Kiwis need a string of wins to turn poor one-day form around: Richardson
By ANIMonday, December 6, 2010
AUCKLAND - Former New Zealand cricketer Mark Richardson reckons that the Black Caps don’t just need a win, but they need a string of wins to turn their poor one-day form around.
New Zealand, who are currently 0-3 down in the ongoing five match one-day series against India, has equalled their second worst one-day run of nine straight defeats, the same number put up between March 1985 and January 1986.
The worst one was a 13-loss horror from April 1994 to January 1995.
“They have to find a formula they can play by, feel comfortable with and, most importantly, have confidence in. They seem to be searching for something to turn their poor ODI form around, but time is running out quickly,” Richardson wrote in an article for the New Zealand Herald.
“ODI play is all about confidence and finding a team formula that works. It is about getting players in the right positions, settling on a game plan, rehearsing it with success, growing to believe in it - and ultimately winning more often than not.”
“Right now, they seem to have no idea. Watching them is painful. Ugly and dumb dismissals, really dumb dismissals, to go with a total lack of batting initiative,” he added.
The 39-year-old further said that it does not help to have key players like Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum and Daniel Vettori under injury clouds with the World Cup just two months away.
“In 2007, I felt our team had a genuine chance of winning the World Cup because it felt like a team. Yes, there was an inglorious defeat in the semifinal, but up until then we had the players, the belief and the formula to succeed,” Richardson wrote.
“There was a definite preference - to chase runs - and the batting order was stable. Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Craig McMillan, Jacob Oram and Brendon McCullum all knew what was needed and had the confidence to deliver - and most fans had confidence too.”
“This current team has plenty of personnel from the last Cup and players with just as much ability - but it lacks the same direction,” he added. (ANI)
