Waikato Valley), Ish Sodhi (Counties Manukau), BJ Watling (Hamilton).
Coach: Gareth Hopkins.

■ CD STAGS: Ben Smith, Jesse Ryder, William Young (c), Tom Bruce, Dane Cleaver (wk), Joshua Clarkson, Christian Leopard, Ben Wheeler, Bevan Small, Seth Rance, Ajaz Patel, Blair Tickner.
Coach: Heinrich Malan.
Team manager: Lance Hamilton.

Note: With major associations imposing embargoes, both teams may differ in composition.

MOST RUNS: 1 William Young 326, 2 Mark Chapman 307, 3 Tim Seifert 300, 4 Anton Devcich 292, 5Cameron Fletcher 275, 6 Robbie O'Donnell 265, 7 Jesse Ryder 255, 8=Daryl Mitchell 236, 8= Rob Nicol 236, 10Chad Bowes 235.

MOST WICKETS: 1 Blair Tickner20, 2= Ajaz Patel 13, 2= Andrew Ellis 13, 2= Ben Lister 13, 2= Seth Rance 13, 6 Anton Devcich 12, 7= Cole McConchie 11, 7= Samit Patel 11, 7= Tarun Nethula 11, 10= Anurag Verma.