Cricket: NZ takes a squad approach to Cup

If Tim Southee is classified as the attack spearhead, he's unlikely to play three games in a week. Photo / NZME.

Black Caps will ring the changes and everyone can expect to play their part.

It's time to apply some rugby terminology to the cricket World Cup preparations, like thinking in terms of a first XV rather than first XI.

Much has been made of who should be in the starting XI to play Sri Lanka at Christchurch on February 14. Less has been made of who will play against Scotland three days later in Dunedin or against England three days after that in Wellington.

It's the crucial period of the Cup for New Zealand to manage, outside the play-offs. Win those three games and momentum will carry into the Australia match in Auckland on February 28. Public goodwill and confidence in the New Zealand game plan will galvanise the team, and set the vehicle for tournament success in motion.

Lose one game or more from the first three and the tournament will feel longer than it already is.

Expect the whole squad to be utilised.

For example, even if Tim Southee is classified as the attack spearhead, he's unlikely to play three games in a week when you consider the quality of the back-up personnel to fill a likely three-pace bowling spots per fixture.

Otherwise there are a lot of "might bes". Trent Boult and Mitchell McClenaghan might be alternated as a left-arm option, depending on the ratio of right to left-handers in any given line-up; the control of Kyle Mills might be preferred to the pace of Adam Milne on smaller grounds.

Similarly, Daniel Vettori and Nathan McCullum are likely to alternate as spin selections. The batting top seven is less likely to be subject to flux, unless Tom Latham fills in for injury twinges, as he did on Saturday for Kane Williamson whose shoulder niggle is expected to recover for tomorrow's match in Napier.

Yesterday, coach Mike Hesson was at pains to highlight a holistic approach over a short-term focus.

"Our key objective is getting all 15 players available and confident going into that first game. Everyone will want to play that match but our focus is on the next two months."

Hesson hinted at one element to their game plan which was exemplified by Kyle Mills being bowled out within the first 22 overs in the first match against Pakistan. He finished with figures of two for 29 and avoided the wrath of Shahid Afridi's 67 from 29 balls.

"Tactically at the time, Kyle was bowling beautifully. He got in a great rhythm and his length suited those conditions. If we've got a guy bowling well and we can keep the pressure on, we'll continue to do that. We're prepared to spend resources up front and deal with the back end later."

Hesson said the pitch in Napier was expected to be quick and bouncy and he expected Milne to back up fine after recovering from his side strain. The quid pro quo was that Pakistan's Mohammad Irfan would keep posing problems delivering from his 2.16m height at up to 145km/h.

"He's a difficult proposition."

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