O'Brien goes back to basics

Iain O'Brien sends back Daren Powell, one of six wickets for the Wellington bowler in the first innings

Iain O’Brien says a return to basics in the nets sparked his career-best performance in the second Test against West Indies.

The medium-pacer took 6-75 as the tourists were bowled out for 307 - before the hosts reached 145 for two by stumps - on the second day in Napier.

The Wellington seamer, who took 2-59 on day one, added the wickets of tail-enders Jerome Taylor and Sulieman Benn in his fourth over without having conceded a run as the West Indies - having resumed on 258 for six - slumped to 279 for eight.

He then knocked over Daren Powell and Fidel Edwards to wrap up the innings.

“It’s the quickest I’ve ever bowled in a continuous spell,” he said.

“I said to Travis (Wilson), our fielding coach, this morning if we’re out of here just after an hour I’ll be pretty happy with that - and I think it took us an hour-and-a-quarter to get off the park.”

O’Brien admitted his below-par performance in Dunedin, where he took 1-46 off 15 overs in the rain-affected first Test, prompted some soul searching and analysis of his bowling action.

“I spent a bit of time in a bit of a dark place after Dunedin and worked through a couple of things,” he said.

“You look back to where you bowled consistently, and I remember bowling to Michael Clarke (in Brisbane) and thinking ‘this is actually going pretty well - what is it?’

“I remembered that and thought I'd better head back into the nets and explore a little bit - and it’s come out all right.”

Having enjoyed watching Daniel Flynn (57) and Tim McIntosh (62no) bat for most of the day, O’Brien observed: “You want to hang about and you can. Shiv (Chanderpaul) showed that. Flynnie and ‘Mac’ showed that.

“It’s a good Test wicket. It’s honest toil, and you earn your wickets - and there’s nothing better than a wicket you’ve genuinely earned.”