Test Match Mentality

Wellington Test Day 3

"We need to compete every day for five days and just fight really hard and smart and see if we can take the Australians to five days. If we can do that, then we're a chance."

In describing his team's plans and expectations for the first test, coach Mark Greatbatch also seemed to convey that the key to competing with the Australians was all about "boring their batsmen into submission" (or words to that effect), and "crease occupation and making their bowlers work for their wickets".

This is understandable to an extent; New Zealand don't have an attack which provides much penetration, and batsmen stuck in one-day mode are liable to fold up easily in a test match. The problem NZ have is that this approach is precisely the kind which plays into the hands of Australia, a team which only ever goes into defensive mode when out-batted.

On the first day, NZ enjoyed two good sessions of tight bowling which earned them four wickets, but they undid all the built-up pressure in that final session where runs were leaked at five-an-over. Not to take away anything from Michael Clarke or Marcus North - both of whom had their own personal pressures to contend with - but the bowlers were simply flat and inaccurate (Brent Arnel had a reasonable debut, though).

The batting was even worse, folding up for 157 in the first innings, and at 187 for 5 has fared only slightly better second time around. Being bent on crease occupation is one thing, but when accompanied by a negative mindset, it's death. One thing the top order needs to drastically work on is rotating the strike, the plan against them has become as easy as "starve them of the boundaries, and watch 'em throw their wicket" (Also, Tim McIntosh needs someone to teach him how to run between the wickets. That runout of poor Peter Ingram was embarrassing). The only player who seems to manage this business of keeping the scoreboard moving is - wait for it - Vettori.

Attritional test match cricket isn't a new tactic to NZ, Stephen Fleming employed it very effectively in Australia back in 2001. Guptill, Taylor and McIntosh are at least as talented and capable as messrs. Astle, McMillan and Richardson, who formed the bulk of the batting when NZ were last a force in test cricket. Kiwi players generally take more time to develop at the highest level, and I wonder if the sheer paucity of test match play in recent times is simply not allowing the batsmen to grow. After all, the only way for a developing side to improve at the test level is to play more tests.

The one positive from today's play was McIntosh's gritty 83, and he probably deserved a century for the responsibility. Now, if only the rest of the top order could start following his example.