September 17, 2024 • 36 mins
This week on On The Front Foot, leg spinner Ish Sodhi joined Bryan Waddle and Jeremy Coney to share his excitement for the upcoming season.
Tim Southee also stopped by to give an insight into the first test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
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Speaker 1 (00:09):
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk sat B.
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Iheartradiot Take another poet's trick.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It is out, The Test is over.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Goodness smoke, oh wow, was a beauty. It is out
and hearing guys.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
This delivery has.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
E used to Bowl on the Front Foot with Brian
Waddell and Jeremy Coney, powered by News Talks dead B
at iHeart Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Hello on the eve of the first Test against Sri
Lanka in Gaul on the Front Foot. Here is from
Captain Fin Salley and reading Leg's going to eash Soadie
joint us to talk about the exciting summer ahead and
Jeremy Coney. There's a lot to look forward to.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
It there there is what you're right. Certainly prior to Christmas,
it's focusing mainly on the long format and then after
Christmas when people can get out and move around a
lot better and sort of watch some short form cricket,
which you know, it's basically that after Christmas, isn't it.
(01:21):
So you know people like is Ish will will be
looking to be part of that after Christmas by the
look of it.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And one man I'm sure, who'll share the excitement of
the summer is leading Legspinner, is Ish Stody. There's a
lot of cricket ahead this summer. Ish, thanks very much
for joining us.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
What's good to be here. And yeah, a lot of
cricket coming up and so it should be a really
exciting summer.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, in terms of the makeup of the summer, there's
a lot of whiteball options, which seems to be the
format of cricket that you playing most at the moment.
But I wonder just whether the England Test series will
probably be the real highlight in terms of having them
here again in New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Oh guaranteed. I mean, like, you know, any time England
come out and play cricket, I think it's great. They
bring the Barmi Army with them, is a great atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
You know.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
The type of cricket playing at moment is really exciting
and I think it's going to attract a lot of
viewers and I'm sure it's going to be a great contest.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, you'll have fond memories of playing against England after
you and Neil Wagner steered the side to a victory
in christ Church and that Test matches that you played
down there.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Yeah, totally man Neil Wagner Heart of a Lion, you
know it. It was a great day and like I say,
like during that game, just listening to the Barmi Army
play these songs all day long, like it's pretty exciting
to be there. And I'm sure the crowds have come
out for it too.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, I'll bet they do. And that's what we want
to see because that's one of the things that players enjoy,
isn't it.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Absolutely, Like you know, that's that's what I love about
summer is just like, you know, one thing is like
playing cricket and like loving it and seeing you know,
all the clubs and stuff out, all the kids playing cricket.
But the crowds, man that you play in front of,
and like how much our key we supporters get behind us,
that's something really exciting and you know, it's certainly something
as a player you end up craving.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Yeah, And a lot of the excitement is generated by
the white ball aim to some extent, although test matches
grit good crowds and there's plenty of white ball options
coming up this summer, leading of course to the champions Trophy.
In Pakistan.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Yeah, totally. I think, you know, the more white ball
cricket we can play, the better leading it into that tournament.
And obviously Pakistan coming later on, you know, a very
strong side and Sri Lanka is a big tour there too,
so I'm sure it's going to be a really exciting
summer and hopefully there's a few opportunities for me that
lie there.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Yeah. Well, the white ball game seems to be something
that you've specialized, and you've had your Test match appearances
of course, but what have you been doing since well,
last summer I suppose you went to Pakistan and you
also went to the West Indies.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Yeah, so after the T twenty World Cup, there was
a I suppose a period of winter where I was
potentially going to go overseas and play some cricket, but
I thought it was best to stay home be a
dad for a little bit. You know, had a really
big few summers, a few back to back summers and winters,
so took a bit time off and now right into
it with Canterbury and hopefully get a chance to get
(04:12):
to Sri Lanka for the white ball series later in
the year.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And what do you do during the downtime a contracted player,
I suppose you still have to keep preparing because you
never know when you're going to be required to play
in some of these games.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Yeah, totally right, Like, you know, it's really important with
the guys playing a lot of test creat in Asia
at the moment. You know, you know, God forbid, but
if there's an injury, you sort of have to be ready.
If you're the next cab off the ranks and soon
in your place, I'd love to play and have not
opportunity pops up like that, You've got to be ready.
So loads have been quite high and been bowling a
(04:46):
lot with the red ball recently, so got to keep
that up.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, and spinners are getting much greater opportunities now, aren't they.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Yeah, I suppose, you know, all cricketers sort of. You know,
there's a lot of a lot of different leagues around
the world, and spinners are doing really well in those leagues,
so there's options out there. But I still believe, you know,
like the best currency as runs and work, and if
you can do that domestically internationally, then the league sort
of look after themselves.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Yeah, you've been going through changes in terms of your
bowling action and your approach to the game. And I
guess you have to do that because leggies need a variety,
don't they. You just don't get away with it being
a straight old leggy anymore.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Dore, what's adaptability?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Was?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Like, I remember when I started twelve years ago, Like
I walked in, I bowled real slow, loopy leggies like
those will get you know, eaten alive these days on
some of the grounds we play it. So I suppose
if you want to sort of stick around for a
long period of time, I'm definitely a completely different type
of bowler now, you know, twelve years on that I
was when I started playing professional cricket. And I suppose
(05:49):
that's just the way that the game's moved and you
sometimes got to move with it.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Do you make those changes yourself or do you talk
to other people about what you can do to be
one step ahead of the batsman all the time.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Yeah, it's it's definitely self driven. I certainly have people,
you know, a couple of people as sounding boards that
I go to to say, hey, look I want to
try to learn how to bowl a little bit quicker,
or I want to change the shape shape of my
ball to, you know, combat certain conditions. Paul Wiseman's been
a big, big one for me over the years, and
you know, you sort of speak to a few other
leagues around the country. Mitch Stantner has been great to
(06:24):
speak about these sort of changes as well, but certainly
self driven most of it.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I suppose spinners are a bit like seamers. You works
as a peer or a group of bowlers together to
approach the opposition, and you have to discuss what you're
bowling against, the kind of players you're up against, don't.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
You totally right? And I think I think figuring out
what the conditions require from you on any given day.
Like Santna talks about side spin versus overspin. So you
want to bowl big top spin in New Zealand because
that's the only way we get turn. But then you
go to Asia and you got a bowl side spin.
So having that conversation is really important out in the middle,
so you can make that adjustment as quick as you can.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah, I mean you think of spinners, you being a
leg spinner, essentially turning the all away from the right hand.
But you have the other advantage too, don't you, Because
you've got quite a good rongin and you can apply
that so you don't really have to be hit upon
one style of opposing batsman. And they change their stance
(07:25):
now too, don't they.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Yeah, I mean they can. You know, so many new
shots have been played, and I think, you know, sometimes
the tendency is like when you're a leg spinner and
you've got so many tools in the kiddy, like you know, Google,
top spinner, slider, leggy flipper or whatever, you can often
like go away from your breading by the stockball. I
think that's been a big part of my winter, is
just like rediscovering my stockball boling as much as I
(07:47):
can and knowing that the Google is quite a natural
ball for me. And the more that the batters play
all these like crazy shots, I think that's simpler we
have to be. So the stockball has become a lot
more important for my training.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Because the reverse sweep and the scoop stroke, they're just
commonplace now, aren't they.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Oh, you'll see a lot of it when England turn up,
I reckon. Even in the Test matches these days, you've
seem like Joe Root plays a reverse scupo over the
slips two or three balls and tours inning sometimes, So
that's pretty exciting to see.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
The Black Caps in Gaul getting ready for a Test
series there and then the India. Of course, I suppose
you share their frustration at the washout that they had
in the last game. Nothing worse than that for a cricketers.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Oh totally. You got to like find ways to occupy
your time, like for five days, like that's pretty tough
to do, especially you know when you can't really leave
leave the hotel like in some of those parts of
the world. You know, they had so apparently they played
a lot of hallway cricket, so definitely missed out on that.
