Kiwis look to dominate

10 March 2008

John Bracewell © Getty Images

New Zealand are vowing to continue playing attacking cricket rather than protect their 1-0 advantage as they attempt to complete a shock Test series triumph over England.

Despite having played only eight Tests in the last two years, New Zealand completed a deserved 189-run triumph over the tourists at Hamilton in the first match of a three-Test series.

It has also presented a potential dilemma over tactics - do they continue to attack or protect what they hold as they attempt to claim only their second series win ever over England on home soil?

Coach John Bracewell, though, has no doubts about the direction his team should take - having seen his side dominate the previous Test nearly from start to last.

“I don’t think we know anything different,” said Bracewell.

“We have very few draws these days in the way we play our cricket and we make no apologies for that. It’s the saviour of Test cricket that there are now results and they are so intriguing on the last couple of days.

“That trend has been set by Australia over a long period of time trying to play ‘result’ cricket, and it’s something the world has caught up with - we just have to get the skill base to be able to compete over long periods of time.”

Bracewell is pleased with the leadership skills of captain Daniel Vettori, whose slow left-arm worked well in tandem with off-spinner Jeetan Patel.

“I was delighted with the fearlessness he went about his business with, including the opportunity to push a result and the psychological effect of declaring,” enthused Bracewell.

The success of Jeetan Patel has prompted thoughts of spin surfaces © Getty Images

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“They are all good, courageous things that give confidence and a belief to a team - and I think he shows a tremendous belief in his players. I hope his players will continue to reward that.”

New Zealand arrived in Wellington for Thursday’s second Test with an unchanged 13-man squad but considering the option of handing all-rounder Grant Elliott his debut.

Elliott was overlooked for Hamilton but helped his cause with a century for Wellington against Auckland over the weekend and may be called in as a replacement for Mathew Sinclair, who scored only 10 runs in his two innings during the opening Test.

“We’re pretty pleased, because he had a strict instruction when he left to concentrate on his batting,” Bracewell said of Elliott.

“His bowling is seen by us as a bonus - and especially the fact he can bowl into the wind and swing it - so that is always a consideration at Wellington.”

Unless they are presented with a vastly-different surface to Seddon Park, New Zealand are also likely to persevere with the twin-spin option.

Asked whether he thinks England are vulnerable to spin, Bracewell confirmed: “I don’t think we’d have played two spinners if we didn’t think that - it’s as simple as that.

“It’s something that’s not normally done in New Zealand. It’s an opportunity we took, and I think it paid off.

“It would be nice to have a similar surface here in Wellington, because I think it’s a pointed difference between the two teams.”