Cricket: McKay looks to make mark against Aussies

Andy McKay is keen to test his skills against Australia's batsmen. Photo / Getty Images

Like the rest of us Andy McKay is reserving judgment on his initial foray into international cricket.

The 29-year-old fast bowler has turned heads, among the opposition and his teammates alike, in the one-day series against Bangladesh, with his raw pace and ability to swing the ball proving a potent mix.

However, with all due respect to Bangladesh, they have hardly covered themselves in glory as New Zealand totally outplayed them in all facets to win the opening games by the comprehensive margins of 146 runs and five wickets.

And truth be told, nothing is likely to change in the third and final game of the series here on Thursday despite the hosts today ruling out fast bowler Daryl Tuffey due to a hamstring strain and replacing him in the 12-man squad with Otago offspinner Nathan McCullum.

But Bangladesh's shortcomings cannot be held against McKay, who has arrived on the scene in a hurry.

At 29, McKay is definitely a late bloomer but he played only 24 first-class matches and 14 domestic one-day games spread over eight seasons before joining the national squad a week ago.

He knows any success achieved against Bangladesh carries an imaginary asterisk because of their moderate status, and acknowledges the forthcoming visit of Australia will present an entirely different challenge.

"It has been a great start so far but I definitely see Australia as a benchmark where I can mark myself," the Wellington left-armer said today.

He is far too polite to denigrate the Bangladeshi batsmen, who have struggled to cope with anything bouncing towards their rib cage.

"All I can do is bowl my best on the day; I can't help what the batsman does at the other end," was his diplomatic appraisal of the tourists.

McKay took two for 40 off eight overs on debut in the series opener in Napier then really impressed by taking two for 17 off 10 overs in Dunedin on Monday, including an opening spell of two for four off seven overs.

Among McKay's new admirers is New Zealand coach and selector Mark Greatbatch, who has been surprised with how seamlessly the quick bowler has settled into his work on the international stage.

"He bowls at a good clip and has been very accurate. I actually thought he'd spray it a bit but he's learnt quick," Greatbatch said.

"He bowled exceptionally well up front (in Dunedin) and troubled the batters with pace and enough swing both ways to make them quite uncomfortable."

New Zealand's fast bowling stocks are not overflowing, particularly in wake of the retirements from test cricket of Shane Bond and Iain O'Brien, meaning it would cause little surprise were McKay tomorrow named in a 13-man squad for the one-off test against Bangladesh which starts in Hamilton on Monday.

He was recorded at 147km/h on the speedball radar in Napier, and captain Dan Vettori has said that on his day he is on a par with Bond in terms of pace alone.

McKay reckons he can bowl quicker still and credits his consistency in pace this season to regular game time with Wellington, whom he joined at the start of the season after playing all his career in Auckland.

"I have bowled faster spells for Wellington. I have been working on a technical thing with my delivery stride and if we can shorten it up a bit I think there might be a little more pace there."

There is a Boy's Own feel to McKay's rise from provincial journeyman to fully fledged international.

He was overlooked for Auckland age group teams, let alone national sides, throughout his teens, and his cricket did not take off until after he had completed a degree in physiotherapy in 2002.

He worked on civvie street on a fulltime basis until three years ago and has since concentrated on his cricket in the summer and earned a regular income as a physiotherapist over the winter months.

"Everyone develops at different stages and I have been something of a late bloomer," McKay admitted.

Not that it matters. He's here now, for the time being at least.

- NZPA