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Adams gets his chance to bowl at the death
Lynn McConnell - 21 February 2001

Another phase in New Zealand's bid to establish an all-round one-day cricket unit could be tried out tomorrow in Wellington's WestpacTrust Stadium in the third One-Day International in the National Bank series with Pakistan.

New Zealand tied the series 1-1 in Napier yesterday with one of the most impressive performances since the side has had to make do without some of its leading bowlers due to injuries that have been sustained.

The challenge for New Zealand is to back up that performance with another as the last time the side achieved back-to-back wins was in their ICC KnockOut tournament success when beating Zimbabwe, Pakistan and India to claim the title.

Andre Adams, the Auckland all-rounder who has received reward for his off-season work in developing his batting, has been called into the side and all the indications are that he will be included in the playing XI tomorrow.

The injured Jacob Oram is back at home in Palmerston North receiving treatment for his ankle injury and is expected to be fit for consideration for the next game in Christchurch on Sunday.

That has given Adams a chance and, with his specialist skills at bowling at the death, he could be given the opportunity to fill that gap in New Zealand's attacking repertoire.

Chances always were that Adams was going to be called up at some stage, especially after his performance for the North Island Selection against Sri Lanka where he produced an outstanding batting performance hitting 90 not out from 52 balls, including seven fours and seven sixes.

He then helped the side to a victory by taking two for 36 from 8.4 overs.

That came on top of his Shell Cup form where he had a batting strike rate of 114.63 and a bowling strike rate of 4.02.

In Shell Trophy play he has scored 322 runs at 92.0 and has taken 23 wickets at 24.73.

But while he had targeted New Zealand one-day selection this summer, he would have preferred to have heard about it in better circumstances than was the case.

Auckland team coach Tony Sail sat the team down after their loss to Wellington in Auckland yesterday and said he had some good news and bad news for the side. The bad news related to the side's loss and the good news was Adams' call-up. That was the first Adams knew about it.

"It is a shame to miss the last Trophy game but higher honours are obviously calling so that's where you go," he said today.

"I had actually targeted this year to play the one-dayers and I'm lucky really that it has come true."

Adams only became serious in his cricket two or three years ago when he found that his success in indoor cricket where he has represented New Zealand had shown him that he might have the mental attitude to go further in the outdoor game.

The toughness required for indoor cricket had allowed him to handle situations in the orthodox games of cricket.

"I have put a lot of emphasis on my batting this year, it's nice to hit the ball for a change. I've always been able to hit the ball, it's just a matter of doing it more frequently than not."

Playing the North Island game was the only indication he had that the selectors might be more than interested in him and by performing at that level he helped himself into the selection frame.

Of West Indian parents, his mother was born in Guyana and his father St Vincent, he likes to hit the ball hard.

"I use a big bat. It's a lot heavier than I usually use and I've just been using it this year. It's pretty heavy, you don't have to get it in the middle but they still go.

"I just like to hit the ball.

"My batting has developed late," he said.

Adams is also pleased with how his bowling is going at the moment. His at the death bowling is going especially well.

His method is simple.

"Bowl at the stumps. There's no change. I very rarely vary my pace. I just try to hit the base of off stump and if they're good enough to get something on it then good on them.

"But the stats will say that most of the time you can't keep sweeping half volleys and yorkers. Some days you'll be hit for six and fours and some days you can do the job nicely. Just aim straight at middle stump," he said.

The chance is a big one for Adams. The stocks of New Zealand Cricket resources have been well tested and there are only a few opportunities left. But Adams' attitude and willingness to succeed says it all.

"You're just a cricketer, until you mentally develop. I'm still doing it obviously, I've got a long way to go but I'm developing nicely at the moment," he said.

© CricInfo


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