Cricket: Door opens for Macca

By RICHARD BOOCK

Not for the first time in World Cup tournaments, New Zealand are starting to make some progress with an experiment from left field.

Just as Warren Lees' 1992 side found great success with their decision to open the bowling with off-spinner Dipak Patel, the Class of 2003 are starting to make some gains with the promotion of Craig McMillan to the opening batting position.

McMillan, in one of the worst troughs of his life before the tournament and without any experience as an opener, played a vital hand against South Africa last week and starred again yesterday with a man-of-the-match innings of 75 against Bangladesh.

It might be that New Zealand stumbled over their discovery on this occasion - McMillan's being the third opening option after Nathan Astle and Daniel Vettori during the tournament - but the feeling is that he is there to stay if New Zealand qualify for the second round.

The opening position became vacant after it was decided that Astle was too valuable to be exposed to the new ball, and that, correspondingly, there was nothing to lose by replacing him with an out-of-form McMillan.

The move proved a success on two fronts as Astle responded to the task at No. 3, and McMillan started to regain his form, albeit slowly, against the new-ball attacks of South Africa and Bangladesh.

His innings yesterday was certainly no oil painting, and it says something of his recent form that he should rate it as his best knock in his most recent 10 outings.

In sweltering temperatures at De Beers Diamond Oval, McMillan was frustrated by his inability to pierce the field through the cover-point region and seemed to lack the confidence to hit straight, which seemed the most likely strategy on a pitch that was always a bit sluggish.

Given the number of loose balls on offer, he also appeared guilty of premeditating too many shots, a problem clearly illustrated in the 27th over when he attempted an elaborate lap off the medium-pace of Khaled Mahmud and was bowled.

For all that, his was by far the most useful innings of the match, his offside shots accounting for the bulk of his runs.

In what seemed like a potential career move, McMillan said afterwards that he was keen to remain in the position.

"I'm really enjoying opening," he said. "I've been given the opportunity in the past two games and it's something I've never done before.

"I've been through a bit of a trot so perhaps it's the challenge or the spark that I've needed. I'm loving it, and I'm looking forward to continuing on there."

He even had some top-level support from captain Stephen Fleming, who was at the other end when he opened against both Bangladesh and South Africa.

"I think both Craig and I have offered enough at the top to suggest we can get the side off to a good start," said Fleming. "It's important to get an opening pair established and we want to build on the reasonable form we've already shown."

McMillan, who batted throughout his 83-ball innings in a sleeveless woollen jumper despite the searing heat, said he wasn't superstitious about his clothing but was just used to wearing it every time he walked to the crease.

"It's just that I've worn it for most of my career - I was wearing it when I made a hundred in Pakistan in heat similar to this. It's just what I'm comfortable with.

"It was very hot, though.

"After running a few ones and twos you were really sucking it in big-time. It was a funny sort of heat - very dry, no humidity whatsoever."


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