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The BLACKCAPS had their first training today in steamy conditions at Guyana National Stadium, ahead of their ICC World Twenty20 Tournament opener against Sri Lanka on Friday.
Training was transferred to the National Stadium after heavy rain yesterday turned the original training venue back into swamp-land. During the session the temperature reached 28 degrees Celsius. With humidity at around 85% conditions were sauna-like, a tough initiation into playing conditions so close to the equator.
BLACKCAPS batsman Martin Guptill said the players felt the conditions throughout the session. “It was pretty hot. You felt it as soon as you got out there and it just didn’t let you go. I think I’ll definitely be having a cold shower between innings during the game.”
Fellow opener Jesse Ryder echoed Guptill’s sentiments. “It was just muggy as anything. Batting will be a real test of concentration.”
The heat didn’t seem to affect Ryder during his net batting session though, as the powerful opening batsman regularly sent balls flying high over the stadium fence into the swamp-land beyond. In a salient reminder to BLACKCAPS support staff, a stadium official warned not to try and retrieve any of the balls because of the anaconda and assorted snakes living there. Point taken.
Ryder himself is pleased with his form, after spending six months out of the game with an injury. “I am hitting the ball pretty well. I could feel my form coming on when we were in Brisbane and I’m keen to just get out there and perform for New Zealand.”
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