Black Caps looking forward to playing on faster Windies tracks
By ANIThursday, May 6, 2010
BARBADOS - The Black Caps are ready to up the ante in the Super Eight stage of the World Twenty20 Cup, and are particularly looking forward to the faster pitches to display their batting prowess.
According to the New Zeland Herald, batting maestro Brendon McCullum is hoping a change of pace might allow them to unleash their powerful batting line up.
The pitches in Guyana that have favoured slow-bowlers and contributed to low-scoring matches have limited the top-order of McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill and Ross Taylor.
However, with the Black Caps now moving to Barbados for the Super Eights stage, the wicket-keeper batsman said he expected the wickets to be faster, hopefully allowing the powerful New Zealand top-order more of a chance to have a crack.
“It’ll present a few opportunities for us top orders to play with a bit more freedom as well and hopefully we’ll see one or two or even three of the top four go on and make some sizable totals in the next few games,” he said.
New Zealand now face a formidable South Africa, whose batters were among the most destructive in the world, he said.
The former vice-captain singled out AB de Villiers as a threat in the Proteas’ line up along with captain Graeme Smith and veteran Jacques Kallis as particular threats but added that, “Every single one of their players is dangerous in their own right.” (ANI)
