Mark Greatbatch
The BLACKCAPS coach talks about the the inclusion of Peter Ingram and Mathew Sinclair and the non-selection of Kane Williamson.
On the Basin Reserve pitch…
“Obviously with our 13 man squad we have sort of got that cover with four seamers and two spinners. We need to see how the pitch unfolds over the next few days. Its normally a wonderful Test match strip there so we are looking forward and excited for the game.
This guy is a very good grounds man and we are excited about playing here. It’s one of the homes of New Zealand Test cricket. A great challenge in front of us, it’s going to be tough playing the Aussies but looking forward to it very much.”
On challenging the Australian team during the Test matches…
“Discipline and patience is going to be a key and it has got to be done over five days. If we can do that over five days we have a chance of competing with them and staying with them. That is going to take a lot of mental toughness so we look forward to trying to achieve that.
It’s more about the mental game with a Test match. They are conditioned and really our practice starts this afternoon. A few guys are having a hit and the intensity will go up as each day goes by. Things like batters batting two or three times in a day so that their mental preparation is right and they are having breaks so they can refocus, so those things are really important particularly when we have come off Twenty20 and One-Day cricket. That’s not going to be easy mentally. Its important our preparation is spot on this week.”
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On the pressure being placed on the top order…
“We have got seven or eight batters in our group that is going to form the foundation of our batting unit in both of our innings. The top order, that’s their job. Tim McIntosh, Peter Ingram and BJ Watling have been playing first class cricket, they are very excited about taking the Australians on and soaking up the pressure that is going to be there, that’s why they call it a Test so they are looking forward to it.”
On the variety of bowlers within the squad…
“We are going to bowl a certain way to them, we don’t have any nasty fasties but we are going to need to be patient, be accurate and really just hang in there and compete against them every ball.”
On Mathew Sinclair’s selection…
“Mathew, 18 months ago had an opportunity previously with five or six Test matches and it didn’t quite work out for him and I think at the time, the selectors said they were going to look at some other players but time always moves on for everybody and Mathew’s been in good form for the last year and half/two years and he is just cover top order batter for the Test, unless there is an injury he wont play but it will be nice to have him back in the environment. He is experienced, he is mature and he has got competitive juices so that is what we are going to require against these guys.”
On Michael Clarke rejoining the Australian team…
“He is just another batter really. Obviously he is a qualified and wonderful Test player and we will have some plans to bowl to him like we have with some other guys, so he won’t be any different.”
On Kane Williamson not being included in the squad…
“He was in discussion but at the moment the selection panel don’t feel that it is his time. He is scoring runs at first class level, still hasn’t played two full years of first class cricket. If he keeps scoring them, we have got some winter trips so he may be an option later on.”
On Peter Ingram succeeding at Test match level…
“Peter Ingram, in the last three years at domestic cricket, has averaged 60 and that has really been where he has really excelled in domestic cricket. Obviously the Test is a jump up - he has had one Test against Bangladesh. The core group of this squad has been involved in the last four Test matches with Pakistan, we won two of them, drew one and lost one, so we want to give those opportunities to those players and Peter obviously to show his skills at the highest level.”
