Cricinfo New Zealand






New Zealand


News

Photos

Fixtures

Domestic Competitions

Domestic History

Players/Officials

Grounds

Records

Past Series




 





Live Scorecards
Fixtures - Results






England v Pakistan
Top End Series
Stanford 20/20
Twenty20 Cup
ICC Intercontinental Cup





News Index
Photo Index



Women's Cricket
ICC
Rankings/Ratings



Match/series archive
Statsguru
Players/Officials
Grounds
Records
All Today's Yesterdays









Cricinfo Magazine
The Wisden Cricketer

Wisden Almanack



Reviews
Betting
Travel
Games
Cricket Manager







No let up from Kiwi advance for Bangladeshis
Lynn McConnell - 10 December 2001

New Zealand will not be tempted to do more development work by introducing new players when the Test side to play the first Test against Bangladesh is named on Thursday.

The first National Bank Test will start in Hamilton on Tuesday next week.

Selection chairman Sir Richard Hadlee said today there was a thought before the Australian series that the selectors might look to advance Lou Vincent and Shane Bond by playing them against Bangladesh, but circumstances in Australia had changed that and they had taken their chances, come through, and were both likely to be in the side to be named.

"There will be no letting up, we want to play well and positively and there will be absolutely no complacency in the New Zealand side," he told CricInfo today.

Hadlee had been delighted with the advances made in Australia, even if they did create some selection dilemmas for the selectors.

"There were some very good signs but I was especially pleased with the attitude of the players. They worked and prepared hard and they took it to the opposition by playing positively.

"They blunted Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne effectively while I don't think the bowling figures tell the story of how they tried.

"The grunt and firepower they had was a lot better than the figures showed," he said.

The sign of centuries being scored by the batsmen had also been welcome as that had been one area of concern in recent times.

"The whole team has made progress. Last season's injuries have given us more depth and better selection options."

Captain Stephen Fleming had a new dimension to his leadership and that had come about by his backing his players, and making declarations to try and win games.

"He wants to play attacking cricket and that is important for the paying public," he said.

To continue the initiative shown in Australia would be very testing and very challenging for the players against Bangladesh.

The mood of the team last year had been buoyant despite the injuries and that got the side through some tough times. But Australia had set a standard for the side and they now had to build on that.

He was not satisfied the side had achieved its best yet.

"There is still work to be done. We've got to be more attacking with the ball, we have to fine tune our bowling.

"We can't drop the standards. We have to keep the side going forward. It is going to be an exciting time ahead," Hadlee said.

There was still the issue to be decided over Vincent's place in the side.

Hadlee said that if the selectors were to be consistent, Vincent's performances in Australia would have a bearing on the final selection.

Hadlee said it would have been unfair on Vincent had he not done well in Perth to be dropped on the basis of one game and he would probably have been given the two Tests against Bangladesh to see what he could do.

"His first-class average is only 29 but all it needs is an opportunity for any player and they can be away."

Hadlee repeated his comparison with Justin Langer's situation in the Australian side when he replaced Michael Slater in England and then held his spot to such good effect against New Zealand, despite the luck he had in surviving an lbw in the first over of the first Test and being dropped in the first over of the second.

"Mathew Sinclair is under pressure for his place. We expected better from him in Australia," Hadlee said.

Sinclair's form in the latest round of State Championship matches could have a big bearing on the course the selectors look to take.

If Sinclair doesn't meet their standards there may be a temptation to recall Matthew Horne to open with Vincent playing at No 3.

© CricInfo


Teams Bangladesh, New Zealand.
Players/Umpires Sir Richard Hadlee, Lou Vincent, Shane Bond, Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne, Stephen Fleming, Justin Langer, Michael Slater, Mathew Sinclair, Matt Horne.
Tours Bangladesh in New Zealand


live scores








Results - Forthcoming
Desktop Scoreboard