Would have loved to get involved in bolsom spin down
the hallway.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
After starting a new series in a foreign country, as
the shril Anka is basically for our players, but they
will have done the prep. Nothing shorter than that.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Yeah, totally right. I mean before they went over there
were quite a few camps, and a lot of the
camps were you know in conditions which were you know,
kind of conditioned to be like Asian conditions. So the
balls bowling and the batters were playing in like you know,
formulating their plans against spin and our spin is a
high quality. So if you can do Alliance then and
hopefully you can do alliganst anyone in the will.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah. Have you played much in Sri Lanka.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
I've only played a couple of a series and white
ball games and the wickets do spin quite a lot.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
But in Gaul.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I think it's a bit of a fortress for for
Sri Lanka. So I think it's going to be a
huge challenge. But hopefully we can start well and you know,
more more importantly, hopefully the rain stays a well.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Yeah, I've heard that there is a forecast of the
possibility of rain, so we hope it does stay away.
But it's the excitement of the summer at home that
we want to keep our mind on, isn't it, and
those those options. Have you have you got any set
goals you want for this summer.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
I don't really have any set goals, but you know,
I'd love to be on the team sheet and be competing,
you know at my peak come the summer. Yeah, Look,
it's a it's a really exciting time to play cricket,
you know, summer in New Zealand. The crowds come out,
you know, especially at some of those you know, I
see there's an ODI at the Basement Reserve, which will
be really cool. I've never played nod I there, so
(10:18):
that'll be a nice one to take off. You know,
if selection goes well and my form's going.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Good and the most important thing is getting the fans
there to support. One of the ways to do that
is winning, isn't it. But just to put on a
good quality competition probably is what your aims.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Is it totally right? And you know some is great,
Like we always get a good crowd, you know, even
when the Test matches coming up, I wouldn't be surprised
if a lot of them are sold out against England
and the white ball games that come up, like the
T twenty eyes are just so exciting to play as
a player when the crowds are just packed and they're
vibing and it's you know, it's just electric sort of
(10:56):
environments to play in front of. So hopefully we get
a few few of those crowds.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
So hey, a, you're going to be sleeping over the
next few nights with the Test match, You're going to
be watching to the end.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
I'll have to like keep looking at the forecast, but
there's a high chance I'll be watching a lot of
Test crew if the boys get out there, because I
love watching aj S, Patal bowl Satin, you know, Beast,
the GP, and I just love spin bowling, So now
to be cool to see them out there and doing
their thing and hopefully getting a few wickets and winning
us some Test matches.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, well the excitements there, eah, and I can hear
it in your voice that you can't wait for summer
to begin. Thanks very much for joining us. We wish
you all the very best for your endeavors throughout the
summer and have plenty of success. Cheers was mate, Yeah,
I mean that's sincerely. We do wish surely our players
the very best. They've got a lot of work to do. Broadish.
(11:47):
I think he's mainly involved in the white ball game now.
The Test match requirements probably have passed him by, but
there's still a lot to do. He won't be in
golf for the Test matches there, Jerry. But before we
have a chance to talk about New Zealands of Anites,
(12:09):
let's hear from the New Zealand captain Tim Soudy talking
about the build up for the Test match. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
I've been here a couple of times with has been
great so far, which is a good sign. Conditions are
as we expected. Training wicket has been been pretty good,
had a good couple of days training another one today,
so yeah, as expected. Obviously a good surface here, which
which which takes a bit of turn is as the
Test goes on, so I'd imagine things will be be
(12:39):
similar this tim around.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
You will have had a good look at the track
by now what have you made of it?
Speaker 5 (12:44):
Yeah, again, just a good goold wicket by the looks
of it. Trying to get as much information out of
runging a heir out he's with us, who obviously is
a phenomenal record at the ground, so yeah, talking talking
closer to him is to trying to get his knowledge
of the wicket. But yeah, it looks looks a good surface.
I'd imagine spin we'll play its part throughout the Test match. Yeah,
(13:06):
I think it'll be spin heavy side with a couple
of pace by an options which will finalize once we
get down to the ground and have it.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
You know that Sri Lanka are going to be tough
and they come home off a pretty convincing win over
England which was impressive in the match of the last
yest of this aeries.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
Yeah, great one for them to go over there and
obviously too disappointing test matches, and then to finish the
way they did, they'll be they'll be full of confidence
and they come back home to two conditions that they
used to and they have done well. And so yeah,
we know it's a tough, tough place to come and
then we're looking forward to to getting back into some
(13:44):
Test cricket. It's been a while. There's a lot of
excitement around the group to get back and put the
whites on and get back into some some Test cricket.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah. The fact that you haven't played any outdoor cricket
as such as a team in Test match makes it
a tougher assignment for you because you've got to hit
the ground running, don't you. Yeah, we do.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
I think obviously the disappointment of not getting getting a
run in India against Afghanistan, but we still manage to
get a couple of trains and we've had some great
trainings here and although we didn't get out get outside
much and a great annoiter. I think the team bonding
and the togiveness that we were able to form through
that week where we're restricted to a lot of time
(14:22):
indoors was a positive. So I think as a side
where we're excited where we're Yeah, we've said that time
we were pretty much living out each other's pockets for
a week there we couldn't get outside. So yeah, we're
as strong as we've been and we're looking forward to
getting out and get into it.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I guess one of the things you have to do
is to get your mental approach right, don't you. I mean,
the players are playing a lot of cricket, but you've
got to tune into the test match form of the
game now because you've got those games heading right through
to all pretty much England, haven't.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Yeah, from now through to Christmas pretty much is obviously
a good chunk of Test cricket, which is exciting in itself.
Five matches here in the subcontinent. It's going to be
a great challenge and yeah, the like I said, the
guys have trained well from the lead ups, any of
excitement about about what's a head. It's going to be
(15:15):
a tough challenge, but but hopefully and enjoyable one.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
There was some talk before the side went away that
the side would be picked on conditions and the possibility
to be that you might not play in some of
those games, but I am assuming you're playing in this game.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Yeah again, we'll Yeah, I think sitting here doing the
media the David Force probably a sign. But but yeah,
it's it's when you come to as part of the world.
Obviously spin bena a big threat in this part of
the world that the bowl attack will be heavily weighted
that way. But in saying that, there's still we've got
(15:52):
four great, more quality, seen seen bowling options that they
can fill in those spots as well. So it's exciting.
And obviously Matt Henry's tour this part of the world
a couple of times, but for the for the young boys,
it's the first time and I'm excited to see them
doing their work here as well. So I'm sure we
run and get their opportunities over the next next five matches.
(16:13):
And I guess that's just the nature of when you
come to this part of the world. Is the makeup
of the side.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah, and you have the luxury I suppose of five
spin bowling options as such, because you've got a couple
of your top order batsman or likely top order batsmen
who can do the job with the ball and have
done in test matches at odd times in the past.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Yeah, I think the balance having toured here a number
of times before the having that those options of bet
has been able to offer, but not not even part
time options that the proper spin options and Revenger and Phillips.
So I think that helps the balance to the side.
