Mark Greatbatch
The BLACKCAPS coach reflects on the first ODI, the team performance and how the team is looking to improve.
On team preparation…
"Underway with the home series against Bangladesh and I have been very impressed with the way the boys have got stuck in at training and into that work mode, game mode the day before and getting focused so it has been going well."
On the most pleasing aspects on the park…
"We had three personal bests from players, guys playing their first ODI and actually making a contribution to the group. I though Jacob Oram’s all-round performance, particularly in his batting yesterday was exceptional and he has been working hard over the last three or four months and he has been a bit frustrated with the results side of things but we saw a guy, that if we can get him back to where he was 12 – 18 months ago, he is going to be a big help to our unit."
On increasing the intensity with Australia tour coming up…
"I thought, Bangladesh, on probably 20 overs of the game, in bowling and batting, put us under pressure, but we soaked that up. A good point about the intensity, I think we are going to have to make that ourselves a bit, but it is about what we can do well. I thought our batting - we probably lost a couple of wickets too many in that middle stage but they kept playing their game, they kept playing positively and that set us up for later on to get the 330. So I think, against any team, if we can play that way, play positively and fearlessly it doesn’t matter who you play against, as long as you execute you can perform."
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On losing wickets…
"I think we lost three in that middle period which is probably one or two too many. The decision making and execution with those shots. But one guy got 70, the other got 50 so they had actually done a fair bit. Neil Broom was exceptional because it was quite a mature knock for a guy who hasn’t really had a lot of success in One-Day cricket and he batted through that period and got the partnership with the captain and then pushed on with Oram afterwards."
On bowling performance…
"I think we are a little bit short on that surface. We want to get them to hit down on the ground a bit more. We need to bowl a bit fuller, even if we do hit down the ground we are giving ourselves opportunities to pick wickets up early. I though Andy McKay made a really good debut, showed good pace and he came on when we were actually under the pump so he was probably under extra pressure and was able to soak that up and bowled mid 140’s. He showed what we have seen at domestic level and transferred it so he may get another opportunity in the next couple of games."
On the tension on the field…
"I think its sportsmanship, it’s a competitive edge. I don’t think there were any sightings but when you get a side that is trying to compete hard against you, they were trying hard, our guys were wanting to get stuck in and finish it off and that might create the odd little bit of tension."
On being ruthless in beating Bangladesh…
"Every game we go out to we want to try and win and obviously we have got a chance to play well in Dunedin. If we can play as well as that and improve in one or two areas I suppose it is getting towards the stage of being ruthless."
On any changes for the upcoming match…
"Obviously Ian Butler may come back in so that may mean a rest for one of the bowlers so that is probably where we are heading."
