(UTV|COLOMBO) – New Zealand will put the onus on bowling teams out at the World Cup rather than just restricting runs with coach Gary Stead believing that will be a key part of having a chance of winning the tournament.
It was a mantra instilled by Brendon McCullum during the 2015 tournament where New Zealand reached the final and the 2019 vintage are set to take a similar view into the field.
There was a nod to that aggressive mindset in one of the toughest selection calls made by Stead in the final 15 with Ish Sodhi preferred ahead of fellow legspinner Todd Astle for the second spin-bowling slot. Although he may not play many matches, with New Zealand likely to favour a seam-heavy attack, Sodhi is a more attacking option with the ball to have in reserve than Astle although provides less with bat and in the field.
There have been suggestions that captain Kane Williamson, who doesn’t have an official voice in selection, made a strong push for Sodhi although Stead insisted the final decision came down to him.
“People have been on the money around the legspinner spot and who we go with there,” Stead said of the choice between Sodhi and Astle. “We are fortunate we have two real quality legspinners and it made that decision tough.
“You’ll have nine [other] teams who will all have slightly different ways of playing, the word is it will be a high-scoring World Cup as well, but the best chance with the ball is certainly if we can bowl teams out and be aggressive in that. Think that will be a critical factor.”
Courtesy: DN
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