And then yeah, I guess it allows you to play
(16:54):
a couple of frontline spinners as well, So it's yes,
I think it's a good mix having those guys in
the top order that that can offer real, real jobs
at the ball.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
What's Rainer here have been able to help you with.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Yeah, he's worked closely with the spinners. Having a couple
of left arm spinners in the side. I think they've
been well three left arm spinners in the side. They've
been been working closely with him. I think more around it,
he's a guy that's had a lot of success of
this ground, so I think just trying to pick his
brain and trying to gain as much information as we
can from a guy who played a lot of cricket
(17:28):
in these conditions.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Yeah, with a guy like that's playing, you could almost
want to give him a passport to bowl within your side,
wouldn't you know he's such an expert in their home conditions.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
Yeah, I don't think three weeks qualifies to be eligible
to pay for another country unfortunately, but yeah, he'd be
very handy. He's still rolling arm over the next and
asking some good questions, so yeah, he's he's still got it.
And like I say, a guy who had a phenomenal
test record not only in this part of the world
but all around the world.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Toss be important so that you could do what you
want to do.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Yeah, I think it is when you come to this
part of the world, but it doesn't doesn't. I don't
think it team is the outcome of the match. I
think it's obvious that a lot of thos come to
this play of the world and want to want to
have a bat first, So yeah, it's it'll be nice too,
but it doesn't. I don't think it is the weirdst thing.
If you if you don't get what you want to do.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
I guess you watch what the opposition are doing. You
at times have to know what they're going to come
forward with. Do you know what sort of side they're
putting into the park? Have they revealed anything.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
No, they haven't.
Speaker 5 (18:37):
They got back from England not long ago and I've
sort of gone about their business. They haven't had too much,
but i'd imagine similar they would have a spin heavy side.
And I've got a good mix between a few few young,
exciting sort of guys that haven't played a lot of
Test cricket, and there's there's some of the few odd hits,
so I think, yeah, I think we saw their seamers
(18:57):
that did a great job in England and i'd imagine
that that a couple of them would play alongside a
number of spin options.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Doesn't give too much away, does it In terms of
the team. The only one he did confirm is that
he'll be playing, which I guess as he's the captain
and had the job of doing the pre match interview
was clear cut. But it's also clear that he's going
to have a spin based attack and that seems to
(19:29):
be par for Sri Lanka subcontinent, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Not at all? I was there a couple of years
ago wards when Sri Lanka were playing Australia in two
Test matches, and certainly days three, four five, the ball
started to turn appreciably so I think both sides will
equip themselves with spinners. I'm a little surprised that how
(19:58):
the has got the nod, you know that from what
I've said, I see the way they've picked the squad
as it's kind of a Rourke and Sears looking for
a position in the bowling attack as one position a
little bit more pace. They both use different parts of
(20:21):
the pitch to land on a rour. Perhaps will attack
the body a bit more and Sears gets it to
swing a bit more and so on, but both are
quicker than Henry or Saudi. And I saw it is
a kind of a two lots of two Rourke and
Sears looking for a position and Henry and Saudi looking
(20:43):
for a position and going in basically with two seamers
and that spin based attack you've just mentioned. So and
I personally think that Henry is the first person to
select because he's been our most consistent and most reliable seema.
So that pushes Saudi to the back just a little
(21:05):
for me, and then you need that extra pace as
well of O'Rourke or Seers. So and when when Gary
Stead was saying, look, he might not captain every side,
I thought that kind of made a bit of sense,
So I'm a little bit surprised about that. So it
means presumably that Henry and Soudy will be the be
(21:29):
the sort of the purveyors of medium pace.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
I just wonder, though, do you go away on a
tour and leave your captain out of the first game.
Surely there's a little bit of personal pride for you
to have your captain leading him from the front from
the first Test match, isn't.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
He Yeah, it certainly is. But I mean it's a
question of a captain. The first job he's got to do.
He's got to make his place in the team secure.
And from what we saw last last year, the last
time we played tests really well, March wasn't that sort
of thing. He was not not really threatening enough throughout
(22:13):
that entire series, And so gads. I know it's a
difficult position for stead and and for Saudi himself, but
you've got to win these matches and you've got to
give yourself the best chance of doing that. So I
think it's I know it's a difficult one and people
(22:35):
will disagree with me. The only time I could see
Saudi over in a place like Asiah, you know, getting
a position would be because that'll slow him down again.
You know, off the pitch won't get quite so much
bounce as if it's up and down. If it's dry
(22:55):
and dusty and it's holding up and it's hard to
get away, I think then Tim Saudi certainly comes into
the game, but other than that, I don't quite see
him as as quite as dangerous as either Henry or
oraw can see.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
It's yeah, you hear the phrase quite often. You know,
you've got to take twenty wickets, but you've also got
to score a lot of runs. Now you've batted over there.
I know you're in short pants in the days when
you play, and what your memory is of batting in
Sri Lanka as like, But you have to have your
(23:33):
top six in the best of form, don't you.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Oh look, New Zealand will need runs, that's quite obvious.
And Sri Lanka just just talk about them, just very briefly.
They are very strong and batting at home. You look
at you know the sort of number were just the
top six really Karuna Rattan's thirty six but over seven
(24:01):
thousand runs. Kusal Mendez is going to keep in this game,
so he'll be batting down and not at number three.
He's got fought down two hundred runs, nine hundreds, Angelo
Matthews seven hundred runs, sixteen hundreds chunder mile averaging forty two.
Dan and Jaya the captain averaging forty. They have got
(24:21):
a strong side. Nasanka will be opening, he's just got
one hundred against England and then at number seven he'll
probably beat a little bit higher than that in this match.
Comindu Mendous has only had ten Test innings. He's got
three hundreds and four fifties of those ten innings, so
(24:41):
he's averaging seventy odd. So he's only twenty five left
hander he is. So they're batting lineup. You know it's
going to be demanding for our bowlers. After bowl very steadily,
no loose sessions, hold their catchers, but then they need
to bat and get runs. It's very hard for players nowadays. Wards.
(25:03):
I think when you leave your homes conditions and you
go to a place where it will turn considerably more
than where we can front here. The challenges to get
players ready and that's where the loss of the five
days against Afghanistan makes it a bit worse. But you
(25:26):
know in away series you know these days you just
arrive and go straight into the Tests. There's no warm
up matches. You're undercooked, a bit and a bit ill prepared,
and unfortunately tests are the hardest format to be ill
prepared for. These players have been playing, you know, white
(25:48):
ball franchise cricket, haven't they. But the red ball moves
around and it turns, and so you know, they really
need two first class matches and prior to the Test match.
There's no game in between the Tests. Of course, no
first class game there where you can kind of get
(26:08):
someone out of form, give them a chance, or even
if you have an injury. I mean, we've got four
people to pick from Sri Lanka if they get an injury,
can choose from anybody they want in Sri Lanka. So
there are advantages and being the home side.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
The interesting thing is I think that we've developed in
our players an ability to play spin. I think of
Ravendra and Phillips have both shown the ability to play
spin and they're not scared of using their feet and
getting down. But you know that's a judgment call, isn't it.
And of course Kane Williamson is an expert and he
plays spin generally pretty well as well. In fact, he
(26:50):
plays all kind of bowling pretty well. So it's a
matter of whether they have got the confidence to do
that going straight into a Test match. Sell very well
to play white ball cricket, but as you say, this
is a different format altogether from the form of cricket
that they've been playing, and with the red Bull you've
(27:12):
got to be betting a heck of a lot longer.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Confidence comes from, first of all, competence, and that's you
mentioned Williams and those other players, Revendro and and so on,
that they're all competent players, aren't they. So the question
is where do you get that from that You get
that from staying in and being at the crease and
feeling comfortable defending. That's the first thing you start to
(27:35):
stay there, you've got it, As you say that for
a long time, you know, a flashy twenty five isn't
going to win you a Test, so you know. So,
I think as far as that's concerned Conway. Conway will
probably play once he needs a few. He's gone for
(27:55):
a casual contract and that means he needs to play
well if he wants to play international cricket. So he
has an extra drive kind of really Latham he'll be
he's a sweeper, he'll play. Williamson can play both ways,
mainly doesn't sweep. He's normally a straight blade. And then
(28:17):
I think you've got Revengdeer at four, Mitchell at five,
Phillips at six, Blundle at seven, and then it gets
a bit tricky. And then it gets tricky, doesn't it.
