Mark Richardson: Menacing Milne weapon we need

Adam Milne's speed needs to be harnessed by the Black Caps. Photo / Getty Images

I've got my top six batsmen, well, most of them. I've got a wicketkeeper who bats really well at seven; I've got my swing bowlers and, most pleasingly, I have my legspinner.

My cricket team is actually coming together quite nicely.

As Hannibal Smith always said: "I love it when a plan comes together." But the plan's not complete - I need my 'nasty fasty'.

Adam Milne is fast but he's far from nasty and right now he's far from where I need him, though he did well last night.

Watching him get whacked by Dwayne Bravo in his rather apologetic go in the rain-shortened Queenstown ODI was bittersweet for me.

When the speed gun began registering 147km/h and above, Ian Bishop and I got quite excited - 'Bish' was a fast bowler and I used to face his deliveries.

We understand the glory of fast bowling but, sadly, the faster they came out of Milne's hand, the faster they were disappearing to the boundary from Bravo's bat.

It was effectively a Twenty20 situation and this is all Milne has in front of him before India arrive. What can you really learn about a young quick in T20? Bugger all, is the answer to that. It's the sort of game where it sometimes comes down to luck.

Sure, when your days are numbered and your body is hammered, I've no problem with the real speedsters gravitating to the more friendly workloads associated with two-over spells and four overs a game - but this is not the environment for a young tearaway to cut his teeth on.

What happens? You get whacked more often than not. Do you get angry and come roaring in again? No ... it would appear you shrug your shoulders because you've got a little numb to it and counter with wide yorkers, or slower balls, or God forbid ... the 'slow' bouncer.

I don't believe Milne needs this. Milne needs to put the fear of God up people. He needs to be a menace, a real 'nasty fasty' who dominates and earns respect with pace - controlled pace, yes, but not clever change-ups. It's too soon in his career for that.

I want him in my Black Caps team because pace is power. When Shane Bond was around, you felt you could win in any environment. I most certainly don't want this raw ability to be lost but I fear Milne is in danger of his development being harmed if he only gets a roll in T20 internationals and the odd ODI.

In the squad, he'll learn plenty from Black Caps bowling coach Shane Bond but if he can't command a place right now in the first ODI against India then he could be a passenger in the squad - which is good for nobody.

Playing India is not a time for experimentation.; it's the time for results. Anyone who's not on top of their game will be destroyed by this cricketing powerhouse and we sure as heck don't want the team getting destroyed in any match.

There is too much at stake when the team is under the glare of the power-brokers of world cricket.