Mark Greatbatch
The BLACKCAPS coach talks about the training camp in Brisbane, the warm up matches and the mood in the team.
It’s been a good week in Brisbane with the team. How are they shaping up at the end of it?
It’s been really beneficial. We had a two and a half week programme before we left for individuals in their own areas and now 11 of the squad have had a whole week in Brisbane and we’ve been doing a lot of scrimmaging and had a couple of games in the last two days.
Some guys have really got up to speed quickly. There are some guys who are flying and playing really well at the moment and a couple of other guys who need a little bit more over the next week in the West Indies with a couple of warm up games.
Related Links
It’s all coming together and the IPL boys turned up last night so we have our whole crew here. We’re looking forward to it.
What sort of scrimmaging have you been doing and what else has happened in preparation?
Pretty much game play, setting up scenarios, playing on a full pitch with 11 fielders and creating an edge with the batters and bowlers. We have been coming up with scenarios that put them under pressure by having to chase totals. When we get to the West Indies and start playing it’s going to be full of pressure.
It’s exciting and the boys have got to look forward to it and enjoy it but there is definitely a method to play this game well and it’s important that we work hard to achieve that method.
You play the Ireland in a warm up match. What do you know about them?
We played them in the last World Cup in England. They’ve got some very good crickets. We can’t take any side lightly and both warm up fixtures will be good work outs for us.
Warm up matches
27/04/2010
BLACKCAPS vs Ireland - Providence Stadium, Guyana
+1day NZ, 5:30am
28/04/2010
BLACKCAPS vs West Indies -Providence Stadium, Guyana
+1day NZ, 9:00am
So a good build up to the tournament?
Most definitely. You are playing the host side and they’ll be strong in front of their home crowds and that always gives them an advantage. That will give the game a real edge I’d say.
What is the mood in the team and how confident are you as a coach?
We’re excited about what we regard as our top 15 players. We’ve had a few guys out with injury – Jesse Ryder has come back and is really starting to play well so we’re excited about having him back in.
This Twenty20 game is about having dynamic players and we feel that we have enough of them to get the job done. It’s really gelling together.
It’s about making sure guys stand up and be counted for and enjoy the challenge and go on and win some games for New Zealand.