Which spinners do you feel that they will go with here?
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Well, it's interesting that Southey mentioned the fact that you
can go for a couple of spinners on top of
Phillips and Ravendra who've proven themselves to a lesser extent
at the Test match level. But I would my mind
would be on the quality or what Sri Lanka have.
(28:54):
Do they have more right handers than left handers? I'm
not quite sure, but I think you've got to start
with AJS Patel as first, don't you.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
Well, that's that's again. And now that comes to another
area that I just click mentioned, and that is how
you read a pitch. And I'm afraid New Zealand at
the moment that just in those last couple of series wads.
Do you remember the Basin Reserve where they played Australia
Lion got wickets and Phillip's got wickets and we left
(29:26):
Santner out in both games against the other game was
South Africa at Hamilton. A guy called Dane Pete who
was an off spinner for them to South Africa got
five wickets in the first innings. We didn't have Satna
there at all, so we haven't been reading our own
(29:47):
pictures that well. And I hope that we do it
a little bit better and we put a lot of
work into what that will be and I think probably
they'll work out that it will spin. So if you
are right and sow they has said we want maybe
two extra spinners to to Phillips and Ravendra, then I
(30:12):
think you're looking. You know, obviously you'd like an off hee,
wouldn't you to You'd want Bracewell there as someone who
turns it away from a left hander and into a
right and into a writing and then you want a
left hand left armor as well, So one of each
I would have thought, you know, And whether it's Patel
(30:34):
or whether it's Santana will depend on what they think
of the pitch. If it's a bad looking pitch and underprepared,
I would go Santana because he's quicker through the air
and he'll make it happen at the other end the
batsman's end faster. He's quite an accurate bowler. He's bowled
a lot in short form cricket, so he's used to
people attacking him, and that's why I would go him.
(30:57):
He might give you a few more runs than Patel.
He might give you He probably a better fielder than
Patel's well, but that's not the main reason you're picking bowlers.
You're picking spinners. So Patel will be absolutely and with
the chance he has got the most wickets in terms
of that, he's thirty five. Now he's got he's had
(31:18):
sixteen Tests, he's got sixty two wickets, so he's getting
nearly four wickets a match. Don't forget he got fourteen
and one match. Yeah, so that inflates that number just
a bit. Brace Will thirty three eight Tests, twenty four
wickets three per Test, and then Satna thirty two age
(31:42):
twenty six Tests and fifty three wickets, so he's getting
two basically two wickets a Test match. Those are the
figures of those three. Personally, I think Bracewill drift it
a bit and he puts revs on the ball. A
good field can bat a bit. I think he's a
man that goes in there. And then it's a question
(32:03):
of whether they regard Patel or Sanna. And then it
looks like Henry and soudy'll be their four main bowlers.
And let's let's see how they go. The Sri Lankans
look as if they're setting up the same way wads
they've gone for Froba Jayasuria, who's has a hell of
(32:23):
a record at Gaul, fifty three wickets in six six Tests,
twelve innings. I mean that's six Tests in the fifty three,
that's nine a match. He kind of lives there, you know,
he just that's his backyard.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
I can tell you. He used to prepare the pitch
down there. Jayanander warn a wearer?
Speaker 3 (32:50):
What an a wearer? Little? What a weir? Yes exactly,
I remember him. Yeah, I know. I couldn't pronounce it
and still can't.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
Yeah yeah, very slippery, loose arm action, yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
And then they've got now no, so so they are
going to go with the same thing wards, two quicks,
two spinners, one left armor that's Ja Suria. And then
then they've got a guy called Rummish Mendus who's an
off spinner. He's he bowled there last year, so he's
they've got consistency there, can we get the runs? You look,
(33:29):
when you're an away series, you've got to stay in
the game as long as you can stay in the
Test match, stay in the Test match. Do not have
one bad session when you're in away in a test
one bad session can be the game.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Plenty of options there for this Test series. They're coming
up for the only other option that we don't want
to consider as the possibility of rain, because afraid, afraid
there'll be another bay corridor cricket, I think for you
know what you do when you roll up a little
(34:07):
bit of paper, remember those days, and you try and
spin it in it You don't have to because it
just automatically changes direction off the wall of the corridor.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
So did you with paper?
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Yeah, we used to roll up bits of paper.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Really in your own corridor?
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Yeah, well, in any when we played these pickup Oh no,
I don't know paper was getting because you can really
throw it at the batsman and you know it didn't
quite hurt so much, but you could take out your
anger on the batsman with a kind of rolled up paper,
that was right.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
And what was what did you have to hold the bat?
Was it a bat or was it something different, just
a piece of just a bit of a stump or
a well.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
You know you rip a leg off a chair, don't you.
I mean that happened quite often in Pakistan, didn't they
in some of the places we stayed, or you know,
you could if they've got big toilet brushes, you can
use those, you know, right, yeah, but right, well they'll
get the usually worry about it.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
They're usually in use. So yeah, well it's it is,
that's right. And so look it's it's going to be
really interesting words, isn't it. I Mean, as I said,
I think on our last part, New Zealand need to
get kind of five wins if they can mhm and
(35:35):
and and a couple of drawers. So that's a really
tough ask against Sri Lanka and then India over you know,
for five tests, and then and then against England. So
you've got to you've got to be honest about it.
That it's that it's the chances. I guess you'd say
a slim.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Those are the things that We'll be sitting in our
armchair watching till around about midnight. Then you can just
not offter bed. You have a little hot toddy in
a way. You go and yeah, wake up the next
morning and get ready for another day, provided weather.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Fine it is.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
I don't want it here. I don't want another bottom test.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Oh got run a review this in jury? Good to chat? Yep,
take care mate, yep, take care Yeah, run away bye,
allgies of Summers.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
Do for more from News Talks at b Listen live
on air or online, and keep our shows with you
wherever you go with our podcasts on iHeartRadio
You're listening to a podcast from News Talk sat B.
Follow this and our wide range of podcasts now on
Iheartradiot Take another poet's trick.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
It is out, The Test is over.
Speaker 3 (00:27):
Goodness smoke, oh wow, was a beauty. It is out
and hearing guys.
Speaker 2 (00:32):
This delivery has.
Speaker 1 (00:33):
E used to Bowl on the Front Foot with Brian
Waddell and Jeremy Coney, powered by News Talks dead B
at iHeart Radio.
Speaker 2 (00:46):
Hello on the eve of the first Test against Sri
Lanka in Gaul on the Front Foot. Here is from
Captain Fin Salley and reading Leg's going to eash Soadie
joint us to talk about the exciting summer ahead and
Jeremy Coney. There's a lot to look forward to.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
It there there is what you're right. Certainly prior to Christmas,
it's focusing mainly on the long format and then after
Christmas when people can get out and move around a
lot better and sort of watch some short form cricket,
which you know, it's basically that after Christmas, isn't it.
(01:21):
So you know people like is Ish will will be
looking to be part of that after Christmas by the
look of it.
