Cricket: Aggressive philosophy paying off for Black Caps

New Zealand opener Martin Guptill would have batted with the same abandon against Sri Lanka yesterday had they won the toss and gone in first at Hagley Oval. Photo / Getty Images

New Zealand opener Martin Guptill would have batted with the same abandon against Sri Lanka yesterday had they won the toss and gone in first at Hagley Oval.

As it happened, Guptill smeared an unbeaten 93 off just 30 balls to rush New Zealand to 118 for none, in tandem with Tom Latham, in only 8.2 overs, to set up a 2-0 series lead.

But the point is New Zealand's ODI batting philosophy is based on aggression.

Having captain Brendon McCullum and Guptill, both naturally brisk scorers anyway, helps.

There's a determination to click the score over at a fast rate and to that end there are targets for the batsmen to strive for.

They are not absolutes, more indicative numbers to aim for.

In the two games at Hagley Oval, New Zealand's openers had rattled up 108 in 10.1 overs, then the 118 yesterday. Coach Mike Hesson admitted they were well in excess of the aims.

''In the first 10 overs we set a target, which we certainly well exceeded in both games," he said.

''Those are guidelines and we very much leave it to the guys out there.

''If the wicket is better or harder (for batting) than they expect, they can make the necessary adjustment.

''Rather than being pressure points, thinking they have to get to 55 or whatever off 10 overs, it's just a guideline.

''If you're seeing it well and finding the gaps, then obviously you're allowed to go past that, and vice versa if it's a bit tricky then you have to suck up the pressure and if we get less than that, and get more in another phase of the game, then so be it."

Given that no player has scored more ODI runs that Guptill's 1459 this calendar year, and McCullum is acknowledged as among the most bruising openers in the game, New Zealand are well served for pace at the top.

Even if one of the pair fails, the chances are both won't and so the run rate is invariably up from the start.

''Come the next game if we bat first, we've still got to have those targets, and if we get past them we're away to a good score," Guptill said.

''We have to keep going out and playing the way we do."

Now throw in that the team's batting group are given areas of responsibility.

Hesson talks about the top three players ''owning" the first 10 overs; the top five the first 40.

If those jobs are done well, then ''there's a platform and we can have some fun after that".

The opposition bowlers naturally have something to do with those objectives and it's not always going to work out.

Still, New Zealand have now won a record 12 home ODIs on the trot, so there are certain components which are clearly working well.

Despite Sri Lanka's desperate performances in the first two games of the series, Hesson echoed Guptill's thoughts: their record speaks for itself and they have a breadth of experience, which New Zealand can't match.

Seven of their 11 yesterday have played more than 100 ODIs, a mark only McCullum, Ross Taylor and Guptill can match.

''We know they are experienced, we know they've got good quality and we know we've played pretty good cricket in the first couple of games and haven't given them an opportunity to show those skills," Hesson said.

''But we also know they're dangerous so we won't be underestimating them."