11 reasons for excitement in Napier

The BLACKCAPS perfect home summer has been extended to 11 wins from 11 games and there’s plenty more to look forward to in the second Chappell-Hadlee ODI of the ANZ series in Napier on Thursday.

11 - Home ground heat

The BLACKCAPS are yet to lose at home this summer and have won 21 of their last 23 ODIs on home soil - the boys are on a heater in their own backyard.

10 - Stoinis the Great

His unbeaten 146 was an innings for the ages and makes him the man to watch for the remainder of the series. Immensely strong and don’t be fooled by the small boundaries at Eden Park - the majority of the 27-year-old’s 11 sixes cleared the rope with room to spare!

9 - Secure the silverware

How good would it be to lock the Chappell-Hadlee away with a game to spare? It’d also most likely sit in our cabinet for a fair while with next year’s series making way for a T20 tri series with Australia and England.

8 - Tons for Taylor

Three of Ross Taylor’s 15 ODI centuries have come at McLean Park. He’s the only player to have that many at the ground and his 15 overall have him just one behind Nathan Astle’s BLACKCAPS ODI record of 16. With an average of 88.75 at the Napier ground it is fair say Taylor enjoys the venue of the second ANZ ODI.

7 - Smarting Aussies

Our dear friends will be smarting from that first up loss. They’ll feel not a lot went their way, but will also know they had their chances. They won’t lie down as game two in Wellington proved last year.

6 - McLean Park

Napier’s mini fortress has proved a happy hunting ground for the BLACKCAPS who have won four games on the bounce at McLean Park, knocking over India (2014), Pakistan (2015), Afghanistan (2015 World Cup) and a recent T20 victory over Bangladesh.

5 - Latham’s glove work

How nice was it to see a wicket-keeper opening batsmen in an ODI again? It harked back to the days of Adam Gilchrist at the top of the Australian order and also has shades of the irrepressible Quentin de Kock who's made the South African One Day opening spot his own. 

4 - Let’s go Fergo

Lockie Ferguson made his international Twenty20 debut at McLean Park and took wickets with his first two deliveries earlier this summer. The Aucklander troubled Bangladesh with his outright pace and cunning change ups. Will he once again hurry in Hawke’s Bay?

3 - Broomy’s back

At 33-year-old right hander’s proved a revelation since returning from his six year international hiatus. His crafty 73 was the glue in the BLACKCAPS innings in game one and his average of 100 since returning to the ODI side speak for itself. Great to have such experience in the middle order at five.

2 - Brad Haddin

A character who has loomed large in the history of New Zealand and Australia’s cricket encounters and is this time on our shores in a very different capacity. Haddin is now part of the Australian coaching team and will have to observe the “polite nature” of the BLACKCAPS from a different angle than behind the stumps - and hopefully observe a series victory to the hosts.

1 - Heart Kids

Our number one supporters Heart Kids will be holding the flags for the national anthems. On match eve Martin Guptill and Matt Henry along with Australian coach Darren Lehmann took on the heart stopper challenge, submerging themselves in ice cold water to raise over 10 thousand dollars for our special charity.

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