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| February 5, 2003 | Wednesday | Zul Hijjah 3,1423 |
Pen-sketches of New Zealand World Cup squad
CHRISTCHURCH (New Zealand), Feb 4: Following are pen-sketches of New Zealand World Cup squad:
STEPHEN FLEMING
Born: April 1 1973. Captain. Left-handed batsman. ODI debut: v India, Napier, March 1994. 189 matches, 5,081 runs, av 30.60, three centuries. New Zealand’s most successful Test captain but struggling to make a one-day impact. Significant force in the side but leadership skills progressed faster than his batting. During recent series with India became the second New Zealander to pass 5,000 ODI runs. Still has not settled on whether to open or bat lower down. Likely to open at the World Cup. Fine slip fielder with 94 catches in ODIs.
CHRIS CAIRNS
Born June 13 1970. Vice-captain. Genuine all rounder, middle-order right-handed batsman, right-arm fast-medium bowler. ODI debut: v England, Wellington, Feb 1991. (Age 20). 154 matches, 3,663 runs at 28.84, four centuries. 154 wickets at 31.90. New Zealand’s second greatest all-rounder after Richard Hadlee, although a superior batsman. Son of New Zealand all-rounder Lance Cairns. Blighted by knee injuries in recent years, wrapped in cotton wool leading up to World Cup. Scored unbeaten century v India in final of 2000 ICC Trophy as New Zealand won their first international tournament.
ANDRE ADAMS
Born July 17 1975. Right-arm medium-fast bowler, right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Sharjah, April 2001. 20 matches, 242 runs at 22.00 and 32 wickets at 23.25. One of the rare batsmen to have an ODI strike rate over 100. Came back from a stress fracture in his back to claim a place in the World Cup squad.
NATHAN ASTLE
Born: Sept 15 1971. Right-handed opening batsman, useful right-arm medium-pacer. ODI debut: v West Indies, Auckland, Jan 1995. 5,327 runs, av 34.14, 12 hundreds, 92 wkts at 36.19, 167 matches. Finest one-day batsman New Zealand has produced and holder of record for fastest Test double-century. Began as ODI medium-pacer but asked to open in fourth game v Sri Lanka, scoring 95. Never takes first strike. Scored more ODI runs than any other New Zealander, first past 5,000 during series-winning innings of 122 not out v England in Dunedin in Feb 2002. Had a wretched 1996 and 1999 World Cups, averaging 18.5 in six innings and 8.77 in nine.
SHANE BOND
Born June 7 1975. Right-arm fast bowler. ODI debut: v Australia, Melbourne, Jan 2002. 18 matches for 32 wickets at 20.53, 117 runs at 19.50. New Zealand’s fastest bowler for two generations, giving the attack a real edge. Ace in New Zealand’s bowling pack since his explosive burst on to the international scene on 2001-02 tour of Australia. Former policeman.
CHRIS HARRIS
Born: Nov 20 1969. Highly effective ‘bits-and-pieces’ all-rounder — left-handed batsman, right-arm slow bowler, fine hyperactive fielder — and New Zealand’s most capped ODI player. ODI debut: v Australia, Sydney, Nov 1990. 219 matches, 3,956 runs at 29.96, 193 wickets at 36.27. Nicknamed ‘Harry’ and hugely popular. Related to former All Black Zinzan Brooke. Bowls odd mixture of slowish floaters, cutters and spin. Playing in his fourth World Cup. Scored magnificent 130 off 123 balls, his one ODI century, in losing 1996 World Cup quarterfinal v Australia in Chennai.
CRAIG McMILLAN
Born Sept 13 1976. Right-handed batsman, useful right-arm medium-pacer. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Hyderabad (India), May 1997. 124 matches, 2,964 runs at 26.46, two centuries. 37 wickets at 32.89. Holds world record for most runs in a Test over (26). Made ODI debut aged 20. Shares with Chris Cairns record of fastest ODI century by a New Zealander, off 76 balls. Has been in a trough recently, as has occurred before in his career, struggling with his footwork after being moved up to three in the order, but can never be discounted. Averaged only 17 in 1999 World Cup.
BRENDON McCULLUM
Born: Sept 27 1981. Wicket-keeper, Right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v Australia, Sydney, Jan 2002. 14 matches, 152 runs at 12.66. 20 catches and one stumping. Attacking batsman, electric runner between wickets.
KYLE MILLS
Born: March 15 1979. Right-arm fast-medium bowler, useful batsman. ODI debut: v Pakistan, Sharjah, April 2001. 16 matches, 22 wickets at 21.86. On the fringes of the side for two seasons and has also had injury problems.
JACOB ORAM
Born: July 28 1978. All-rounder — left-handed batsman, right-arm medium-fast bowler. Good fielder in the gully. ODI debut: v Zimbabwe, Wellington, Jan 2001. 29 matches, 377 runs at 16.39, 26 wickets at 32.19. Tallest player to represent New Zealand (1.99m). Originally selected as a batsman who could bowl a bit. But had gained some pace and extracts useful bounce. Consolidated World Cup place with career-best 5-26 and 27 not out in low-scoring 1st ODI v India in Auckland.
MATHEW SINCLAIR
Born: Nov 9 1975. Top-order right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v Australia, Christchurch, Feb 2000. 32 matches, 806 runs at 26.86. Born in Australia. Still to establish himself despite two ODI centuries and two Test double centuries. Few players can have had such contrasting fortunes in their ODI and Test debuts. First ODI match he watched Adam Gilchrist score 128 off 98 balls and was then out first ball of the reply — caught Gilchrist. Scored 214 in maiden Test innings as New Zealand beat West Indies by an innings.
SCOTT STYRIS
Born July 10 1975. All rounder — right-arm medium-fast bowler, right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v India, Rajkot, Nov 1999. 51 matches, 712 runs at 20.34 and 51 wickets at 34.01. Test century and half century on debut v West Indies and holds the best ODI bowling figures by a New Zealander. Good fielder.
DARYL TUFFEY
Born: June 11 1978. Right-arm fast-medium bowler. ODI debut: v Zimbabwe, Harare, Sept 2000. 44 matches, 52 wickets at 28.53. New Zealand’s most improved player over last six months, with extraordinary habit of taking a wicket in his first over. He had achieved the feat 15 times in Tests or ODIs.
DANIEL VETTORI
Born: Jan 27 1979. Slow Left-arm bowler, useful left-handed lower-order batsman. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Christchurch, March 1997. 99 matches, 82 wickets at 39.30, 497 runs at 11.29. New Zealand’s most successful spinner. Made his debut at 18 years and 10 days, New Zealand’s youngest Test player after just two first-class games. Bowls with good flight and loop. Yet to regain dominance that marked early years in international cricket after back stress fractures. Selected for 1999 World Cup but was 12th man each game.
LOU VINCENT
Born: Nov 11 1978. Right-handed batsman. ODI debut: v Sri Lanka, Auckland, Feb 2001. 47 matches, 996 runs at 24.90. Hit his one Test century in his debut innings against McGrath, Warne and Lee. Mercurial figure in the field, fine runner between the wickets.—Reuters
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