Speaker 2 (01:28):
And one man I'm sure, who'll share the excitement of
the summer is leading Legspinner, is Ish Stody. There's a
lot of cricket ahead this summer. Ish, thanks very much
for joining us.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
What's good to be here. And yeah, a lot of
cricket coming up and so it should be a really
exciting summer.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
Yeah, in terms of the makeup of the summer, there's
a lot of whiteball options, which seems to be the
format of cricket that you playing most at the moment.
But I wonder just whether the England Test series will
probably be the real highlight in terms of having them
here again in New Zealand.
Speaker 4 (02:00):
Oh guaranteed. I mean, like, you know, any time England
come out and play cricket, I think it's great. They
bring the Barmi Army with them, is a great atmosphere.
Speaker 3 (02:06):
You know.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
The type of cricket playing at moment is really exciting
and I think it's going to attract a lot of
viewers and I'm sure it's going to be a great contest.
Speaker 2 (02:14):
Yeah, you'll have fond memories of playing against England after
you and Neil Wagner steered the side to a victory
in christ Church and that Test matches that you played
down there.
Speaker 4 (02:25):
Yeah, totally man Neil Wagner Heart of a Lion, you
know it. It was a great day and like I say,
like during that game, just listening to the Barmi Army
play these songs all day long, like it's pretty exciting
to be there. And I'm sure the crowds have come
out for it too.
Speaker 2 (02:38):
Yeah, I'll bet they do. And that's what we want
to see because that's one of the things that players enjoy,
isn't it.
Speaker 4 (02:47):
Absolutely, Like you know, that's that's what I love about
summer is just like, you know, one thing is like
playing cricket and like loving it and seeing you know,
all the clubs and stuff out, all the kids playing cricket.
But the crowds, man that you play in front of,
and like how much our key we supporters get behind us,
that's something really exciting and you know, it's certainly something
as a player you end up craving.
Speaker 2 (03:04):
Yeah, And a lot of the excitement is generated by
the white ball aim to some extent, although test matches
grit good crowds and there's plenty of white ball options
coming up this summer, leading of course to the champions Trophy.
In Pakistan.
Speaker 4 (03:18):
Yeah, totally. I think, you know, the more white ball
cricket we can play, the better leading it into that tournament.
And obviously Pakistan coming later on, you know, a very
strong side and Sri Lanka is a big tour there too,
so I'm sure it's going to be a really exciting
summer and hopefully there's a few opportunities for me that
lie there.
Speaker 2 (03:36):
Yeah. Well, the white ball game seems to be something
that you've specialized, and you've had your Test match appearances
of course, but what have you been doing since well,
last summer I suppose you went to Pakistan and you
also went to the West Indies.
Speaker 4 (03:52):
Yeah, so after the T twenty World Cup, there was
a I suppose a period of winter where I was
potentially going to go overseas and play some cricket, but
I thought it was best to stay home be a
dad for a little bit. You know, had a really
big few summers, a few back to back summers and winters,
so took a bit time off and now right into
it with Canterbury and hopefully get a chance to get
(04:12):
to Sri Lanka for the white ball series later in
the year.
Speaker 2 (04:16):
And what do you do during the downtime a contracted player,
I suppose you still have to keep preparing because you
never know when you're going to be required to play
in some of these games.
Speaker 4 (04:26):
Yeah, totally right, Like, you know, it's really important with
the guys playing a lot of test creat in Asia
at the moment. You know, you know, God forbid, but
if there's an injury, you sort of have to be ready.
If you're the next cab off the ranks and soon
in your place, I'd love to play and have not
opportunity pops up like that, You've got to be ready.
So loads have been quite high and been bowling a
(04:46):
lot with the red ball recently, so got to keep
that up.
Speaker 2 (04:49):
Yeah, and spinners are getting much greater opportunities now, aren't they.
Speaker 4 (04:56):
Yeah, I suppose, you know, all cricketers sort of. You know,
there's a lot of a lot of different leagues around
the world, and spinners are doing really well in those leagues,
so there's options out there. But I still believe, you know,
like the best currency as runs and work, and if
you can do that domestically internationally, then the league sort
of look after themselves.
Speaker 2 (05:12):
Yeah, you've been going through changes in terms of your
bowling action and your approach to the game. And I
guess you have to do that because leggies need a variety,
don't they. You just don't get away with it being
a straight old leggy anymore.
Speaker 4 (05:27):
Dore, what's adaptability?
Speaker 3 (05:28):
Was?
Speaker 4 (05:29):
Like, I remember when I started twelve years ago, Like
I walked in, I bowled real slow, loopy leggies like
those will get you know, eaten alive these days on
some of the grounds we play it. So I suppose
if you want to sort of stick around for a
long period of time, I'm definitely a completely different type
of bowler now, you know, twelve years on that I
was when I started playing professional cricket. And I suppose
(05:49):
that's just the way that the game's moved and you
sometimes got to move with it.
Speaker 2 (05:53):
Do you make those changes yourself or do you talk
to other people about what you can do to be
one step ahead of the batsman all the time.
Speaker 4 (06:02):
Yeah, it's it's definitely self driven. I certainly have people,
you know, a couple of people as sounding boards that
I go to to say, hey, look I want to
try to learn how to bowl a little bit quicker,
or I want to change the shape shape of my
ball to, you know, combat certain conditions. Paul Wiseman's been
a big, big one for me over the years, and
you know, you sort of speak to a few other
leagues around the country. Mitch Stantner has been great to
(06:24):
speak about these sort of changes as well, but certainly
self driven most of it.
Speaker 2 (06:28):
I suppose spinners are a bit like seamers. You works
as a peer or a group of bowlers together to
approach the opposition, and you have to discuss what you're
bowling against, the kind of players you're up against, don't.
Speaker 4 (06:42):
You totally right? And I think I think figuring out
what the conditions require from you on any given day.
Like Santna talks about side spin versus overspin. So you
want to bowl big top spin in New Zealand because
that's the only way we get turn. But then you
go to Asia and you got a bowl side spin.
So having that conversation is really important out in the middle,
so you can make that adjustment as quick as you can.
Speaker 2 (07:02):
Yeah, I mean you think of spinners, you being a
leg spinner, essentially turning the all away from the right hand.
But you have the other advantage too, don't you, Because
you've got quite a good rongin and you can apply
that so you don't really have to be hit upon
one style of opposing batsman. And they change their stance
(07:25):
now too, don't they.
Speaker 4 (07:26):
Yeah, I mean they can. You know, so many new
shots have been played, and I think, you know, sometimes
the tendency is like when you're a leg spinner and
you've got so many tools in the kiddy, like you know, Google,
top spinner, slider, leggy flipper or whatever, you can often
like go away from your breading by the stockball. I
think that's been a big part of my winter, is
just like rediscovering my stockball boling as much as I
(07:47):
can and knowing that the Google is quite a natural
ball for me. And the more that the batters play
all these like crazy shots, I think that's simpler we
have to be. So the stockball has become a lot
more important for my training.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Because the reverse sweep and the scoop stroke, they're just
commonplace now, aren't they.
Speaker 4 (08:02):
Oh, you'll see a lot of it when England turn up,
I reckon. Even in the Test matches these days, you've
seem like Joe Root plays a reverse scupo over the
slips two or three balls and tours inning sometimes, So
that's pretty exciting to see.
Speaker 2 (08:13):
The Black Caps in Gaul getting ready for a Test
series there and then the India. Of course, I suppose
you share their frustration at the washout that they had
in the last game. Nothing worse than that for a cricketers.
