Mark Greatbatch
The BLACKCAPS coach talks the addition of Kane Williamson, the batting woes and the conditions at Seddon Park.
On Kane Williamson’s selection…
“He is a chance (to start), there is no doubt about that. We obviously need to get up and look at the conditions up at Seddon Park. He is playing well, obviously we resisted the temptation to bring him in earlier but we have decided on this occasion with one Test left, the young lad playing well, very talented and it is an opportunity for him to be involved in the environment and if he does make the starting 11 I’m sure he will handle himself well.
“At the end of the day we have made the decision based on the mix we want to take into the game but obviously the conditions will determine that as well.
“He is predominantly a batsman and is developing his off-spin. He is definitely a batter first but he bowls quite unique off-spinners, a little bit more Asian like. If he does play he could add value.”
On the batting performance…
“Let’s not forget the batsmen didn’t do their job well enough in the first innings of the last Test.
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“They did it in the second innings but not in the first. On a positive, five guys batted over 100 balls, a couple of guys batted 200 balls in the second innings but we need to do it in the first. We had two bad sessions in the first six in the last Test match and just cant afford to do that against any side so we have got to start better and stay with them and compete those first two or three days.”
On Mathew Sinclair…
“It’s an option. He is in the 13 and he has just come off 100. He is a positive sort of player. That’s what we are going to have to look to beat this Australian side, play positively but make good decisions.”
On the conditions at Seddon Park…
“Seddon Park is quite a different wicket to the Basin. We just need to get up and have a look at what they are. We have got a practice this afternoon, we shall see.”
“It is a slowish nature wicket anyway. It’s not as quick as the Basin so I wouldn’t expect anything out of the norm.”
On the bowling situation…
“If the conditions suit we will play two spinners. Patel will be that second one. If we get up there and the conditions are a bit different we may look to have another cover in the seam bowling department.”
