KEY POINTS:
Why are we so much better at one day internationals than tests? I believe it's because, on average, our players are confident of their ability to perform to the situations and scenarios within the formulaic world of ODI cricket regardless of the opposition.
Watching England capitulate during the
Ashes series and thinking back to New Zealand's last test tour of Australia and England has further reinforced for me that test cricket is a pure contest between bat and ball or, more accurately, batsman versus bowlers. When you are outgunned in the one-on-one encounter you get worn down and worn out and eventually succumb; against Australia, that is usually on the fourth day.
ODI cricket does not allow for the same degree of mental disintegration. While it is still a contest between bat and ball, that contest is more heavily influenced by the situation. ODIs are contests between player and situation.
The challenge for John Bracewell in the tri-series in Australia is to expose the players he wants to the situations and phases of the one-day game and develop a level of comfort and confidence. Sure, this policy of rotation is important to expose his squad to various challenges but, as the tournament progresses and successes and failures uncovered, such rotation should be merely for fine tuning rather than discovery.
Stephen Fleming is confident in the opening role and trusts his naturally attractive style to generate runs at an appropriate rate. Nathan Astle knows opening intimately and it comes down to personal form.
At the top of the order, the main focus this summer is whether Brendon McCullum can take his explosive starts past the power play overs and adapt to the middle stages, becoming a matchwinner - as Astle has in the past.
Shane Bond is comfortable with the five-two-three (attack, attack, death) spell requirements of a strike bowler, but can Mark Gillespie learn the role at the top level? If he does, is it as back up or as extra fire-power?
Daniel Vettori knows how to vary his pace in the middle stages to stop from being smashed. Can Jeetan Patel develop the same skills and, if so, do we play two spinners?
Jacob Oram, Vettori and McCullum have become quite skilled at hitting to their own strengths when looking to accelerate an innings from about the 38-over mark. Can Craig McMillan and Hamish Marshall learn to do the same but in their own ways?
At full strength, the Black Caps have enough players well versed in the art of one-day cricket to win their share of games against all opposition, but can we get more players up to speed so we can win more than our fair share?
Forget the opposition and focus on the scenarios because, if we get a total team comfortable with how they must play, we will beat the situation enough times. However, in Australia the stakes go up and time is running out.