Cricket: Franklin making big, allround strides

NAPIER - James Franklin feels he is making steady progress towards sealing a position as a leading allrounder within the New Zealand cricket team.

Franklin, 25, oozes potential and coach John Bracewell believes he can help fill the void following the retirement of Chris Cairns and injuries to Jacob Oram.

The Wellingtonian has looked assured with the bat and hit his maiden first-class double century last month, while his left-arm swing bowling is progressing nicely, as evidenced by his third five-wicket test bag in the second test win over the West Indies.

Franklin has played 10 consecutive tests and should share the new ball with Shane Bond in the third test starting against the West Indies here tomorrow as New Zealand look for a 3-0 series cleansweep.

His development has followed some stunning State Championship form this season as he set new milestones with his 208 against Auckland last month and figures of seven for 30 against Central Districts in December.

"It's been a good season. I got a couple of personal first-class milestones in terms of best bowling and best batting and I've been consistently getting bags of wickets in a row," Franklin said.

"I'm slowly starting to take a step forward each season and by the time next season rolls around I'll be much better again."

Despite his haul in the second test, Franklin's lack of consistency with his bowling has at times let him down.

After a flourishing start, he tends to slacken off in his return spells and gets punished.

It's also blighted on his one-day game this season, but a session with long-time mentor and Wellington coach Vaughn Johnson before the second test helped steer Franklin in the right direction.

"I've done a little bit of work with VJ and Braces a couple of days before the last test, sorting out my alignment at the point of delivery and getting my feet right," Franklin said.

"I guess that worked out well during that last test match. I needed to find my rhythm in the first spell and it carried on from there.

"I guess the stats say it was a better test and it certainly felt like a better test."

Franklin said he was prone to crossing his feet over and was guilty of not aligning them straight down the pitch.

"I'm definitely a rhythm bowler and I'm working hard to make sure everything's going well at the crease. If it's not right sometimes the ball won't swing and that's my main weapon, so I constantly have to be top of that."

Bracewell has said he rates Franklin as a batsman who can bowl and highly praises his technical ability and timing.

When told of Bracewell's comment, Franklin looked wide-eyed and said he still saw his primary role as being a wicket-taker.

"As far as I'm concerned I'm in the team as a bowler first and foremost when I get picked and the batting's a bonus.

"Obviously I'm batting No 9 at the moment and I know I can do a job down there, but my job is to bowl for the New Zealand team and take wickets and then have fun with the bat."

He's gaining a better balance between the bat and ball which should firm his standing as one of the top allrounders in New Zealand.

"Absolutely, I feel they're starting to balance out a little more.

"In the last year or two with the Wellington team they're balanced out and I feel comfortable in my role with them. Just with the batting line up in the New Zealand team there's not a lot of room to move up the order.

"At No 9 I just have to try and get not outs and little 30s and 40s and try to boost the total and work it that way."

- NZPA