Speaker 4 (08:26):
Oh totally. You got to like find ways to occupy
your time, like for five days, like that's pretty tough
to do, especially you know when you can't really leave
leave the hotel like in some of those parts of
the world. You know, they had so apparently they played
a lot of hallway cricket, so definitely missed out on that.
Would have loved to get involved in bolsom spin down
the hallway.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
After starting a new series in a foreign country, as
the shril Anka is basically for our players, but they
will have done the prep. Nothing shorter than that.
Speaker 4 (08:55):
Yeah, totally right. I mean before they went over there
were quite a few camps, and a lot of the
camps were you know in conditions which were you know,
kind of conditioned to be like Asian conditions. So the
balls bowling and the batters were playing in like you know,
formulating their plans against spin and our spin is a
high quality. So if you can do Alliance then and
hopefully you can do alliganst anyone in the will.
Speaker 2 (09:15):
Yeah. Have you played much in Sri Lanka.
Speaker 4 (09:18):
I've only played a couple of a series and white
ball games and the wickets do spin quite a lot.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
But in Gaul.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I think it's a bit of a fortress for for
Sri Lanka. So I think it's going to be a
huge challenge. But hopefully we can start well and you know,
more more importantly, hopefully the rain stays a well.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
Yeah, I've heard that there is a forecast of the
possibility of rain, so we hope it does stay away.
But it's the excitement of the summer at home that
we want to keep our mind on, isn't it, and
those those options. Have you have you got any set
goals you want for this summer.
Speaker 4 (09:56):
I don't really have any set goals, but you know,
I'd love to be on the team sheet and be competing,
you know at my peak come the summer. Yeah, Look,
it's a it's a really exciting time to play cricket,
you know, summer in New Zealand. The crowds come out,
you know, especially at some of those you know, I
see there's an ODI at the Basement Reserve, which will
be really cool. I've never played nod I there, so
(10:18):
that'll be a nice one to take off. You know,
if selection goes well and my form's going.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
Good and the most important thing is getting the fans
there to support. One of the ways to do that
is winning, isn't it. But just to put on a
good quality competition probably is what your aims.
Speaker 4 (10:36):
Is it totally right? And you know some is great,
Like we always get a good crowd, you know, even
when the Test matches coming up, I wouldn't be surprised
if a lot of them are sold out against England
and the white ball games that come up, like the
T twenty eyes are just so exciting to play as
a player when the crowds are just packed and they're
vibing and it's you know, it's just electric sort of
(10:56):
environments to play in front of. So hopefully we get
a few few of those crowds.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
So hey, a, you're going to be sleeping over the
next few nights with the Test match, You're going to
be watching to the end.
Speaker 4 (11:05):
I'll have to like keep looking at the forecast, but
there's a high chance I'll be watching a lot of
Test crew if the boys get out there, because I
love watching aj S, Patal bowl Satin, you know, Beast,
the GP, and I just love spin bowling, So now
to be cool to see them out there and doing
their thing and hopefully getting a few wickets and winning
us some Test matches.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
Yeah, well the excitements there, eah, and I can hear
it in your voice that you can't wait for summer
to begin. Thanks very much for joining us. We wish
you all the very best for your endeavors throughout the
summer and have plenty of success. Cheers was mate, Yeah,
I mean that's sincerely. We do wish surely our players
the very best. They've got a lot of work to do. Broadish.
(11:47):
I think he's mainly involved in the white ball game now.
The Test match requirements probably have passed him by, but
there's still a lot to do. He won't be in
golf for the Test matches there, Jerry. But before we
have a chance to talk about New Zealands of Anites,
(12:09):
let's hear from the New Zealand captain Tim Soudy talking
about the build up for the Test match. Yeah.
Speaker 5 (12:16):
I've been here a couple of times with has been
great so far, which is a good sign. Conditions are
as we expected. Training wicket has been been pretty good,
had a good couple of days training another one today,
so yeah, as expected. Obviously a good surface here, which
which which takes a bit of turn is as the
Test goes on, so I'd imagine things will be be
(12:39):
similar this tim around.
Speaker 2 (12:41):
You will have had a good look at the track
by now what have you made of it?
Speaker 5 (12:44):
Yeah, again, just a good goold wicket by the looks
of it. Trying to get as much information out of
runging a heir out he's with us, who obviously is
a phenomenal record at the ground, so yeah, talking talking
closer to him is to trying to get his knowledge
of the wicket. But yeah, it looks looks a good surface.
I'd imagine spin we'll play its part throughout the Test match. Yeah,
(13:06):
I think it'll be spin heavy side with a couple
of pace by an options which will finalize once we
get down to the ground and have it.
Speaker 2 (13:14):
You know that Sri Lanka are going to be tough
and they come home off a pretty convincing win over
England which was impressive in the match of the last
yest of this aeries.
Speaker 5 (13:23):
Yeah, great one for them to go over there and
obviously too disappointing test matches, and then to finish the
way they did, they'll be they'll be full of confidence
and they come back home to two conditions that they
used to and they have done well. And so yeah,
we know it's a tough, tough place to come and
then we're looking forward to to getting back into some
(13:44):
Test cricket. It's been a while. There's a lot of
excitement around the group to get back and put the
whites on and get back into some some Test cricket.
Speaker 2 (13:52):
Yeah. The fact that you haven't played any outdoor cricket
as such as a team in Test match makes it
a tougher assignment for you because you've got to hit
the ground running, don't you. Yeah, we do.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
I think obviously the disappointment of not getting getting a
run in India against Afghanistan, but we still manage to
get a couple of trains and we've had some great
trainings here and although we didn't get out get outside
much and a great annoiter. I think the team bonding
and the togiveness that we were able to form through
that week where we're restricted to a lot of time
(14:22):
indoors was a positive. So I think as a side
where we're excited where we're Yeah, we've said that time
we were pretty much living out each other's pockets for
a week there we couldn't get outside. So yeah, we're
as strong as we've been and we're looking forward to
getting out and get into it.
Speaker 2 (14:38):
I guess one of the things you have to do
is to get your mental approach right, don't you. I mean,
the players are playing a lot of cricket, but you've
got to tune into the test match form of the
game now because you've got those games heading right through
to all pretty much England, haven't.
Speaker 5 (14:54):
Yeah, from now through to Christmas pretty much is obviously
a good chunk of Test cricket, which is exciting in itself.
Five matches here in the subcontinent. It's going to be
a great challenge and yeah, the like I said, the
guys have trained well from the lead ups, any of
excitement about about what's a head. It's going to be
(15:15):
a tough challenge, but but hopefully and enjoyable one.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
There was some talk before the side went away that
the side would be picked on conditions and the possibility
to be that you might not play in some of
those games, but I am assuming you're playing in this game.
Speaker 5 (15:31):
Yeah again, we'll Yeah, I think sitting here doing the
media the David Force probably a sign. But but yeah,
it's it's when you come to as part of the world.
Obviously spin bena a big threat in this part of
the world that the bowl attack will be heavily weighted
that way. But in saying that, there's still we've got
(15:52):
four great, more quality, seen seen bowling options that they
can fill in those spots as well. So it's exciting.
And obviously Matt Henry's tour this part of the world
a couple of times, but for the for the young boys,
it's the first time and I'm excited to see them
doing their work here as well. So I'm sure we
run and get their opportunities over the next next five matches.
(16:13):
And I guess that's just the nature of when you
come to this part of the world. Is the makeup
of the side.
Speaker 2 (16:18):
Yeah, and you have the luxury I suppose of five
spin bowling options as such, because you've got a couple
of your top order batsman or likely top order batsmen
who can do the job with the ball and have
done in test matches at odd times in the past.
Speaker 5 (16:32):
Yeah, I think the balance having toured here a number
of times before the having that those options of bet
has been able to offer, but not not even part
time options that the proper spin options and Revenger and Phillips.
So I think that helps the balance to the side.
And then yeah, I guess it allows you to play
(16:54):
a couple of frontline spinners as well, So it's yes,
I think it's a good mix having those guys in
the top order that that can offer real, real jobs
at the ball.
Speaker 2 (17:04):
What's Rainer here have been able to help you with.
Speaker 5 (17:07):
Yeah, he's worked closely with the spinners. Having a couple
of left arm spinners in the side. I think they've
been well three left arm spinners in the side. They've
been been working closely with him. I think more around it,
he's a guy that's had a lot of success of
this ground, so I think just trying to pick his
brain and trying to gain as much information as we
can from a guy who played a lot of cricket
(17:28):
in these conditions.
Speaker 2 (17:28):
Yeah, with a guy like that's playing, you could almost
want to give him a passport to bowl within your side,
wouldn't you know he's such an expert in their home conditions.
Speaker 5 (17:38):
Yeah, I don't think three weeks qualifies to be eligible
to pay for another country unfortunately, but yeah, he'd be
very handy. He's still rolling arm over the next and
asking some good questions, so yeah, he's he's still got it.
And like I say, a guy who had a phenomenal
test record not only in this part of the world
but all around the world.
Speaker 2 (17:57):
Toss be important so that you could do what you
want to do.
Speaker 5 (18:02):
Yeah, I think it is when you come to this
part of the world, but it doesn't doesn't. I don't
think it team is the outcome of the match. I
think it's obvious that a lot of thos come to
this play of the world and want to want to
have a bat first, So yeah, it's it'll be nice too,
but it doesn't. I don't think it is the weirdst thing.
If you if you don't get what you want to do.
Speaker 2 (18:23):
I guess you watch what the opposition are doing. You
at times have to know what they're going to come
forward with. Do you know what sort of side they're
putting into the park? Have they revealed anything.
Speaker 1 (18:36):
No, they haven't.
Speaker 5 (18:37):
They got back from England not long ago and I've
sort of gone about their business. They haven't had too much,
but i'd imagine similar they would have a spin heavy side.
And I've got a good mix between a few few young,
exciting sort of guys that haven't played a lot of
Test cricket, and there's there's some of the few odd hits,
so I think, yeah, I think we saw their seamers
(18:57):
that did a great job in England and i'd imagine
that that a couple of them would play alongside a
number of spin options.
Speaker 2 (19:04):
Doesn't give too much away, does it In terms of
the team. The only one he did confirm is that
he'll be playing, which I guess as he's the captain
and had the job of doing the pre match interview
was clear cut. But it's also clear that he's going
to have a spin based attack and that seems to
(19:29):
be par for Sri Lanka subcontinent, doesn't it.
Speaker 3 (19:34):
Not at all? I was there a couple of years
ago wards when Sri Lanka were playing Australia in two
Test matches, and certainly days three, four five, the ball
started to turn appreciably so I think both sides will
equip themselves with spinners. I'm a little surprised that how
(19:58):
the has got the nod, you know that from what
I've said, I see the way they've picked the squad
as it's kind of a Rourke and Sears looking for
a position in the bowling attack as one position a
little bit more pace. They both use different parts of
(20:21):
the pitch to land on a rour. Perhaps will attack
the body a bit more and Sears gets it to
swing a bit more and so on, but both are
quicker than Henry or Saudi. And I saw it is
a kind of a two lots of two Rourke and
Sears looking for a position and Henry and Saudi looking
(20:43):
for a position and going in basically with two seamers
and that spin based attack you've just mentioned. So and
I personally think that Henry is the first person to
select because he's been our most consistent and most reliable seema.
So that pushes Saudi to the back just a little
(21:05):
for me, and then you need that extra pace as
well of O'Rourke or Seers. So and when when Gary
Stead was saying, look, he might not captain every side,
I thought that kind of made a bit of sense,
So I'm a little bit surprised about that. So it
means presumably that Henry and Soudy will be the be
(21:29):
the sort of the purveyors of medium pace.
Speaker 2 (21:31):
I just wonder, though, do you go away on a
tour and leave your captain out of the first game.
Surely there's a little bit of personal pride for you
to have your captain leading him from the front from
the first Test match, isn't.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
He Yeah, it certainly is. But I mean it's a
question of a captain. The first job he's got to do.
He's got to make his place in the team secure.
And from what we saw last last year, the last
time we played tests really well, March wasn't that sort
of thing. He was not not really threatening enough throughout
(22:13):
that entire series, And so gads. I know it's a
difficult position for stead and and for Saudi himself, but
you've got to win these matches and you've got to
give yourself the best chance of doing that. So I
think it's I know it's a difficult one and people
(22:35):
will disagree with me. The only time I could see
Saudi over in a place like Asiah, you know, getting
a position would be because that'll slow him down again.
You know, off the pitch won't get quite so much
bounce as if it's up and down. If it's dry
(22:55):
and dusty and it's holding up and it's hard to
get away, I think then Tim Saudi certainly comes into
the game, but other than that, I don't quite see
him as as quite as dangerous as either Henry or
oraw can see.
Speaker 2 (23:11):
It's yeah, you hear the phrase quite often. You know,
you've got to take twenty wickets, but you've also got
to score a lot of runs. Now you've batted over there.
I know you're in short pants in the days when
you play, and what your memory is of batting in
Sri Lanka as like, But you have to have your
(23:33):
top six in the best of form, don't you.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Oh look, New Zealand will need runs, that's quite obvious.
And Sri Lanka just just talk about them, just very briefly.
They are very strong and batting at home. You look
at you know the sort of number were just the
top six really Karuna Rattan's thirty six but over seven
(24:01):
thousand runs. Kusal Mendez is going to keep in this game,
so he'll be batting down and not at number three.
He's got fought down two hundred runs, nine hundreds, Angelo
Matthews seven hundred runs, sixteen hundreds chunder mile averaging forty two.
Dan and Jaya the captain averaging forty. They have got
(24:21):
a strong side. Nasanka will be opening, he's just got
one hundred against England and then at number seven he'll
probably beat a little bit higher than that in this match.
Comindu Mendous has only had ten Test innings. He's got
three hundreds and four fifties of those ten innings, so
(24:41):
he's averaging seventy odd. So he's only twenty five left
hander he is. So they're batting lineup. You know it's
going to be demanding for our bowlers. After bowl very steadily,
no loose sessions, hold their catchers, but then they need
to bat and get runs. It's very hard for players nowadays. Wards.
(25:03):
I think when you leave your homes conditions and you
go to a place where it will turn considerably more
than where we can front here. The challenges to get
players ready and that's where the loss of the five
days against Afghanistan makes it a bit worse. But you
(25:26):
know in away series you know these days you just
arrive and go straight into the Tests. There's no warm
up matches. You're undercooked, a bit and a bit ill prepared,
and unfortunately tests are the hardest format to be ill
prepared for. These players have been playing, you know, white
(25:48):
ball franchise cricket, haven't they. But the red ball moves
around and it turns, and so you know, they really
need two first class matches and prior to the Test match.
There's no game in between the Tests. Of course, no
first class game there where you can kind of get
(26:08):
someone out of form, give them a chance, or even
if you have an injury. I mean, we've got four
people to pick from Sri Lanka if they get an injury,
can choose from anybody they want in Sri Lanka. So
there are advantages and being the home side.
Speaker 2 (26:27):
The interesting thing is I think that we've developed in
our players an ability to play spin. I think of
Ravendra and Phillips have both shown the ability to play
spin and they're not scared of using their feet and
getting down. But you know that's a judgment call, isn't it.
And of course Kane Williamson is an expert and he
plays spin generally pretty well as well. In fact, he
(26:50):
plays all kind of bowling pretty well. So it's a
matter of whether they have got the confidence to do
that going straight into a Test match. Sell very well
to play white ball cricket, but as you say, this
is a different format altogether from the form of cricket
that they've been playing, and with the red Bull you've
(27:12):
got to be betting a heck of a lot longer.
Speaker 3 (27:14):
Confidence comes from, first of all, competence, and that's you
mentioned Williams and those other players, Revendro and and so on,
that they're all competent players, aren't they. So the question
is where do you get that from that You get
that from staying in and being at the crease and
feeling comfortable defending. That's the first thing you start to
(27:35):
stay there, you've got it, As you say that for
a long time, you know, a flashy twenty five isn't
going to win you a Test, so you know. So,
I think as far as that's concerned Conway. Conway will
probably play once he needs a few. He's gone for
(27:55):
a casual contract and that means he needs to play
well if he wants to play international cricket. So he
has an extra drive kind of really Latham he'll be
he's a sweeper, he'll play. Williamson can play both ways,
mainly doesn't sweep. He's normally a straight blade. And then
(28:17):
I think you've got Revengdeer at four, Mitchell at five,
Phillips at six, Blundle at seven, and then it gets
a bit tricky. And then it gets tricky, doesn't it.
Which spinners do you feel that they will go with here?
Speaker 2 (28:32):
Well, it's interesting that Southey mentioned the fact that you
can go for a couple of spinners on top of
Phillips and Ravendra who've proven themselves to a lesser extent
at the Test match level. But I would my mind
would be on the quality or what Sri Lanka have.
(28:54):
Do they have more right handers than left handers? I'm
not quite sure, but I think you've got to start
with AJS Patel as first, don't you.
Speaker 3 (29:03):
Well, that's that's again. And now that comes to another
area that I just click mentioned, and that is how
you read a pitch. And I'm afraid New Zealand at
the moment that just in those last couple of series wads.
Do you remember the Basin Reserve where they played Australia
Lion got wickets and Phillip's got wickets and we left
(29:26):
Santner out in both games against the other game was
South Africa at Hamilton. A guy called Dane Pete who
was an off spinner for them to South Africa got
five wickets in the first innings. We didn't have Satna
there at all, so we haven't been reading our own
(29:47):
pictures that well. And I hope that we do it
a little bit better and we put a lot of
work into what that will be and I think probably
they'll work out that it will spin. So if you
are right and sow they has said we want maybe
two extra spinners to to Phillips and Ravendra, then I
(30:12):
think you're looking. You know, obviously you'd like an off hee,
wouldn't you to You'd want Bracewell there as someone who
turns it away from a left hander and into a
right and into a writing and then you want a
left hand left armor as well, So one of each
I would have thought, you know, And whether it's Patel
(30:34):
or whether it's Santana will depend on what they think
of the pitch. If it's a bad looking pitch and underprepared,
I would go Santana because he's quicker through the air
and he'll make it happen at the other end the
batsman's end faster. He's quite an accurate bowler. He's bowled
a lot in short form cricket, so he's used to
people attacking him, and that's why I would go him.
(30:57):
He might give you a few more runs than Patel.
He might give you He probably a better fielder than
Patel's well, but that's not the main reason you're picking bowlers.
You're picking spinners. So Patel will be absolutely and with
the chance he has got the most wickets in terms
of that, he's thirty five. Now he's got he's had
(31:18):
sixteen Tests, he's got sixty two wickets, so he's getting
nearly four wickets a match. Don't forget he got fourteen
and one match. Yeah, so that inflates that number just
a bit. Brace Will thirty three eight Tests, twenty four
wickets three per Test, and then Satna thirty two age
(31:42):
twenty six Tests and fifty three wickets, so he's getting
two basically two wickets a Test match. Those are the
figures of those three. Personally, I think Bracewill drift it
a bit and he puts revs on the ball. A
good field can bat a bit. I think he's a
man that goes in there. And then it's a question
(32:03):
of whether they regard Patel or Sanna. And then it
looks like Henry and soudy'll be their four main bowlers.
And let's let's see how they go. The Sri Lankans
look as if they're setting up the same way wads
they've gone for Froba Jayasuria, who's has a hell of
(32:23):
a record at Gaul, fifty three wickets in six six Tests,
twelve innings. I mean that's six Tests in the fifty three,
that's nine a match. He kind of lives there, you know,
he just that's his backyard.
Speaker 2 (32:45):
I can tell you. He used to prepare the pitch
down there. Jayanander warn a wearer?
Speaker 3 (32:50):
What an a wearer? Little? What a weir? Yes exactly,
I remember him. Yeah, I know. I couldn't pronounce it
and still can't.
Speaker 2 (32:58):
Yeah yeah, very slippery, loose arm action, yeah exactly.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
And then they've got now no, so so they are
going to go with the same thing wards, two quicks,
two spinners, one left armor that's Ja Suria. And then
then they've got a guy called Rummish Mendus who's an
off spinner. He's he bowled there last year, so he's
they've got consistency there, can we get the runs? You look,
(33:29):
when you're an away series, you've got to stay in
the game as long as you can stay in the
Test match, stay in the Test match. Do not have
one bad session when you're in away in a test
one bad session can be the game.
Speaker 2 (33:45):
Plenty of options there for this Test series. They're coming
up for the only other option that we don't want
to consider as the possibility of rain, because afraid, afraid
there'll be another bay corridor cricket, I think for you
know what you do when you roll up a little
(34:07):
bit of paper, remember those days, and you try and
spin it in it You don't have to because it
just automatically changes direction off the wall of the corridor.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
So did you with paper?
Speaker 2 (34:23):
Yeah, we used to roll up bits of paper.
Speaker 3 (34:25):
Really in your own corridor?
Speaker 2 (34:28):
Yeah, well, in any when we played these pickup Oh no,
I don't know paper was getting because you can really
throw it at the batsman and you know it didn't
quite hurt so much, but you could take out your
anger on the batsman with a kind of rolled up paper,
that was right.
Speaker 3 (34:45):
And what was what did you have to hold the bat?
Was it a bat or was it something different, just
a piece of just a bit of a stump or
a well.
Speaker 2 (34:53):
You know you rip a leg off a chair, don't you.
I mean that happened quite often in Pakistan, didn't they
in some of the places we stayed, or you know,
you could if they've got big toilet brushes, you can
use those, you know, right, yeah, but right, well they'll
get the usually worry about it.
Speaker 3 (35:13):
They're usually in use. So yeah, well it's it is,
that's right. And so look it's it's going to be
really interesting words, isn't it. I Mean, as I said,
I think on our last part, New Zealand need to
get kind of five wins if they can mhm and
(35:35):
and and a couple of drawers. So that's a really
tough ask against Sri Lanka and then India over you know,
for five tests, and then and then against England. So
you've got to you've got to be honest about it.
That it's that it's the chances. I guess you'd say
a slim.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Those are the things that We'll be sitting in our
armchair watching till around about midnight. Then you can just
not offter bed. You have a little hot toddy in
a way. You go and yeah, wake up the next
morning and get ready for another day, provided weather.
Speaker 3 (36:07):
Fine it is.
Speaker 2 (36:09):
I don't want it here. I don't want another bottom test.
Speaker 3 (36:12):
Oh got run a review this in jury? Good to chat? Yep,
take care mate, yep, take care Yeah, run away bye,
allgies of Summers.
Speaker 1 (36:27):
Do for more from News Talks at b Listen live
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